Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Looking at BC's potential Bowl destinations

We now have a winning record and UConn still on the schedule, so the prognosticators have us bowling. Nearly all see us going to the lower-tier ACC affiliated bowls like Quicklane, Military or Pinstripe. Much still depends on how BC finishes. Here is how I see things playing out.

If BC finishes 6-6...
I think we go back to Detroit. I don't think the bowl would want that. I don't think BC would want that, but it really then becomes a TV-play. Going to the Military Bowl would bring something new, but in my mind that is a trap game. You basically play a Navy road game in the cold. Some of our D.C. and Baltimore fans could go, but that is the only upside. If we have to play a bottom-level bowl, give me a dejected Big Ten team in Detroit. We know Navy is out for blood when facing a Power 5 in a bowl game.

If BC finishes 7-5...
Let's assume we beat UConn and in this scenario, lose to NC State. That would make the season ender against Syracuse the battle for the Pinstripe Bowl. The Bowl organizers are going to want the more motivated fanbase. Syracuse has more fans in the Tri-state area but I think their turnout will depend on how their season ends. If they lose to us at home, will they want to buy tickets for the bowl? BC could sell themselves as the hotter team and point to our attendance record from the last time we were in the Pinstripe.

If we finish 7-5, there is an outside chance we sneak into the Sun Bowl. That bowl doesn't care as much about tickets. They just want a good game and good TV. If Notre Dame, Clemson and Miami all make major bowls or the playoffs, the ACC teams will backfill the bigger slots and will open a spot for BC in El Paso.

If BC finishes 8-4...
Then the Sun Bowl seems very likely. I could also see us moving into a Music City Bowl slot. I don't think we will end in in Charlotte since they prefer to take local teams.


27 comments:

Tim said...

NC State is a joke. They haven’t beaten anyone good. They received no votes in the AP poll, then they beat Florida State and they started shooting up the polls. Obviously that was a hollow win.

JBQ said...

NC St. has some very good players who play with discipline. Chubb is very good on the defensive line. Pratt blocked a punt against ND and fell on it in the end zone. Once Hines got hurt who is their speedster, they fell apart. They were only down 21-14 at halftime. From comments, Finley can't run but he really can throw and they have good receivers. If you take them for granted, they are very capable.---Florida State went ahead of Miami with a minute to play. Actually, they should have won. Florida State is still a good team but snake bit after losing their quarterback. This site stated that they have some 32 4/5 star recruits while BC has 3.

John said...

Well, let's just concentrate on the remaining 3 games - I game at a time.

We are 3 and 3 in the ACC (2 and 2 in the Atlantic). If we prepare properly and execute, we can be 4 and 3 (3 and 2) by the end of 11/11.

That's our goal right now.

I remember sitting next to Jeremy Trueblood's mother at UNC when we were having a good year. She asked "I wonder where we are going to a bowl this year?" I answered "some lousy bowl if we don't win this game."

UNC prevailed (they ran back the opening kick for a TD), winning by one or two points.

And we went to a lesser bowl - I think we were 9 and 3, but still new to the ACC.

I'll have to look it up now.

Don't look ahead, BC - don't do it!

John said...

2005 UNC 26 - BC 14.

BC 9 and 3 (5 and 3 ACC)

We got stuck in Boise, but at least we beat them on their home (cold) blue field - breaking their long unbeaten streak there.

It's all about the regular season - especially the ACC.

NC State - Next one up - a very talented team, but beatable - especially after getting softened up by ND and Clemson.

John said...

Sorry UNC 16 BC 14

Eagle Esquire said...

Speaking of the bowl with Boise, was that the game where they fed BC cold food at the pregame banquet?

Unknown said...

I wouldn't have even entertained discussion of bowl possibilities just three weeks ago (even two) but, this is sweet now.

Shabby1011 said...

Pinstripe, Military or Music City would be best for fans thou Sun Bowl is great game for exposure, think it is a CBS game and only game on during day

BC 86 said...

Had awesome time at pinstripe against penn state couple years ago, except , of course for missed fg, should have won, would go back, exciting, and the way if this team keeps playing, fun to watch. NC state first.... GO BC!!

dixieagle said...

Would love to see the Music City Bowl happen, as that would be a do-able trip for us. We went when BC beat Georgia in 2001 and had a great time.

JBQ said...

With BJK: Next team up. Next man up. Speaking of that, Wade had a giant grin when he got to score the td on 4th down when AB hurt his shoulder.---How are we on injuries and medical red shirts for such as Connor? I believe that he was hurt in game 2.

Mosi said...

I heard that Pinstripe had moved up the ACC Bowl pecking order I hope we get it, was a lot of fun. My fear is we beat NCSU who is a lot like us, and Yukon then go to the Dome for the ToBY/Diamond Ferri Memorial WTF game

AlbanyEagle said...

CFP Rankings: ND at 3?!
Ugh.

Having said that, 3 of BC's 4 losses were to the current #3, #4, and #13.
Damn Wake!

NYCEagle said...

Baker and Strachan both received medical redshirts and will both be back next year. Will create an interesting (and good) problem to have. I assume the way Lamot has burst onto the scene he will stay at MLB. With Schwab graduating Strachan will fill that hole. On the other side Bletzer has been serviceable, but I imagine he will get beat out in camp by either McDuffie or Richardson who are both more talented.

On the offensive line, my hunch is that Petrula will be moved to guard next year and Baker will regain his spot as starting center, despite how good Petrula has been there. Petrula is the bigger more physical player (perhaps why our line play has improved since Baker went down) and thus is more capable of sliding over. He was recruited to play tackle here and was moved to center in a bind. With Schmal being the only member of the OLine graduating, there will be 4 guys (Baker, Petrula, Elijah Johnson, Finn Dirstine) fighting for 2 spots (center and left guard)

EL MIZ said...

hard to believe we're even thinking about bowls if we go 8-4. credit to Daz for getting us in that position, hopefully we can keep it moving.

next year we lose the following:

D Backs - Kam Moore, Yiadom, McClary
D Line - Landry, Merritt
LB - Schwab

OL - Schmal
WR - Thad Smith, Callinan

P - Knoll

really no concerns on O. Smith has been very good this year but we have depth at WR, and the OL should be very good next year.

D will be interesting. luckily we bring back a bunch of guys in the secondary who have played (Will Harris, Denis, Taj Torres), but losing what i think is 5 starters is always tough.

mod34b said...

On the "Coaches Hot Seat" blog, Daz has fallen to 55... and is considered "safe"

maybe ATL is right --- some poor AD will find Daz interesting.

I can only hope it happens!

BCAlum2000 said...

I assume the way Lamot has burst onto the scene he will stay at MLB.

I doubt that. Strachan is a prototypical MLB and a very good one when healthy. Lamont is very athletic and can run. He fits better at OLB.

knucklehead said...

The reason the line is good this year is because of Petrula. Only an idiot(TGS) would move Baker back to that position. He sucked there. Notice the line became effective 2 weeks after Petrula took the job. He is the team MVP this season.

NYCEagle said...

Where does Baker go then? And Strachan was playing WLB even when healthy this year. He’s better in coverage than any linebacker besides Schwab. Our depth at MLB was better so they moved him over

Geezer eagle said...

I can't believe I'm saying this, but if the team goes 7-5 and wins their bowl game, I will consider the season a success.

knucklehead said...

Anywhere on the line. He was not brought in to be a center. Dazzler put him there because he is/was supposedly the best lineman on the team. We fell into Petrula at center and it has essentially fixed the offense. Even Hilliman can run behind him. And Brown has some time to read the defense.

Shabby1011 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John said...

I agree with Knuckle if Petrula agrees to stay at center. We are much better with him there IMHO.

Mr. Baker would have to compete for that position, which he would lose. So some other OL position would be better, even as a backup. It's a free Masters Degree.

EL MIZ said...

agreed - i would keep Petrula at C. move Baker to Schmal's spot at LG. even in the weekly ATL write ups I feel like he was always highlighting Baker missing blocks. Petrula has been a big difference maker.

practically speaking, we aren't losing any starters on O (since Schmal is replaced by Baker, a starter) and on D we lose both corners (Denis and Yiadom), and our DE/DT (Landry/Merritt). the LB we lose we get back with Strachan and Richardon's return.

John said...

I don't see Gabe McClary's name much anymore. Is he on the 2-Deep?

CvegasEagle said...

Your forgetting Jack Kenny lol

Unknown said...

If they approach this right. They can run the table but I hope Dazz hammers home where they were a month ago. Confidence is a great weapon but it can disappear just as fast. They Need a healthy & motivated Landry to finish strong.