http://southcarolina.247sports.com/...ule-and-where-the-Gamecocks-may-end-up-102251
shouldnt be private
With only one more week left of regular season games, the bowl picture is starting to become a bit clearer. There’s still a ways to go and, as we all watched last weekend, college football always has some surprises. The BCS picture changed dramatically but how does it affect South Carolina?
South Carolina's bowl destination remains up in the air but the Gamecocks will spend New Year's in a desirable location with a 9- or 10-win regular season
The Gamecocks (9-2, 6-2) are currently ranked No. 12 in the BCS standings. The problem is that only two teams can be selected for a BCS bowl game from one conference. Five SEC teams are currently ranked ahead of the Gamecocks in the BCS standings with one more week and conference championship games still to be played.
The SEC has put two teams in the BCS in each of the last six seasons and that streak is unlikely to end this year. At this point, it’s very difficult to come up with a scenario that two teams from the SEC do not make it into the BCS games.
At this point, there are really only three games that South Carolina should consider a likely possibility. Where the Gamecocks will end up hinges on the final game of their season this Saturday against Clemson.
While it’s still too early to have a firm grasp on exactly where the Gamecocks will end up this bowl season, we take a look at the possible destinations.
[h=2]Best chances[/h]Outback, Chick-fil-A, Gator
The two most likely bowls for South Carolina to be selected for this season continue to be the Chick-fil-A and the Gator but the Outback Bowl is trending upward. For the Gamecocks to end up in the Chick-fil-A, Clemson will have to make it into the BCS. There’s no way that the Tigers will slip past the Atlanta, Ga.-based bowl and the kind folks at Chick-fil-A won’t pick a rivalry rematch. For Clemson to have a chance to end up in the BCS, it will have to beat South Carolina this week. If that happens, the BCS is likely (but not guaranteed) and that would mean the Gator or potentially the Outback.
Should South Carolina lose to Clemson this weekend, the likely destination is the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Gamecocks are more attractive team than Mississippi State, which stands at 8-3 overall and 4-3 in the conference with a game at Ole Miss still to be played. The Rebels are fighting for their bowl life and have been on the cusp of pulling a few major upsets this year.
The Gamecocks last played in the Chick-fil-A Bowl to conclude the 2010 season. Florida State knocked off South Carolina after knocking out Marcus Lattimore. With Atlanta, Ga. being a short drive and a city with a strong alumni base, South Carolina would figure to sell its full allotment of tickets and then some, just like two years ago.
South Carolina has not played in the Gator Bowl since losing to LSU 30-13 in the 1987 game. The Gamecocks have been in the bowl game on four occasions, including in the inaugural game to conclude the 1945 season. The Gator will have the seventh SEC pick, assuming the conference gets two teams in the BCS, and the bowl would be foolish to let the Gamecocks slide.
[h=2]A possibility[/h]Capital One, Cotton
The bottom line is the Cotton Bowl strongly prefers SEC West teams and there are four quality programs that can make a case to play in the Dallas, Texas-based bowl this season. The good people at the Cotton Bowl have options from the West and, even though we don’t know just how it will shake out, they’ll almost certainly find a team from that division to fill its spot. The Cotton Bowl could easily slide down into the Unlikely category below.
Also closer to the Unlikely category than Best Chances is the Capital One Bowl, which did send a representative to Columbia for the game against Wofford. The bottom line is that there are just too many options for the Orlando, Fla.-based bowl to choose from that are just as attractive if not more so than the Gamecocks. South Carolina had a great showing at the bowl last year but bowls are always hesitant to take a team two straight years, especially when there will be a team like LSU, Texas A&M, or Georgia there to choose from. A big win over Clemson this weekend and USC will have a case, but chances aren’t looking great at this point.
[h=2]Unlikely[/h]BCS bowls, Music City, Liberty, BBVA Compass, Independence
South Carolina will not slip past the Gator Bowl, which means the Music City, Liberty, BBVA Compass, and Independence Bowl are all out. That’s good news for the Gamecocks. Sure, a weekend in Nashville, Tenn. isn’t a bad thing, but not during bowl season. The same can be said for Memphis, Tenn.
Does Alabama being in the national championship picture help the Gamecocks in its hope to land in a BCS bowl game for the first time in school history? Of course it does. The chances at least doubled, maybe tripled, but going from about a 1 percent chance to 3 percent chance doesn’t mean anyone should hold out hope. Whether Alabama or Georgia wins the SEC championship and punches its ticket to the national championship game, either LSU, Florida, or Texas A&M will get an at-large bid ahead of South Carolina to the Sugar Bowl. All of that is assuming, however, that the aforementioned teams win their games this weekend. That is just the reality of the situation, as unfortunate as it may be.
[h=2]SEC bowl eligible teams[/h]Georgia (10-1, 7-1) SEC East champion
Florida (10-1, 7-1)
Alabama (10-1, 6-1) SEC West champion
South Carolina (9-2, 6-2)
Texas A&M (9-2, 6-2)
LSU (9-2, 5-2)
Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3)
Vanderbilt (7-4, 5-3)
***Missouri (5-6), Ole Miss (5-6) are still fighting for bowl eligibility
[h=2]What the experts are saying[/h]ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Gator Bowl - N.C. State vs. South Carolina
ESPN’s Brad Edwards: Outback - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
CBSSports.com: Outback Bowl - Northwestern vs. South Carolina
Phil Steele: Outback Bowl - Michigan vs. South Carolina
Sporting News’ Bill Bender: Chick-fil-A Bowl - Miami vs. South Carolina
[h=2]SEC bowl selection order[/h]Allstate Sugar Bowl: New Orleans, La.; Jan. 2; BCS vs. BCS
Capital One Bowl: Orlando, Fla.; Jan. 1; SEC vs. Big Ten
Outback Bowl: Tampa, Fla.; Jan. 1; SEC vs. Big Ten
AT&T Cotton Bowl: Dallas, Texas; Jan. 4; SEC vs. Big 12
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Atlanta, Ga.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. ACC
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl: Jacksonville, Fla.; Jan. 1; SEC vs. Big Ten
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Nashville, Tenn.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. ACC
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Memphis, Tenn.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. Conference USA
BBVA Compass Bowl: Birmingham, Ala.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. Big East
Advocare V100 Independence Bowl: Shreveport, La.; Dec. 28; SEC vs. ACC
Notes: Capital One Bowl has the first selection after the BCS. … Cotton Bowl has the first selection from the West after the Capital One Bowl. Outback Bowl as the first selection from the East. The Cotton and Outback may pick from the opposite division after the opposite bowl selects from its divisional preference. … Liberty and BBVA Compass bowls share the eighth and ninth selections and will make their picks not in any order but in consultation with the SEC office. … The Independence Bowl has the SEC’s final selection if enough teams are bowl eligible.
shouldnt be private
With only one more week left of regular season games, the bowl picture is starting to become a bit clearer. There’s still a ways to go and, as we all watched last weekend, college football always has some surprises. The BCS picture changed dramatically but how does it affect South Carolina?
South Carolina's bowl destination remains up in the air but the Gamecocks will spend New Year's in a desirable location with a 9- or 10-win regular season
The Gamecocks (9-2, 6-2) are currently ranked No. 12 in the BCS standings. The problem is that only two teams can be selected for a BCS bowl game from one conference. Five SEC teams are currently ranked ahead of the Gamecocks in the BCS standings with one more week and conference championship games still to be played.
The SEC has put two teams in the BCS in each of the last six seasons and that streak is unlikely to end this year. At this point, it’s very difficult to come up with a scenario that two teams from the SEC do not make it into the BCS games.
At this point, there are really only three games that South Carolina should consider a likely possibility. Where the Gamecocks will end up hinges on the final game of their season this Saturday against Clemson.
While it’s still too early to have a firm grasp on exactly where the Gamecocks will end up this bowl season, we take a look at the possible destinations.
[h=2]Best chances[/h]Outback, Chick-fil-A, Gator
The two most likely bowls for South Carolina to be selected for this season continue to be the Chick-fil-A and the Gator but the Outback Bowl is trending upward. For the Gamecocks to end up in the Chick-fil-A, Clemson will have to make it into the BCS. There’s no way that the Tigers will slip past the Atlanta, Ga.-based bowl and the kind folks at Chick-fil-A won’t pick a rivalry rematch. For Clemson to have a chance to end up in the BCS, it will have to beat South Carolina this week. If that happens, the BCS is likely (but not guaranteed) and that would mean the Gator or potentially the Outback.
Should South Carolina lose to Clemson this weekend, the likely destination is the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Gamecocks are more attractive team than Mississippi State, which stands at 8-3 overall and 4-3 in the conference with a game at Ole Miss still to be played. The Rebels are fighting for their bowl life and have been on the cusp of pulling a few major upsets this year.
The Gamecocks last played in the Chick-fil-A Bowl to conclude the 2010 season. Florida State knocked off South Carolina after knocking out Marcus Lattimore. With Atlanta, Ga. being a short drive and a city with a strong alumni base, South Carolina would figure to sell its full allotment of tickets and then some, just like two years ago.
South Carolina has not played in the Gator Bowl since losing to LSU 30-13 in the 1987 game. The Gamecocks have been in the bowl game on four occasions, including in the inaugural game to conclude the 1945 season. The Gator will have the seventh SEC pick, assuming the conference gets two teams in the BCS, and the bowl would be foolish to let the Gamecocks slide.
[h=2]A possibility[/h]Capital One, Cotton
The bottom line is the Cotton Bowl strongly prefers SEC West teams and there are four quality programs that can make a case to play in the Dallas, Texas-based bowl this season. The good people at the Cotton Bowl have options from the West and, even though we don’t know just how it will shake out, they’ll almost certainly find a team from that division to fill its spot. The Cotton Bowl could easily slide down into the Unlikely category below.
Also closer to the Unlikely category than Best Chances is the Capital One Bowl, which did send a representative to Columbia for the game against Wofford. The bottom line is that there are just too many options for the Orlando, Fla.-based bowl to choose from that are just as attractive if not more so than the Gamecocks. South Carolina had a great showing at the bowl last year but bowls are always hesitant to take a team two straight years, especially when there will be a team like LSU, Texas A&M, or Georgia there to choose from. A big win over Clemson this weekend and USC will have a case, but chances aren’t looking great at this point.
[h=2]Unlikely[/h]BCS bowls, Music City, Liberty, BBVA Compass, Independence
South Carolina will not slip past the Gator Bowl, which means the Music City, Liberty, BBVA Compass, and Independence Bowl are all out. That’s good news for the Gamecocks. Sure, a weekend in Nashville, Tenn. isn’t a bad thing, but not during bowl season. The same can be said for Memphis, Tenn.
Does Alabama being in the national championship picture help the Gamecocks in its hope to land in a BCS bowl game for the first time in school history? Of course it does. The chances at least doubled, maybe tripled, but going from about a 1 percent chance to 3 percent chance doesn’t mean anyone should hold out hope. Whether Alabama or Georgia wins the SEC championship and punches its ticket to the national championship game, either LSU, Florida, or Texas A&M will get an at-large bid ahead of South Carolina to the Sugar Bowl. All of that is assuming, however, that the aforementioned teams win their games this weekend. That is just the reality of the situation, as unfortunate as it may be.
[h=2]SEC bowl eligible teams[/h]Georgia (10-1, 7-1) SEC East champion
Florida (10-1, 7-1)
Alabama (10-1, 6-1) SEC West champion
South Carolina (9-2, 6-2)
Texas A&M (9-2, 6-2)
LSU (9-2, 5-2)
Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3)
Vanderbilt (7-4, 5-3)
***Missouri (5-6), Ole Miss (5-6) are still fighting for bowl eligibility
[h=2]What the experts are saying[/h]ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Gator Bowl - N.C. State vs. South Carolina
ESPN’s Brad Edwards: Outback - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina
CBSSports.com: Outback Bowl - Northwestern vs. South Carolina
Phil Steele: Outback Bowl - Michigan vs. South Carolina
Sporting News’ Bill Bender: Chick-fil-A Bowl - Miami vs. South Carolina
[h=2]SEC bowl selection order[/h]Allstate Sugar Bowl: New Orleans, La.; Jan. 2; BCS vs. BCS
Capital One Bowl: Orlando, Fla.; Jan. 1; SEC vs. Big Ten
Outback Bowl: Tampa, Fla.; Jan. 1; SEC vs. Big Ten
AT&T Cotton Bowl: Dallas, Texas; Jan. 4; SEC vs. Big 12
Chick-fil-A Bowl: Atlanta, Ga.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. ACC
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl: Jacksonville, Fla.; Jan. 1; SEC vs. Big Ten
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Nashville, Tenn.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. ACC
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Memphis, Tenn.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. Conference USA
BBVA Compass Bowl: Birmingham, Ala.; Dec. 31; SEC vs. Big East
Advocare V100 Independence Bowl: Shreveport, La.; Dec. 28; SEC vs. ACC
Notes: Capital One Bowl has the first selection after the BCS. … Cotton Bowl has the first selection from the West after the Capital One Bowl. Outback Bowl as the first selection from the East. The Cotton and Outback may pick from the opposite division after the opposite bowl selects from its divisional preference. … Liberty and BBVA Compass bowls share the eighth and ninth selections and will make their picks not in any order but in consultation with the SEC office. … The Independence Bowl has the SEC’s final selection if enough teams are bowl eligible.
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