Sports 2000

This week’s play did a little to solidify tie-ins for conferences. Some conferences, such as the ACC, Big 10 and Mountain West, have enough eligible teams to fill their contracted slots. Other leagues, like the Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC, are going to fall short, which would make rooms for teams from leagues with fewer bowl berths available. The Mid-American and Sun Belt conferences have a surplus of eligible teams.

Almost every questionable team has now either qualified or failed to do so. I’ll post an article tomorrow that projects bowl match-ups. For now, look at the updated charts of eligible, questionable and not eligible teams per conference.

Atlantic Coast–Nine bowl ties

Eligible: 10

Boston College (9-3)
Georgia Tech (9-3)
Florida State (8-4)
Virginia Tech (8-4)
North Carolina (8-4)
Miami (7-5)
Maryland (7-5)
Wake Forest (7-5)
Clemson (7-5)
North Carolina State (6-6)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

Virginia (5-7)
Duke (4-8)

Big East–Six bowl ties

Eligible: 6

Cincinnati (10-2)
Pittsburgh (8-3)
West Virginia (7-4)
Connecticut (7-4)
South Florida (7-4)
Rutgers (6-5)

Questionable

Louisville (5-6) Dec. 4: At Rutgers

Not Eligible

Syracuse (3-9)

Big 10–Seven bowl ties

Eligible: 7

Penn State (11-1)
Ohio State (10-2)
Michigan State (9-3)
Northwestern (9-3)
Iowa (8-4)
Wisconsin (7-5)
Minnesota (7-5)

Questionable

None, Big 10 play is done

Not eligible

Illinois (5-7)
Purdue (4-8)
Michigan (3-9)
Indiana (3-9)

Big 12–Eight bowl ties

Eligible: 7

Texas (11-1)
Oklahoma (11-1)
Texas Tech (11-1)
Oklahoma State (9-3)
Missouri (9-3)
Nebraska (8-4)
Kansas (7-5)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

Colorado (5-7)
Kansas State (5-7)
Baylor (4-8)
Texas A&M (4-8)
Iowa State (2-10)

Conference USA–Six bowl ties

Eligible: 6

Tulsa (10-2)
Rice (9-3)
East Carolina (8-4)
Houston (7-5)
Memphis (6-6)
Southern Mississippi (6-6)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

Texas-El Paso (5-7)
Marshall (4-8)
Central Florida (4-8)
Alabama-Birmingham (4-8)
Tulane (2-10)
Southern Methodist (1-11)

Mid-American–Three bowl ties

Eligible: 6

Ball State (12-0)
Western Michigan (9-3)
Central Michigan (8-4)
Buffalo (7-5)
Northern Illinois (6-6)
Bowling Green (6-6)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

Akron (5-7)
Temple (5-7)
Ohio (4-8)
Kent State (4-8)
Toledo (3-9)
Eastern Michigan (3-9)
Miami U. (2-10)

Mountain West–Four bowl ties

Eligible: 5

Utah (12-0)
Texas Christian (10-2)
Brigham Young (10-2)
Air Force (8-4)
Colorado State (6-6)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

UNLV (5-7)
New Mexico (4-8)
Wyoming (4-8)
San Diego State (2-10)

Pacific-10–Seven bowl ties

Eligible: 5

USC (10-1)
Oregon (9-3)
Oregon State (8-4)
California (7-4)
Arizona (6-5)

Questionable

Arizona State (5-6) Dec. 6: At Arizona

Not eligible

Stanford (5-7)
UCLA (4-7)
Washington State (2-11)
Washington (0-11)

Southeastern–Nine bowl ties

Eligible: 8

Alabama (12-0)
Florida (11-1)
Georgia (9-3)
Mississippi (8-4)
South Carolina (7-5)
Louisiana State (7-5)
Vanderbilt (6-6)
Kentucky (6-6)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

Tennessee (5-7)
Auburn (5-7)
Arkansas (5-7)
Mississippi State (4-8)

Sun Belt–One bowl tie

Eligible: 3

Troy (7-4)
Arkansas State (6-5)
Florida Atlantic (6-6)

Questionable

Louisiana-Lafayette (5-6) Dec. 3: Home vs. Middle Tennessee State
Middle Tennessee State (5-6) Dec. 3: At Louisiana-Lafayette

Not eligible

Florida International (4-7)
Louisiana-Monroe (4-8)
North Texas (1-11)

Western Athletic–Three bowl ties

Eligible: 6

Boise State (12-0)
Louisiana Tech (7-5)
Fresno State (7-5)
Hawaii (7-5)
Nevada (7-5)
San Jose State (6-6)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

Utah State (3-9)
New Mexico State (3-9)
Idaho (2-10)

Independents–Two bowl ties

Eligible: 2

Navy (7-4)
Notre Dame (6-6)

Questionable

None

Not eligible

Army (3-8)
Western Kentucky (2-9)

There were some upsets in the middle of the BCS standings that will affect this week’s projected at-large pool. However, the teams at the top of the rankings won so there shouldn’t be a lot of change.

Southeastern–#1 Alabama (12-0)

The Crimson Tide ended its six-year Iron Bowl losing streak in a big way today. Alabama humbled Auburn (5-7), 36-0. The Tide clearly didn’t look ahead to next week’s SEC title game. Auburn’s defense played well in the first half and kept the game close but the Tigers could never muster a sustained offensive attack.

Alabama’s remaining schedule:

Dec. 6: SEC Championship Game in Atlanta vs. Florida (11-1)

Big 12–#2 Oklahoma (11-1)

The Sooners outlasted #12 Oklahoma State (9-3), 61-41, in Stillwater to win the Bedlam Game. Sam Bradford played very well for Oklahoma, throwing for 370 yards. Oklahoma was second in both the Harris and coaches polls last week but trailed Texas in the computer rankings. The Sooners beat a top-15 squad Saturday, which will improve their stock in the BCS’s automated component. Meanwhile, Texas and Texas Tech–both also 11-1–defeated the bottom of the Big 12 South, Texas A&M and Baylor, respectively, both 4-8. Oklahoma lost to Texas but the pollsters clearly believe the Sooners are a better team today than are the Longhorns so they’ll win the tiebreaker tomorrow.

Oklahoma’s remaining schedule:

Dec. 6: Big 12 Championship Game in Kansas City vs. Missouri (9-3)

Automatic At-Large–#3 Texas (11-1)

The Longhorns smashed rival Texas A&M Thanksgiving night, 49-9, to cap an outstanding season. Texas will rue being unable to tackle Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree on the final play of its 39-33 loss in Lubbock. The Longhorns’ consolation prize is probably a date in the Fiesta Bowl, assuming Oklahoma doesn’t lose to Missouri next week.

Texas’s remaining schedule:

Jan. 5: Fiesta Bowl

Pac-10–#5 USC (10-1)

The Trojans crunched Notre Dame (6-6), 38-3, at home. Meanwhile, USC got the help it needed when Oregon State (8-4) was soundly beaten by visiting Oregon (9-3), 65-38. The Trojans need only beat crosstown rival UCLA at the Rose Bowl next week to win the Pac-10 and earn another appearance at the famed Pasadena stadium New Year’s Day.

USC’s remaining schedule:

Dec. 6: At UCLA (4-7)

Mountain West–#6 Utah (12-0)

The Utes continue to await their fate. Boise State and Ball State completed undefeated regular season this week. Boise State is done at 12-0. Ball State will face Buffalo (8-4) in the Mid-American Conference championship game Dec. 5. Utah played the toughest of the three non-BCS teams and will be aptly rewarded. The Utes will play in the Orange Bowl against the ACC champion.

Utah’s remaining schedule:

Jan. 1: Orange Bowl

Big 10–#8 Penn State (11-1)

The Nittany Lions still don’t know their Rose Bowl opponent. PSU thought it might get a rematch against Oregon State. The Lions humbled the Beavers in September in Happy Valley, 45-14. Now USC is the likely opponent. Either way, Joe Paterno will bring a solid, disciplined squad to Pasadena.

Penn State’s remaining schedule:

Jan. 1: Rose Bowl

Big East–#13 Cincinnati (10-2)

The Bearcats clinched the conference crown while eating leftovers Friday afternoon when West Virginia (7-4) lost at Pittsburgh (8-3), 19-15. However, Cincinnati dispatched Big East doormat Syracuse (3-9) today, 30-10, to win its tenth game. The Bearcats travel to Hawaii next week before a likely match with either Alabama or Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

Cincinnati’s remaining schedule:

Dec. 6: At Hawaii (7-5)

Atlantic Coast–#19 Boston College (9-3)

The Eagles won the ACC Atlantic Division title by squeaking past Maryland (7-5), 28-21. BC’s interception return for a touchdown with 1:43 to play proved to be the winning score. The Eagles will play Coastal Division winner Virginia Tech. BC beat VT at home, 28-23, Oct. 18. The Hokies and Eagles met twice last year as well. BC won the regular-season contest but lost the ACC Championship game in 2007. The Eagles hope history doesn’t repeat in 2008.

Boston College’s remaining schedule:

Dec. 6: ACC Championship Game in Tampa vs. Virginia Tech (8-4)

There are eight automatic bids this week, leaving two at-large spots available. The following six teams are in the pool.

#4 Florida (11-1, SEC)
#7 Texas Tech (11-1, Big 12)
#9 Boise State (12-0, Western Athletic)
#10 Ohio State (10-2, Big 10)
#11 Texas Christian (10-2, Mountain West)
#12 Ball State (12-0, Mid-American)

Alabama and Oklahoma are headed to the BCS title game in this projection. USC would face Penn State in the Rose Bowl. The Sugar Bowl would pick Florida to replace Alabama. The Fiesta Bowl would select Texas to replace Oklahoma. The Fiesta Bowl would then choose Ohio State as clearly the most attractive at-large candidate left. The Sugar Bowl would tab Cincinnati, leaving Utah to the Orange Bowl. Therefore, the BCS game projections for Nov. 29 are as follows:

BCS Championship: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Rose: USC vs. Penn State
Orange: Utah vs. Boston College
Sugar: Florida vs. Cincinnati
Fiesta: Texas vs. Ohio State

There were four football games yesterday. The closest one featured a 25-point final margin. I was hoping to see some competitive games.

Instead, I was treated to the pathetic Detroit Lions. Detroit was going to struggle against Tennessee no matter what but once the Titans were humbled, 34-13, at home by the New York Jets Sunday, I knew Detroit stood no chance yesterday. Tennessee won, 47-10, in the worst Thanksgiving result ever for the Lions. Detroit is now 0-12.

Dallas is rolling again now that Tony Romo has returned as quarterback. The Cowboys crushed suddenly moribund Seattle, 34-9, in what proved to be the closest game yesterday. Last night, Donovan McNabb put the rumors of his demise to rest for a game as he led Philadelphia to a 48-20 win over Arizona.

I’m torn between letting Detroit and Dallas keep their traditional Thanksgiving Day home games and having the games rotate among all 32 teams. With three games a year, every team would host once a decade. Better than never holding a holiday game.

Meanwhile, Texas staked its claim to the Big 12 South and BCS title game by thrashing rival Texas A&M, 49-9. The Longhorns (11-1) stifled the Aggie (4-8) offense all night. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy made a strong case for the Heisman Trophy. Now, the Longhorns must see what Oklahoma and Texas Tech do Saturday. Both teams are 10-1 and both could tie Texas for the division crown.