Unbelievably, one of the favorites, if not the #1 favorite to represent the BIG TEN in this game is ...........
IOWA
The OUTBACK BOWL is plugged into the 3rd place BIG TEN team........if only one team from the conference makes a BCS game.
However, at this time, OSU and PSU are favorites for a BCS game, meaning the 4th place BIG TEN team goes to Outback Bowl...........which could very easily be Iowa.
OHIO ST. wins out
PSU wins out
NW loses @ Michigan
Iowa wins out vs. Purdue and @ Minnesota(who they seem to always handle).
1. PENN ST
2. OHIO ST
3. MICH ST
4. IOWA
IOWA
The OUTBACK BOWL is plugged into the 3rd place BIG TEN team........if only one team from the conference makes a BCS game.
However, at this time, OSU and PSU are favorites for a BCS game, meaning the 4th place BIG TEN team goes to Outback Bowl...........which could very easily be Iowa.
OHIO ST. wins out
PSU wins out
NW loses @ Michigan
Iowa wins out vs. Purdue and @ Minnesota(who they seem to always handle).
1. PENN ST
2. OHIO ST
3. MICH ST
4. IOWA
The Outback Bowl is a NEW YEARS BOWL
Currently, after their win at home vs. #3 PSU, Iowa is still not highly ranked by the two most popular polls.........
AP---35th
COACHES--- 39th
I guess if Iowa were to win their last two games, they would possibly leak into the top 20 in one or both of these polls.
Having said all this, the OUTBACK Bowl would love to have Iowa, as they know a minimum of 28,000 Iowa fans would attend the game.
Currently, after their win at home vs. #3 PSU, Iowa is still not highly ranked by the two most popular polls.........
AP---35th
COACHES--- 39th
I guess if Iowa were to win their last two games, they would possibly leak into the top 20 in one or both of these polls.
Having said all this, the OUTBACK Bowl would love to have Iowa, as they know a minimum of 28,000 Iowa fans would attend the game.
Spurrier's Gamecocks Seem Bound For Tampa
By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 10, 2008
TAMPA - The Outback Bowl appears positioned for its dream team - the South Carolina Gamecocks.
For the Jan. 1 game at Raymond James Stadium, there are no better potential storylines than the return to Tampa of Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier and freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia of Jefferson High School.
"There's nothing to be said definitively about any team because there are so many games left to be played," Outback BowlCEO JimMcVay said.
True enough.
But for a variety of reasons, South Carolina (7-3, 4-3) looks like the Outback's odds-on choice from the SEC. The Big Ten opponent is harder to predict, although best guesses are Iowa, Northwestern or Minnesota.
The SEC champion - either Florida or Alabama - appears headed for the BCS Championship Game in Miami. That likely puts the SEC title game's loser at the Sugar Bowl.
Orlando's Capital One Bowl gets second choice from the SEC, probably the Georgia Bulldogs (8-2, 5-2), the preseason's No. 1-ranked team, which finishes against Auburn and Georgia Tech. From the Big Ten, either Michigan State or Penn State would be Georgia's probable opponent.
The Outback - picking next - gets the next available team with preference to the SEC East. That would be South Carolina, which concludes with two road games at Florida and Clemson.
There's also another subplot. McVay and Spurrier are longtime friends. When Spurrier was head coach of the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits from 1983 to 1985, McVay was the team's marketing director.
"South Carolina has been in our discussions all along," said McVay, who acknowledged the Gamecocks were one of the best Outback Bowl participants, traveling with large fan bases to victories against Ohio State in 2001 and 2002. "Are they an attractive looking team for any bowl game? Absolutely.
"I've known Steve and Jerri Spurrier for a long time. Steve is a special guy and a special talent. But there are bigger issues than friendships involved in this, such as conference relationships, ratings, rankings, head-to-head competition, you name it. So I'll reiterate that it's early. But we like how things are developing for us in each conference."
BOWL PROJECTIONS
BCS Title Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma
We pick Sooners to defeat Texas Tech on Nov. 22 and win Big 12.
Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State
Pasadena isn't bad consolation prize for Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions.
Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Ohio State
One-loss Longhorns will be controversial selection over Texas Tech.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. West Virginia
Mountaineers (somehow) still find a way to win the crazy Big East.
Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. Utah
Tar Heels (and Butch Davis) suddenly in commanding ACC position.
Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Iowa
Hawkeyes, once 2-3, could finish 8-4 (with five wins in last six games).
Gator Bowl: Florida State vs. Notre Dame
Jacksonville bowl has sights set on Irish (even at 7-5) and hard sellout.
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida vs. Memphis
Not exactly the glamorous bowl trip Bulls were seeking this year.
By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune
Published: November 10, 2008
TAMPA - The Outback Bowl appears positioned for its dream team - the South Carolina Gamecocks.
For the Jan. 1 game at Raymond James Stadium, there are no better potential storylines than the return to Tampa of Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier and freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia of Jefferson High School.
"There's nothing to be said definitively about any team because there are so many games left to be played," Outback BowlCEO JimMcVay said.
True enough.
But for a variety of reasons, South Carolina (7-3, 4-3) looks like the Outback's odds-on choice from the SEC. The Big Ten opponent is harder to predict, although best guesses are Iowa, Northwestern or Minnesota.
The SEC champion - either Florida or Alabama - appears headed for the BCS Championship Game in Miami. That likely puts the SEC title game's loser at the Sugar Bowl.
Orlando's Capital One Bowl gets second choice from the SEC, probably the Georgia Bulldogs (8-2, 5-2), the preseason's No. 1-ranked team, which finishes against Auburn and Georgia Tech. From the Big Ten, either Michigan State or Penn State would be Georgia's probable opponent.
The Outback - picking next - gets the next available team with preference to the SEC East. That would be South Carolina, which concludes with two road games at Florida and Clemson.
There's also another subplot. McVay and Spurrier are longtime friends. When Spurrier was head coach of the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits from 1983 to 1985, McVay was the team's marketing director.
"South Carolina has been in our discussions all along," said McVay, who acknowledged the Gamecocks were one of the best Outback Bowl participants, traveling with large fan bases to victories against Ohio State in 2001 and 2002. "Are they an attractive looking team for any bowl game? Absolutely.
"I've known Steve and Jerri Spurrier for a long time. Steve is a special guy and a special talent. But there are bigger issues than friendships involved in this, such as conference relationships, ratings, rankings, head-to-head competition, you name it. So I'll reiterate that it's early. But we like how things are developing for us in each conference."
BOWL PROJECTIONS
BCS Title Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma
We pick Sooners to defeat Texas Tech on Nov. 22 and win Big 12.
Rose Bowl: USC vs. Penn State
Pasadena isn't bad consolation prize for Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions.
Fiesta Bowl: Texas vs. Ohio State
One-loss Longhorns will be controversial selection over Texas Tech.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. West Virginia
Mountaineers (somehow) still find a way to win the crazy Big East.
Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. Utah
Tar Heels (and Butch Davis) suddenly in commanding ACC position.
Outback Bowl: South Carolina vs. Iowa
Hawkeyes, once 2-3, could finish 8-4 (with five wins in last six games).
Gator Bowl: Florida State vs. Notre Dame
Jacksonville bowl has sights set on Irish (even at 7-5) and hard sellout.
St. Petersburg Bowl: South Florida vs. Memphis
Not exactly the glamorous bowl trip Bulls were seeking this year.
Would love to see an IOWA-SO CAROLINA match-up..........
If it happens, I'm sure the Outback officials would do everything possible to screw Iowa, much as they did in the last Outback Bowl Iowa participated in............if the officials had made the right call, Iowa had a chance to defeat an SEC team for the 3RD consecutive time in a bowl, instead the Gators avenged an Outback loss to the Hawkeyes two years earlier by coming away with the slim win.
If it happens, I'm sure the Outback officials would do everything possible to screw Iowa, much as they did in the last Outback Bowl Iowa participated in............if the officials had made the right call, Iowa had a chance to defeat an SEC team for the 3RD consecutive time in a bowl, instead the Gators avenged an Outback loss to the Hawkeyes two years earlier by coming away with the slim win.
early voting...
<CENTER>Which teams would you like to see play in the Outback Bowl?</CENTER>
<TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: auto; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: 35px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 20px">Big Ten</TD><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Illinois</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Indiana</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Iowa</TD><TD>38%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Michigan</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Michigan State</TD><TD>24%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Minnesota</TD><TD>5%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Northwestern</TD><TD>9%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Ohio State</TD><TD>15%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Penn State</TD><TD>4%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Purdue</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Wisconsin</TD><TD>1%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD vAlign=top><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 35px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: auto; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 20px">SEC</TD><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Alabama</TD><TD>3%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Arkansas</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Auburn</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Florida</TD><TD>5%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Georgia</TD><TD>20%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Kentucky</TD><TD>4%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">LSU</TD><TD>16%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Mississippi</TD><TD>1%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Mississippi State</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">South Carolina</TD><TD>45%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Tennessee</TD><TD>1%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Vanderbilt</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Results current through Nov 10, 4:22 PM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<CENTER>Which teams would you like to see play in the Outback Bowl?</CENTER>
<TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: auto; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: 35px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 20px">Big Ten</TD><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Illinois</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Indiana</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Iowa</TD><TD>38%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Michigan</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Michigan State</TD><TD>24%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Minnesota</TD><TD>5%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Northwestern</TD><TD>9%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Ohio State</TD><TD>15%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Penn State</TD><TD>4%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Purdue</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Wisconsin</TD><TD>1%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD vAlign=top><TABLE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 35px; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: auto; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" cellSpacing=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 20px">SEC</TD><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Alabama</TD><TD>3%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Arkansas</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Auburn</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Florida</TD><TD>5%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Georgia</TD><TD>20%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Kentucky</TD><TD>4%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">LSU</TD><TD>16%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Mississippi</TD><TD>1%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Mississippi State</TD><TD>0%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">South Carolina</TD><TD>45%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Tennessee</TD><TD>1%</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px">Vanderbilt</TD><TD>2%</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Results current through Nov 10, 4:22 PM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Not for the Outback it wouldn't be..............
Bowls love to have Iowa in their games.
Case in point, Iowa drew 60,000 fans to the Orange Bowl a few years ago. A couple days before the game, I was talking to a committee member for the bowl and he stated(and was being honest), that he hoped Iowa would make the Orange Bowl every year, as he couldn't believe the amount fans in the area........34 hours before the game. I told him to expect about another 10,000 in addition to the 30,000 that was at this particular Hawkeye party. I was wrong, it was an additional 30,000 fans.
I will never forget tailgating before that game, I never saw more than four USC fans in the entire parking lot until just a few minutes before kickoff........meanwhile there were MINIMUM 50,000 Hawkeye fans and there were no way you could walk blindly without stepping on a beer can......in the ENTIRE PRO PLAYER STADUIM PARKING LOT.......it was unbeleivable and I will never forget that sight. Unfortuately, the Hawks took it on the chin to a great USC team, although the 1st half was close.
Losing Bob Sanders for most of the 2nd half really hurt the Hawks.
