2024 bowl projections thread

[690West]

Another piece of key info that I tried to convey (not as well as the article does) is the regional aspect of the Gator’s SEC slot. Missouri is not coming to the Gator. There are 2-3 bowls the Tigers are closer to geographically. That is why UF is, to me, the most logical choice for the Gator and in turn, SU would be their most logical opponent (SU>Duke). Gaotoe Bowl Exec Director Greg McGaritty was the longtime UGA Athletic Director and I guarantee he is friendly with ADJW (likely from the ESPN days). He’s also more in the media space that ADJW, that is why the newspaper’s prediction of UF-SU is so telling. It is what McGarrity believes (as if Friday) is the most likely scenario.

So if SU fans want the Gator and it’s stand alone Jan. 2 time a lot (and a good chance that McCord chooses to play), then we want SMU to beat Clemson. Yea, that would hurt us and the rest of the ACC financially (one team in the CFP), but with where we are as a program, for me, the Gator is the best outcome for Fran damn Brown.

Lastly, I suspect that McCord had told ADJW and Fran he will play in the Gator Bowl. SEC opponent, good exposure, warmer weather (Jacksonville can get cold in early January), NFL field, etc. And in turn, I would guess that ADJW has conveyed that to McGarrity.

That’s the read.

Good post but I’m confused with wanting SMU. If Clemson wins a close game , the ACC gets 2 in and that makes Gator or pop tarts a guarantee which is all we want. And it keeps Bama out!!! What am I missing?

 

[OburgOrange]

Good post but I’m confused with wanting SMU. If Clemson wins a close game , the ACC gets 2 in and that makes Gator or pop tarts a guarantee which is all we want. And it keeps Bama out!!! What am I missing?

This ^^^.

 

[SU94]

I was told to root for Clemson. They’re the competition not Miami. But the Jacksonville article makes good points so I don’t know what to think. Unless there’s a domino effect from Clemson not being in CFP that moves Syracuse down without Clemson being in the Gator. That likely means Florida wouldn’t play and Miami could be a possibility.

Two thoughts:

To answer this question above: Clemson winning may nudge SMU out of the playoff. That is an uncertain outcome perhaps dictated by the margin of potential defeat. And SMU could be a viable Gator Bowl option if they are not in the CFP. Safer bet is to root against Team Dabo.

Mark Schlabach: He’s, to me, the smartest college football writer in the nation. He’s been at this for 20+ years and he’s well, well connected. Serious journalist. He is also a Georgia grad, and undoubtedly quite familiar with McGarrity. That’s another tell, as Mark had predicted UF-SU. They’ve been in touch. Not a definite, but it is the most likely scenario that McGarrity sees (or wants to happen).

 

[SU94]

Good post but I’m confused with wanting SMU. If Clemson wins a close game , the ACC gets 2 in and that makes Gator or pop tarts a guarantee which is all we want. And it keeps Bama out!!! What am I missing?

Valid ^^^. I think that the worry there is that the Selection Committee will keep Bama over SMU. See FSU (2023) and Miami (2024).

 

[690West]

Valid ^^^. I think that the worry there is that the Selection Committee will keep Bama over SMU. See FSU (2023) and Miami (2024).

Yup. Always a chance. If SMU loses 27-24 and the comittee still goes with Bama just burn the whole thing down. Bama lost to Cato-meridian just 2 weeks ago and only put up 3 points! What are we doing here

 

[orange_in_VA]

If they keep Bama in over SMU, nobody will ever play a conference championship game again. Lol

 

[upperdeck]

They can't say no more datapoints for Ala and then punish the teams that get into a playoff game.

Now if SMU was 9-3 and 11th vs Ala 9-3 in 12th and got smoked thats a different story.

They are clear of Ala by 2 games. That should matter.

 

[HyattsCuse]

Yup. Always a chance. If SMU loses 27-24 and the comittee still goes with Bama just burn the whole thing down. Bama lost to Cato-meridian just 2 weeks ago and only put up 3 points! What are we doing here

Agree. I've read several articles and listened to analyst clips. Consensus seems to be if Clemson beats SMU by double digits, SMU is out, 'Bama in. I have yet to see SMU this year to agree or disagree with that, but let's hope for a close game.

Big 12 commissioner is spot on...they are looking at the logo and not the resumes.

 

[djorange1989]

I don’t trust that committee if SMU loses. All of a sudden the fact that SMUs ACC schedule didn’t contain the top teams until the title game and then they lost that one so blah blah Alabama is in because we kiss SEC arse

 

[kcsu]

This article from the Florida Times-Union provides some good insights into the Gator Bowl situation. Hints we are in if Clemson wins. Note the concerns over UM’s ability to bring fans and the expectation Cam Ward will not play.

It was published yesterday morning. I think it is significant in that this is the Jacksonville newspaper.

Gator Bowl final projections: Florida is the SEC preference, Syracuse makes late-season push

The outcome of the ACC championship game between SMU and Clemson could determine the final Gator Bowl match8p.

www.jacksonville.com

We want Clemson for a ton of reasons. Miami is getting hosed by not getting in to the playoffs.

 

[kirbivore]

Ok, stop freaking out folks, 9-3 teams in the top 25 don’t go to the freaking Pinstripe. All this dope knows is coaches birthdays. Move on, nothing to see here, last I checked his last name is McMurphy, not Steinbrenner

When it comes to this league I fully expect SU to get the short end of the stick. So...

 

[cuse1989]

Not if they lose tomorrow I don’t think

They are looking good so far today.

 

[anomander]

We want Clemson for a ton of reasons. Miami is getting hosed by not getting in to the playoffs.

100% SU fans should want Clemson to win today.

 

[OburgOrange]

 

[llandz]

I am confused. Who do I root or tonight? I had thought Clemson, but now some are saying SMU. I need to know the right answer. Got 6 hours to decide...

 

[llandz]

Is anyone thinking of doing board group tickets? I would most likely be going alone to a bowl game and would be looking to sit with someone. Keep me in mind when we find out our destination on Sunday.

 

[David321]

I am confused. Who do I root or tonight? I had thought Clemson, but now some are saying SMU. I need to know the right answer. Got 6 hours to decide...

A friend of mine pointed out that a close SMU loss is probably the best outcome. Either way I'm going to keep it simple, I don't want to see SMU waltz in and win our conference their first year.

 

[sutomcat]

I am confused. Who do I root or tonight? I had thought Clemson, but now some are saying SMU. I need to know the right answer. Got 6 hours to decide...

Root for Clemson.

If they win, I think we are bowling in FLA and the seniors will play one more time in orange.

IMHO, the only way this does not happen is if Clemson blows out SMU. And imho, that is not possible. Clemson can’t score enough points to do that. I am not sure they can score enough to win but they are not blowing out the Mustangs.

Now that I have been foolish enough to post this, they probably will. But I think the best outcome for us is a narrow Clemson victory. I haven’t seen SMU play all season, but based on what they have done to date, I expect this to end in an SMU win. I am hoping Clemson can stay close and find a way to win late.

 

[djorange1989]

So, I know we all want the Gator, but are we worried that if Clemson loses tonight we won’t get the Gator, Holiday or Pop Tarts and that Louisville will get one of those, along with Clemson and Miami? Or is this purely a Florida worry and we still may get the Holiday? I know the worry about a third trip out West for our fanbase but I am just trying to get the lay of the land

 

[Archimedes]

We want Clemson for a ton of reasons. Miami is getting hosed by not getting in to the playoffs.

If Clemson wins, I want to see Dabo turn to the camera and say "Her Fran Brown, Congrats, I got you in baby..." to the Gator Bowl.

 

[sutomcat]

So, I know we all want the Gator, but are we worried that if Clemson loses tonight we won’t get the Gator, Holiday or Pop Tarts and that Louisville will get one of those, along with Clemson and Miami? Or is this purely a Florida worry and we still may get the Holiday? I know the worry about a third trip out West for our fanbase but I am just trying to get the lay of the land

I don’t think UL has a prayer of getting one of the big 3 best ACC bowls. Don’t think they are even being considered.

If Clemson wins, Miami, Syracuse and Duke get the big 3. There might be a chance UL takes a spot from Duke but I believe the ACC has a 2 win rule that prevents a 7-5 team from getting a bid from a 9-3 team. Maybe that only applies to conference record. I don’t think so.

If Clemson loses, Clemson will get a big 3 bowl. And 2 of UM, Duke and Syracuse will get the other 2 spots. I suspect in that situation, Duke gets the Duke’s Mayo, Clemson gets the Holiday and UM and SU get the Florida bowls. But Brett is saying no to this right now and that we would be the school who falls to one of the lesser bowls. Past experience indicates he might be right. The Jacksonville newspaper seems to say the Gator remains open in this scenario. Let’s hope Clemson wins and we don’t have to swear this out.

I have had enough winter games in Yankee Stadium over the last 16 years or so. No mas, por favor.

 

[djorange1989]

I don’t think UL has a prayer of getting one of the big 3 best ACC bowls. Don’t think they are even being considered.

If Clemson wins, Miami, Syracuse and Duke get the big 3. There might be a chance UL takes a spot from Duke but I believe the ACC has a 2 win rule that prevents a 7-5 team from getting a bid from a 9-3 team. Maybe that only applies to conference record. I don’t think so.

If Clemson loses, Clemson will get a big 3 bowl. And 2 of UM, Duke and Syracuse will get the other 2 spots. I suspect in that situation, Duke gets the Duke’s Mayo, Clemson gets the Holiday and UM and SU get the Florida bowls. But Brett is saying no to this right now and that we would be the school who falls to one of the lesser bowls. Past experience indicates he might be right. The Jacksonville newspaper seems to say the Gator remains open in this scenario. Let’s hope Clemson wins and we don’t have to swear this out.

I have had enough winter games in Yankee Stadium over the last 16 years or so. No mas, por favor.

Ok well I know people are valuing McMurphy’s opinion/insights but no way in hell we are falling to the Pinstripe. They have two Northeast 7-5 teams to choose from, a 9-3 top 25 team is not falling there, that would be unprecedented for that game and zero reason for that to change. I also do not believe for a second that Duke will get a better bowl than us. But, yes, I am rooting for a close Clemson win so hopefully 2 ACC teams get in and we are 100% safe, or 99% safe

 

[CuseTroop]

Is anyone thinking of doing board group tickets? I would most likely be going alone to a bowl game and would be looking to sit with someone. Keep me in mind when we find out our destination on Sunday.

If we don't end up doing something through the board, you're more than welcome to hang with the Cusetroop Brigade again! You survived the last one!

 

[David321]

I don't like SMU being so good so quick, but if they miss the CFP for losing a conference game than that is complete BS. Teams won't even want to play in the CG.

 

[dasher]

If I could have my wish, it would be that we play Michigan in some warm weather place. I don't think players would opt out for a game against Michigan. For Kyle.