STILLBUSTER
Well-Known Member
Set aside the "shoulda" argument; that's indisputable and reveals some major game-planning failures / schematic flaws that we all hope get addressed.
I'm sitting here wondering does it really matter with regards to the bowls.
Let's say they beat NW but lose to OSU in another great (like last year) game and Wisky & MSU win out like they probably will anyway.
Same overall (9-3) and conference record (6-2). The best bowl would be the Cap-1, and, more probably the Outback, as Wisky goes Rose, OSU's national reputation gets them the Sugar. MSU gets the Cap-1 nod on overall record.
Let's say all things are as they are but Iowa somehow saves face and beats OSU. Same overall and conference record. The best bowl would be the Cap-1 and more probably the Outback, as Wisky goes Rose, MSU gets a bone to the Sugar, OSU's national rep and overall record gets them the nod to the Cap-1.**
**I could envision the networks, B11, Cap-1 and Outback all working out a back-room deal to make this happen based on the following:
-- OSU would more likely travel to the "more prestigious" higher pay-out Cap-1 over the Outback while Iowa fans would travel equally well to either.
-- ABC would rather have OSU's national audience for the Cap-1 where Iowa would probably get the same audience whether on ABC or ESPN.
Unless someone can point out an obvious oversight in the selection process, it appears to me that Iowa is destined to the Outback regardless of the NW game. Of course, they have to beat OSU to get there.
Which raises another question. Which would you rather have -- the NW "L" but an OSU "W" or having beaten NW but still losing to OSU?
I'm sitting here wondering does it really matter with regards to the bowls.
Let's say they beat NW but lose to OSU in another great (like last year) game and Wisky & MSU win out like they probably will anyway.
Same overall (9-3) and conference record (6-2). The best bowl would be the Cap-1, and, more probably the Outback, as Wisky goes Rose, OSU's national reputation gets them the Sugar. MSU gets the Cap-1 nod on overall record.
Let's say all things are as they are but Iowa somehow saves face and beats OSU. Same overall and conference record. The best bowl would be the Cap-1 and more probably the Outback, as Wisky goes Rose, MSU gets a bone to the Sugar, OSU's national rep and overall record gets them the nod to the Cap-1.**
**I could envision the networks, B11, Cap-1 and Outback all working out a back-room deal to make this happen based on the following:
-- OSU would more likely travel to the "more prestigious" higher pay-out Cap-1 over the Outback while Iowa fans would travel equally well to either.
-- ABC would rather have OSU's national audience for the Cap-1 where Iowa would probably get the same audience whether on ABC or ESPN.
Unless someone can point out an obvious oversight in the selection process, it appears to me that Iowa is destined to the Outback regardless of the NW game. Of course, they have to beat OSU to get there.
Which raises another question. Which would you rather have -- the NW "L" but an OSU "W" or having beaten NW but still losing to OSU?
