JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Walking through my bowl projections..I have a Two Up scenario...Wisky to Rose, Michigan Fiesta, Nebraska beating Iowa and in Cap One, MSU to Outback...
INSIGHT: They have a 9-3 Penn State team sitting here. In most years, they'd love this prospect and in most years, Penn State would have been the Outback's choice over Michigan State and the Spartans would be an easy team to slot here. However, this is not most years as it relates to Penn State. I ask the same question this week that I asked one week ago; what bowl and bowl sponsor is going to want to welcome Penn State to their city this year and to be a de facto representative of their product? Would there be potential product boycotts? I don't know, that sounds a bit extreme but it's a consideration.
The Insight's choices here are Penn State, a 6-6 Ohio State team or a 7-5 Iowa team. Iowa was there last year, but they do have a strong local following. The Insight won't get many shots at Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have been to the Valley of the Sun several times in recent years and this is a down year for them. Will Penn State fans want to travel this year? Or might they travel to support their team, players that have nothing to do with the alleged horrors that have taken place in the program and administration?
Had Ohio State beaten Penn State, I think the Nits would have finished 8-4 and would have been passed over for this game as well as the Gator Bowl and would have been invited to the Ticket City Bowl. However, their win against Penn State really shakes things up. Ask yourself this question; of these three schools, what's the safest play for the Insight Bowl here? 9-3 Penn State with baggage, 6-6 Ohio State with no buzz or 7-5 Iowa who was just there a year ago and is a solid gate draw and is the only one of the three not currently being investigated by either the NCAA, law enforcement or both? ?
INSIGHT: They have a 9-3 Penn State team sitting here. In most years, they'd love this prospect and in most years, Penn State would have been the Outback's choice over Michigan State and the Spartans would be an easy team to slot here. However, this is not most years as it relates to Penn State. I ask the same question this week that I asked one week ago; what bowl and bowl sponsor is going to want to welcome Penn State to their city this year and to be a de facto representative of their product? Would there be potential product boycotts? I don't know, that sounds a bit extreme but it's a consideration.
The Insight's choices here are Penn State, a 6-6 Ohio State team or a 7-5 Iowa team. Iowa was there last year, but they do have a strong local following. The Insight won't get many shots at Ohio State, but the Buckeyes have been to the Valley of the Sun several times in recent years and this is a down year for them. Will Penn State fans want to travel this year? Or might they travel to support their team, players that have nothing to do with the alleged horrors that have taken place in the program and administration?
Had Ohio State beaten Penn State, I think the Nits would have finished 8-4 and would have been passed over for this game as well as the Gator Bowl and would have been invited to the Ticket City Bowl. However, their win against Penn State really shakes things up. Ask yourself this question; of these three schools, what's the safest play for the Insight Bowl here? 9-3 Penn State with baggage, 6-6 Ohio State with no buzz or 7-5 Iowa who was just there a year ago and is a solid gate draw and is the only one of the three not currently being investigated by either the NCAA, law enforcement or both? ?
