Bowl Possibilities
It’s a slow news week, so I’m going to do what every other Buckeye fan is doing: talk about where the Bucks end up bowling.
Option 1: Fiesta Bowl (BCS)
It’s really interesting seeing how many fans want this bowl game. Bowl games in Arizona have been good to this team, and many like the idea of a probable Texas matchup for the 3rd time in 4 years. It’s also interesting to see the chatter from fans about why the team will be chosen. They cite friends/relatives/sources who say it’s close to a done deal. Pretty comical. Fiesta gets to choose first, so that could heavily factor into who gets selective.
Option 2: Sugar Bowl (BCS)
This will probably be a game against the loser of the SEC Championship game. At this point, everyone is believing that Florida handles Alabama and advances to the title game. That leaves Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. There is a sect of fans that want this matchup because they desperately want this team to shake the SEC monkey off their backs. They also feel that OSU matches up well with Bama.
Option 3: Capital One Bowl
To me, this is the least desirable destination because I feel this team would provide a great game in a BCS game. At this point, no one is going to watch the Orange Bowl (ACC champ vs. Cincy), and Boise will probably get rolled by Bama in the Sugar, if they get the nod over us. Think about what Georgia did to Hawaii last year for reference. The ratings would suffer without the Buckeyes in the BCS, not to mention the bottom line. However, the Cap One still gives the team an SEC opponent, so that’s a positive.
From what I’ve been reading, it seems like it’s basically going to be a fight between the Fiesta and Sugar bowls for the Bucks. Neither bowl really wants Utah, but one of them has to take them. It’s been pointed out that their fanbase probably won’t travel well, so the likely destination could be the Fiesta Bowl to keep them somewhat close to home. But the bowl, and city, won’t make the money off the game that they would if Ohio State were chosen. And because Ohio State has been to the Fiesta Bowl so often, the committee knows exactly what they’ll get (profit) from a trip to Glendale.
For the reason I mentioned above, the Sugar Bowl doesn’t really want Utah either. That game with Hawaii last year probably has them stressed out about selecting a team from a non-BCS team again. Concerns may include how well they’ll travel, not to mention the number of fans that are members of the Mormon church. If they are selected to go to a bowl game in ‘Nawlins, there isn’t going to be much action on Bourbon St., now is there? That could be a concern as well.
BCS games are all about the mighty dollar and committees know that the Ohio State Buckeyes = $$$. Whether or not we’re “worthy” is not really what matters right now. Each bowl wants to make a ton of money and that’s why I feel that the Fiesta Bowl will jump at the opportunity to bring the Buckeyes back to AZ. They’re going to look out for themselves and pick the best opponent possible. And by best, I mean the most profitable team and accompanying fanbase. I still have the Collector’s edition bag of Tostitos that were made after the team’s National Championship in 2002. Would be nice to buy another collector’s item, wouldn’t it?
Now if we end up New Orleans bound, I’ll chalk it up to some backdoor deal between the Fiesta and Sugar Bowl committees. Just my opinion. You know both Bowls want OSU.
I’m sure there’ll be more and more chatter leading up to Sunday’s announcement. Don’t miss it Sunday at 8PM on FOX. I’m sure they’ll gather the team and put a camera in their faces for the announcement.
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