The big wins, the past two weeks, have earned the Irish the opportunity to go "BOWLING" and not the kind with a bag, ball, shoes and shirt! Notre Dame currently stands 6-5 after Saturday night's win at Yankee Stadium over Army -- with the USC Trojans left this Saturday in Los Angeles. Let's take a look at where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish could be headed for a Bowl Game:
When the Irish beat USC Saturday night (!) -- they will finish the season at 7-5, winning their last three games of the season. And, they will be the most desired 7 win team in America -- for bowl game committees.
Most experts believe the Irish will be headed to Orlando to play in the Champs Sports Bowl on December 28th against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference -- probably North Carolina State. The Irish have the option of taking the Big East slot in this game this year or next. Big East fans will be furious!
If the Irish are "upset" by the Trojans this week -- we will finish the season with six wins -- and, then it gets a little crazy with where the Irish may end up. Here are a few of the Bowl Games that will be lining up trying to convince Notre Dame to play in their game:
-The Hyundai Sun Bowl -- in El Paso, TX on December 31. This bowl is scheduled to take ACC #4 vs. the PAC 10 #4. Yet, many are predicting that the Fighting Irish will take the PAC 10 spot and play the Miami Hurricanes in this game. The media is going to have a field day with this...
-The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl -- in San Francisco on January 9th. Can you believe they're playing a bowl game for a six win team on January 9th? This game is scheduled to take the #6 team in the PAC 10 Conference (assuming they are bowl eligible) against a team from the Western Athletic Conference. Yet, many feel they'll find a way to invite Notre Dame.
-Ticket City Bowl -- in Dallas on January 1st. This bowl is scheduled to take a team from the Big Ten vs. a team from the Big 12. Only eight Big Ten teams are bowl eligible for the nine bowl games that are contracted with the conference -- that doesn't account for any Big Ten team that is selected for a BCS bowl game. Many feel, the Ticket City Bowl is praying they are the bowl that doesn't have to take a Big Ten team -- and, that the Irish will fall to them.
-Little Caesars Bowl -- in Detroit on December 26th. This bowl is also scheduled to take a Big Ten team vs. the Mid American Conference Champion. As mentioned above, the Big Ten doesn't have enough bowl eligible teams this year, and there won't be a Big Ten team in Motown at this game. The Mid American Conference Champion will come from one of three teams; Northern Illinois, Ohio or Miami, OH (which is coached by former ND player and coach -- Mike Haywood!)
-New Era Pinstripe Bowl -- in New York City on December 30th. This bowl game is scheduled to take the #7 team in the Big 12 vs. the #4 team in the Big East. At present, the Big 12 has eight teams bowl eligible, but there's the chance that Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri could be scooped up by one of the BCS Championship games leaving a spot open here for the Irish.
-The BBVA Bowl -- in Birmingham, AL on January 8th. This bowl game is scheduled to take the #10 out of the SEC vs. the Big East. At present, only eight teams in the SEC are bowl eligible, so this spot is not going to be filled.
-The Military Bowl -- in Washington D.C. on December 29th. This bowl game is scheduled to take the #8 team out of the ACC against a team from Conference USA. There are nine teams in the ACC that are bowl eligible with the outside chance that Virginia Tech may get selected for one of the BCS Bowl Championship games. I don't see the Irish being around to be picked by this bowl game!
