[Sly Fox]

Recognizing that is an excetionally long shot for us to be in the discussion for G6 Conference Champion spot in the College Football Playoff, perhas it is time for us to start exploring other potential landing spots for the Flames in the Bowl System.

Dec 17th - Frisco Bowl
Group of 6 vs. Group of 6
This would be an affordable flight for most of our East Coasters with access to both DFW & Love Field. This doesn't have the marquee value of some of the other options. But for those of us in Texas, it sure would be handy.


Dec 18th - Boca Raton Bowl
Group of 6 vs. Group of 6
This could be a terrific trip to South Florida with the kids out of school. Perhaps combined with a cruise?


Dec 19th - New Orleans Bowl
CUSA vs. Sun Belt
This may be the most attractive bowl we have a chance to score. NOLA is an amazing experience and it is within reasonable driving distance for most of our fan base. Count me strongly in on this one if it comes to fruition.


Dec 20th - Cure Bowl
Group of 6 vs. Group of 6
No explanation is necessary. No other school in the country knows this bowl in Orlando as well as LU.


Dec 23rd - Myrtle Beach Bowl
CUSA/MAC/Sun Belt
This likely is an attractive bowl for much of our fanbase. It is driveable and you can make it home for Christmas Eve.


Dec 24th - Hawaii Bowl
CUSA vs. Mountain West
Probably the one bowl that most everyone will want to pass on based on cost and it being on Christmas Eve.


Dec 26th - 68 Ventures Bowl
CUSA/MAC/Sun Belt
This is the old LendingTree Bowl in Mobile with a new sponsor. We have been there and done this one.


Dec 27th - Armed Forces Bowl
AAC/Big XII/CUSA
It is in Fort Worth which provides inexpensive flights into DFW. Fort Worth has a cool Western vibe with the Stockyards and such.

Dec 28th - New Mexico Bowl
Mountain West vs. Group of Five
This bowl dreams of having regional teams to select. That is going to be exceptionally difficult the way this season is progressing. But Albuquerque with a side trip to Santa Fe would be an easy sell to a spouse. For those who have never done anything in New Mexico except fly over, it is actually one of my favorite states to visit.

Jan 4th - Bahamas Bowl
CUSA vs. MAC
I suspect this may be among the most likely of scenarios. Yes, it is pricey like most ofthe other options that aren't driveable. But this could be a cool experience. I am not sure what the bowl committee lines up (clearly won't be as awesome as the Fiesta) but I suspect this could be a very fun trip in January which is out of hurricane season.

The good news is that we will be among the more attractive CUSA options regardless of whether we win the title due to our tremendous showing with ticket sales at the Fiesta Bowl back in January. Remember that once you get outside of the playoff, the bowls primarily make the calls on who they want from the available pool of schools. Sometimes being regional or local helps in determining the selections based on anticipated gate.

[ATrain]

Hmm, could the Bahamas become the 18th country I visit?

[Sly Fox]

Yeah, that January 4th date makes it intruguing. Won't interrupt the holidays and the kids are still off from school. That could work.

Nassau is a cool town but hurricanes keep doing a number on it. I haven't been back since my honeymoon. But the Bahamas in January is rather appealing.

[Ill flame]

For selfish reasons I just want a texas bowl, preferably the cotton bowl.

[JK37]

Speaking from many experiences, bowl trips over Christmas holiday are very cool. Lifelong memories made.

[Sly Fox]

... and angry relatives.

I have had to cover bowls over the holidays and it is fun in the moment but I have paid a price after it was over.

[ballcoach15]

Only attractive bowl destination for me are those in Alabama. But I've yet to see any LU bowl projection with a good opponent . I don't want to play a MAC team. Only Sun Belt team attractive as bowl opponent would be Marshall.

[Sly Fox]

If you are looking for an attractive opponent, our best shot is the Armed Forces Bowl. It will likely be a Service Academy based on past years. But with Army & Navy doing so well, it could wind up being mid-tier Big XII team.

It should be noted than many of the projections seem to want to combine us with JMU regardless of which bowl they are suggesting. Not sure what that is all about.

My personal wish list for bowls at this stage:

1. New Orleans
2. Armed Forces
3. The Rest
Last. Hawaii

I could potentially convince the family to put all the others in play including the Bahamas. But Hawaii is a no go under nearly every circumstance.

[JK37]

... and angry relatives.

I have had to cover bowls over the holidays and it is fun in the moment but I have paid a price after it was over.

“paid the price”?

[Purple Haize]

Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend a Bowl this year. But man the whole Fiesta Bowl Experience last year was amazing

[Sly Fox]

The Fiesta experience was indeed phenomenal. Here are today's projections:

Kyle Bonagura - ESPN:
Bahamas Bowl on Jan 4th vs. Toledo

Mark Schlabach - ESPN:
New Orleans Bowl on Dec 19th vs. Georgia Southern

Jerry Palm - CBS Sports:
Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec 23rd vs. JMU

Brett McMurphy - Action Network:
New Orleans Bowl on Dec 19th vs. Louisiana-Monroe

Brad Crawford - 247sports:
New Orleans Bowl on Dec 19th vs. Louisiana-Monroe

A bowl game in NOLA would be epic regardless of the opponent.

[JK37]

My preference is Myrtle vs JMU

[ballcoach15]

New Orleans probably the most attractive, but projected opponents are not attractive. I wish we could play a P4 opponent, even if it's one of the 32 "6-6" teams that make a game.

[TH Spangler]

New Orleans probably the most attractive, but projected opponents are not attractive. I wish we could play a P4 opponent, even if it's one of the 32 "6-6" teams that make a game.

Vanderbelt

[Sly Fox]

Vandy is not out of consideration for the CFP. They just keep winning.

I would love the New Orleans Bowl regardless of opponent. That would be a fun few days. It remains my favorite city to eat in America. The whole NOLA experience would be amazing for the majority of our fans. And I suspect that most of them have never visited the Big Easy.

Our best chance at a higher profile opponent would be if a Big XII team landed in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. But with both the academies in Annapolis & West Point playing so well, one or the other is likely a lock for that game. We could randomly land in a bowl with a middling P4 opponent. But the odds are against that happening this year unless we win out or come close to it.

Incidentally, here is another projection:

Steven Lassan - Athlon:
Hawaii Bowl on Dec 24th vs. Fresno State

[TH Spangler]

Vandy is not out of consideration for the CFP. They just keep winning.

Hope they keep winning. But if they stumble and finish with 6 or 7 wins.

[Sly Fox]

We are getting down to the point that bowl invitations starting trickling out. But here's the latest:

Kyle Bonagura - ESPN:
Bahamas Bowl on Jan 4th vs. Miami (OH)

Mark Schlabach - ESPN:
New Orleans Bowl on Dec 19th vs. Georgia Southern

Jerry Palm - CBS Sports:
Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec 23rd vs. Tulane

Brett McMurphy - Action Network:
Boca Raton Bowl on Dec 18th vs. Coastal Carolina

Brad Crawford - 247sports:
Boca Raton Bowl on Dec 18th vs. Navy

[ballcoach15]

I don't like any of those predictions.

[Ill flame]

Hoping for a bowl in texas. Beyond that as long as it's a good matchup and not in the Bahamas I don't really care.

[Sly Fox]

I'd be down with any Texan bowl for obvious reasons. But I am still locked in with New Orleans as my favorite option.

[LUOrange]

I like most of those match-ups, although Miami OH is my least favorite. I really despise the Bahamas Bowl. I seriously hope that CUSA ends its contract/association with it soon. I'm sure it's a nice reward for the teams, but it's really hard for fans to get to especially with short notice to travel.

[ballcoach15]

If we go to any bowl not in Alabama, Orlando or Louisiana, There's a 99% chance I not attend. Even then, it will depend on the opponent. If Appy State beats Georgia Southern Saturday, I am afraid Appy State will be our opponent.

[Purple Haize]

I won’t be able to attend any Bowl game this year. I’m just going to be interested to see IF LU gets selected and WHO plays for LU.

[ballcoach15]

I won’t be able to attend any Bowl game this year. I’m just going to be interested to see IF LU gets selected and WHO plays for LU.

We should get selected . As for "who plays", I'm scared to think about that, with the stupid NCAA transfer rules now.

[Sly Fox]

How the attractive the bowl and matchup are could determine participation from our squad.

I suspect it will likely be another MAC or Sun Belt opponent. If we swing someone from a higher league it would be terrific.

The odds that we are not selected for any bowl are close to zero. The odds that we are selected by an attractive bowl option are slightly higher. I see New Orleans or Armed Forces in Fort Worth as our likely ceiling. The latter woud be a HUGE deal for KSalt.