[Spiny_Norman]

Stewart Mandel at Fox Sports has projected Stanford to play in the Sun Bowl vs Pitt.  If you want to see Stanford take on the best opponent, this would be a good match up, certainly better than playing Indiana in the FF Bowl.  Pitt (8-4) beat both Clemson and Penn State this season.  Would also be another chance to beat Pat Narduzzi, once the MSU defensive coordinator, now the Pitt HC.

[Spiny_Norman]

Stewart Mandel at Fox Sports has projected Stanford to play in the Sun Bowl vs Pitt.  If you want to see Stanford take on the best opponent, this would be a good match up, certainly better than playing Indiana in the FF Bowl.  Pitt (8-4) beat both Clemson and Penn State this season.  Would also be another chance to beat Pat Narduzzi, once the MSU defensive coordinator, now the Pitt HC.

[thunder_chik]

Stewart Mandel at Fox Sports has projected Stanford to play in the Sun Bowl vs Pitt.  If you want to see Stanford take on the best opponent, this would be a good match up, certainly better than playing Indiana in the FF Bowl.  Pitt (8-4) beat both Clemson and Penn State this season.  Would also be another chance to beat Pat Narduzzi, once the MSU defensive coordinator, now the Pitt HC.

This sounds like a great matchup; much more attractive than FF again.

[thunder_chik]

Stewart Mandel at Fox Sports has projected Stanford to play in the Sun Bowl vs Pitt.  If you want to see Stanford take on the best opponent, this would be a good match up, certainly better than playing Indiana in the FF Bowl.  Pitt (8-4) beat both Clemson and Penn State this season.  Would also be another chance to beat Pat Narduzzi, once the MSU defensive coordinator, now the Pitt HC.

This sounds like a great matchup; much more attractive than FF again.

[Farm93]

[quote author=Spiny_Norman link=topic=16187.msg181078#msg181078 date=1480443336]
Stewart Mandel at Fox Sports has projected Stanford to play in the Sun Bowl vs Pitt.  If you want to see Stanford take on the best opponent, this would be a good match up, certainly better than playing Indiana in the FF Bowl.  Pitt (8-4) beat both Clemson and Penn State this season.  Would also be another chance to beat Pat Narduzzi, once the MSU defensive coordinator, now the Pitt HC.

This sounds like a great matchup; much more attractive than FF again.
[/quote]
El Paso is not quite a dream destination, but I love that the Sun Bowl means something to that community.  A good opponent would be a bonus.

The Chicken Bowl barely makes the local news and it doesn't help that the official city and the host city are very different places.  Maybe the bowl could get Great America to open up just for the football team and/or the ticket holders.  That might add to the appeal.  I think right now the teams go and do touristy SF stuff for a day, but none of that is particularly interesting to 18-23 year old football players.  I guess another alternative is to let all of the players ride in Google cars or visit the Tesla plant.  Both might be memorable for that age group.  Even if the Chicken Bowl did those type of Silicon Valley things the Sun Bowl and El Paso just care more about the idea of the game.  And I also love that they hate how USC disrespected the Sun Bowl and that community.  They get bonus points right there in my book.

[Farm93]

[quote author=Spiny_Norman link=topic=16187.msg181078#msg181078 date=1480443336]
Stewart Mandel at Fox Sports has projected Stanford to play in the Sun Bowl vs Pitt.  If you want to see Stanford take on the best opponent, this would be a good match up, certainly better than playing Indiana in the FF Bowl.  Pitt (8-4) beat both Clemson and Penn State this season.  Would also be another chance to beat Pat Narduzzi, once the MSU defensive coordinator, now the Pitt HC.

This sounds like a great matchup; much more attractive than FF again.
[/quote]
El Paso is not quite a dream destination, but I love that the Sun Bowl means something to that community.  A good opponent would be a bonus.

The Chicken Bowl barely makes the local news and it doesn't help that the official city and the host city are very different places.  Maybe the bowl could get Great America to open up just for the football team and/or the ticket holders.  That might add to the appeal.  I think right now the teams go and do touristy SF stuff for a day, but none of that is particularly interesting to 18-23 year old football players.  I guess another alternative is to let all of the players ride in Google cars or visit the Tesla plant.  Both might be memorable for that age group.  Even if the Chicken Bowl did those type of Silicon Valley things the Sun Bowl and El Paso just care more about the idea of the game.  And I also love that they hate how USC disrespected the Sun Bowl and that community.  They get bonus points right there in my book.

[TheFarm07]

ESPN's post-CFP rankings for today (11/29)'s bowl projections have us in the Foster Farms Bowl against Northwestern

[TheFarm07]

ESPN's post-CFP rankings for today (11/29)'s bowl projections have us in the Foster Farms Bowl against Northwestern

[CowboyIndian]

This sounds like a great matchup; much more attractive than FF again.

El Paso is not quite a dream destination, but I love that the Sun Bowl means something to that community.  A good opponent would be a bonus.

The Chicken Bowl barely makes the local news and it doesn't help that the official city and the host city are very different places.  Maybe the bowl could get Great America to open up just for the football team and/or the ticket holders.  That might add to the appeal.  I think right now the teams go and do touristy SF stuff for a day, but none of that is particularly interesting to 18-23 year old football players.  I guess another alternative is to let all of the players ride in Google cars or visit the Tesla plant.  Both might be memorable for that age group.  Even if the Chicken Bowl did those type of Silicon Valley things the Sun Bowl and El Paso just care more about the idea of the game.  And I also love that they hate how Under Stanford Control (again) disrespected the Sun Bowl and that community.  They get bonus points right there in my book.
[/quote]

I don't know who you pissed off to be in negative territory on the reputation meter but you are right on with the above. I will be in El Paso AND Ciudad Juarez! Ay-yi-yi!!

[CowboyIndian]

This sounds like a great matchup; much more attractive than FF again.

El Paso is not quite a dream destination, but I love that the Sun Bowl means something to that community.  A good opponent would be a bonus.

The Chicken Bowl barely makes the local news and it doesn't help that the official city and the host city are very different places.  Maybe the bowl could get Great America to open up just for the football team and/or the ticket holders.  That might add to the appeal.  I think right now the teams go and do touristy SF stuff for a day, but none of that is particularly interesting to 18-23 year old football players.  I guess another alternative is to let all of the players ride in Google cars or visit the Tesla plant.  Both might be memorable for that age group.  Even if the Chicken Bowl did those type of Silicon Valley things the Sun Bowl and El Paso just care more about the idea of the game.  And I also love that they hate how Under Stanford Control (again) disrespected the Sun Bowl and that community.  They get bonus points right there in my book.
[/quote]

I don't know who you pissed off to be in negative territory on the reputation meter but you are right on with the above. I will be in El Paso AND Ciudad Juarez! Ay-yi-yi!!

[Spiny_Norman]

Kyle Bonagura says "multiple sources" indicate that Stanford is likely El Paso bound.

Multiple bowl sources say Holiday prefers WSU over Stanford & FF likes Utah over Stanford.

https://twitter.com/BonaguraESPN/status/...9635677184

[Spiny_Norman]

Kyle Bonagura says "multiple sources" indicate that Stanford is likely El Paso bound.

Multiple bowl sources say Holiday prefers WSU over Stanford & FF likes Utah over Stanford.

https://twitter.com/BonaguraESPN/status/...9635677184

[fullmetal]

Which means we'll get a really bad ACC team...CFP will take Clemson, then the Citrus and Russell Athletic bowls will pick the next two.  Then it's a four-way collaboration between the Music City, Belk, Sun, and Pinstripe bowls for the so-called "Tier #1" bowls of the ACC.  (As if the NY6 and CFP weren't the top tier.)  What puzzles me is the lack of integration between the Citrus Bowl and the NY6 on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bids_to_co...bowl_games

If Stanford gets an ACC team like Pitt (who beat Penn St.)...well, I guess Stanford needs to show up big time and earn some conference respect.  We need to prove that we also deserve the current U$C reputation as the NY6-caliber team that nobody wants to face.

[fullmetal]

Which means we'll get a really bad ACC team...CFP will take Clemson, then the Citrus and Russell Athletic bowls will pick the next two.  Then it's a four-way collaboration between the Music City, Belk, Sun, and Pinstripe bowls for the so-called "Tier #1" bowls of the ACC.  (As if the NY6 and CFP weren't the top tier.)  What puzzles me is the lack of integration between the Citrus Bowl and the NY6 on this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bids_to_co...bowl_games

If Stanford gets an ACC team like Pitt (who beat Penn St.)...well, I guess Stanford needs to show up big time and earn some conference respect.  We need to prove that we also deserve the current U$C reputation as the NY6-caliber team that nobody wants to face.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I've never been to El Paso but I've heard from those who have that it's a less than ideal vacation spot.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

I've never been to El Paso but I've heard from those who have that it's a less than ideal vacation spot.

[fullmetal]

Juarez is dangerous, and there's not too much to do in El Paso except conduct death marches...right?  /cue someone with more Cardboard institutional knowledge

[fullmetal]

Juarez is dangerous, and there's not too much to do in El Paso except conduct death marches...right?  /cue someone with more Cardboard institutional knowledge

[yvonne]

El Paso is kind of meh, but the bowl puts together nice events for the players and families. It also makes fans feel more special than other of the minor bowls do. They have signs in the airport welcoming fans from the two schools, for examples. If I went, I'd probably end up taking a trip to Carlsbad Caverns, as well.

[yvonne]

El Paso is kind of meh, but the bowl puts together nice events for the players and families. It also makes fans feel more special than other of the minor bowls do. They have signs in the airport welcoming fans from the two schools, for examples. If I went, I'd probably end up taking a trip to Carlsbad Caverns, as well.

[CTcard]

Kyle Bonagura says "multiple sources" indicate that Stanford is likely El Paso bound.

Multiple bowl sources say Holiday prefers WSU over Stanford & FF likes Utah over Stanford.

https://twitter.com/BonaguraESPN/status/...9635677184

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why that would be true.

Stanford is 9-3, has won five in a row, is ranked 18/17/17, features the most exciting RB in the country, and last year sold out their Rose Bowl allotment quickly.
Also have become a marquee program nationally over the past decade.
WSU is 8-4, has lost two in a row, is unranked all around, and last year left the Sun Bowl 6000+ below their attendance of the previous several years.
Utah is 8-4, has lost two in a row and three of four, is a clear sixth in the conference, is ranked 20/unranked/24, and didn't exactly get to SRO in the Vegas Bowl the last two years (much better last year than the year before - thus 2015 maybe more due to BYU).

[And there is more - though granted stuff nobody knows about and I am sure the bowls don't care about. WSU and Utah are the two teams with the biggest in-conference scheduling break this year. Both played only three of the top-six (with the conference split into a clear top-6 bowl eligble group and a bottom-6 non-eligible group), whereas every other one of the contenders played four. Even worse, Utah is the only bowl-eligible Pac 12 team that lost to a non-eligble team, and they did it twice somehow getting their offense stalled by Cal and Oregon. Still not sure how Utah is still ranked by anyone.]

However, I think it is more interesting for the players to get a trip somewhere than not - so Sun may be better than Foster Farms for all involved.

[CTcard]

Kyle Bonagura says "multiple sources" indicate that Stanford is likely El Paso bound.

Multiple bowl sources say Holiday prefers WSU over Stanford & FF likes Utah over Stanford.

https://twitter.com/BonaguraESPN/status/...9635677184

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why that would be true.

Stanford is 9-3, has won five in a row, is ranked 18/17/17, features the most exciting RB in the country, and last year sold out their Rose Bowl allotment quickly.
Also have become a marquee program nationally over the past decade.
WSU is 8-4, has lost two in a row, is unranked all around, and last year left the Sun Bowl 6000+ below their attendance of the previous several years.
Utah is 8-4, has lost two in a row and three of four, is a clear sixth in the conference, is ranked 20/unranked/24, and didn't exactly get to SRO in the Vegas Bowl the last two years (much better last year than the year before - thus 2015 maybe more due to BYU).

[And there is more - though granted stuff nobody knows about and I am sure the bowls don't care about. WSU and Utah are the two teams with the biggest in-conference scheduling break this year. Both played only three of the top-six (with the conference split into a clear top-6 bowl eligble group and a bottom-6 non-eligible group), whereas every other one of the contenders played four. Even worse, Utah is the only bowl-eligible Pac 12 team that lost to a non-eligble team, and they did it twice somehow getting their offense stalled by Cal and Oregon. Still not sure how Utah is still ranked by anyone.]

However, I think it is more interesting for the players to get a trip somewhere than not - so Sun may be better than Foster Farms for all involved.

[fullmetal]

If conference record is how the bowls rank teams for selection, then Stanford is facing an uphill battle.  If playoff ranking matters, then Stanford has a nice upper hand.

WSU is trending down, and I really think (as mentioned before) that they can't win vs. good teams without River Cracraft.  Utah did have an exciting game against CU...so they have that going for them.

If the Holiday is looking to take Iowa, I can see how they would prefer not-Stanford.  If the FF bowl is looking to take Northwestern, I can also see why they would lean against Stanford.

Sorry if I'm repeating myself.  Speculation is mindless hypothesizing into the void...

[fullmetal]

If conference record is how the bowls rank teams for selection, then Stanford is facing an uphill battle.  If playoff ranking matters, then Stanford has a nice upper hand.

WSU is trending down, and I really think (as mentioned before) that they can't win vs. good teams without River Cracraft.  Utah did have an exciting game against CU...so they have that going for them.

If the Holiday is looking to take Iowa, I can see how they would prefer not-Stanford.  If the FF bowl is looking to take Northwestern, I can also see why they would lean against Stanford.

Sorry if I'm repeating myself.  Speculation is mindless hypothesizing into the void...

[82lsju]

call me a cynic but since ESPN televises most of the bowl games I'd guess they have a large amount of input into who plays in each game as they try and maximize their viewership across the 30+ games they televise

[82lsju]

call me a cynic but since ESPN televises most of the bowl games I'd guess they have a large amount of input into who plays in each game as they try and maximize their viewership across the 30+ games they televise

[HisKneeWasDown]

I've never been to El Paso but I've heard from those who have that it's a less than ideal vacation spot.

I kind of liked El Paso when I went for the game vs Oklahoma. Sure it's kind of a quiet town, but as far as watching a game, it was nice. Getting to and from the venue was easy... free shuttle bus. Our tailgate location was good. There was a nice festival the night before with lots of local food stands and a battle of the bands.

I vaguely remember being surprised by some of the history of the town and the Sun Bowl, but of course I don't know remember any of it anymore....

Granted, this was after a long bowl drought, and each successive bowl after that got better and better, so.... it's all relative.

[HisKneeWasDown]

I've never been to El Paso but I've heard from those who have that it's a less than ideal vacation spot.

I kind of liked El Paso when I went for the game vs Oklahoma. Sure it's kind of a quiet town, but as far as watching a game, it was nice. Getting to and from the venue was easy... free shuttle bus. Our tailgate location was good. There was a nice festival the night before with lots of local food stands and a battle of the bands.

I vaguely remember being surprised by some of the history of the town and the Sun Bowl, but of course I don't know remember any of it anymore....

Granted, this was after a long bowl drought, and each successive bowl after that got better and better, so.... it's all relative.

[ChicagoCard]

I can't fathom how Pitt could give up 61 points to Syracuse (Pitt scored 76). Syracuse was shut out by Clemson.

[ChicagoCard]

I can't fathom how Pitt could give up 61 points to Syracuse (Pitt scored 76). Syracuse was shut out by Clemson.

[TriangleTree]

How realistic is it for Washington, Colorado and USC to all attend New Year Bowls?

I would think that USC against anybody would be highly desired, given their late surge and the accepted rationalization that they're a new team following the QB change.

Penn State-Colorado is attractive because they're both highly ranked teams with strong records that bring question marks due to their recent resurgence.

For the life of me, I can't understand why Stanford is not the most attractive PAC team beyond these 3. I guess my delusions of us having made it to the big leagues are just that. We are coming off a #3 ranked season, are currently the highest ranked, have McCaffrey, and on a 5 game winning streak with a new QB who hasn't yet lost a game he's started. How on earth can an unranked Wazzu or declining Utah compete with that? If the tables were turned, we wouldn't have a prayer.

[TriangleTree]

How realistic is it for Washington, Colorado and USC to all attend New Year Bowls?

I would think that USC against anybody would be highly desired, given their late surge and the accepted rationalization that they're a new team following the QB change.

Penn State-Colorado is attractive because they're both highly ranked teams with strong records that bring question marks due to their recent resurgence.

For the life of me, I can't understand why Stanford is not the most attractive PAC team beyond these 3. I guess my delusions of us having made it to the big leagues are just that. We are coming off a #3 ranked season, are currently the highest ranked, have McCaffrey, and on a 5 game winning streak with a new QB who hasn't yet lost a game he's started. How on earth can an unranked Wazzu or declining Utah compete with that? If the tables were turned, we wouldn't have a prayer.

[OutsiderFan]

Anyone look at the empty seats at Stanford Stadium this year?  I think that might have something to do with why Stanford isn't being given too much love in the college football press.

[OutsiderFan]

Anyone look at the empty seats at Stanford Stadium this year?  I think that might have something to do with why Stanford isn't being given too much love in the college football press.

[BigEasyCard]

I've never been to El Paso but I've heard from those who have that it's a less than ideal vacation spot.

In 2001 my daughter and I passed through El Paso on the way back to Stanford.  We did not stop there, but greatly enjoyed the historic town of Mesilla NM about 45 miles further west on I-10.  Trip Advisor rates it as the #1 attraction in the Las Cruces area.

Juarez is dangerous, and there's not too much to do in El Paso except conduct death marches...right?  /cue someone with more Cardboard institutional knowledge

As an experienced Mexico traveler (over 40 trips), I would not cross the border to Juarez given the current security situation in the state of Chihuahua.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

I've never been to El Paso but I've heard from those who have that it's a less than ideal vacation spot.

In 2001 my daughter and I passed through El Paso on the way back to Stanford.  We did not stop there, but greatly enjoyed the historic town of Mesilla NM about 45 miles further west on I-10.  Trip Advisor rates it as the #1 attraction in the Las Cruces area.

Juarez is dangerous, and there's not too much to do in El Paso except conduct death marches...right?  /cue someone with more Cardboard institutional knowledge

As an experienced Mexico traveler (over 40 trips), I would not cross the border to Juarez given the current security situation in the state of Chihuahua.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BurgXXIII]

We missed the '77 game (watched on TV), but attended the '96 and '09 games. After the '96 game we took our family (two young daughters) across the border and wandered around Juarez looking for some savory street vendor food, encountering players and their families doing the same. During the '09 game we looked across to the empty streets and bullet-marked walls of Juarez. At the shuttle bus stop people offered the unsolicited advice that if we crossed to Juarez we would be murdered.

I'm planning on skipping '16 if it happens.

[BurgXXIII]

We missed the '77 game (watched on TV), but attended the '96 and '09 games. After the '96 game we took our family (two young daughters) across the border and wandered around Juarez looking for some savory street vendor food, encountering players and their families doing the same. During the '09 game we looked across to the empty streets and bullet-marked walls of Juarez. At the shuttle bus stop people offered the unsolicited advice that if we crossed to Juarez we would be murdered.

I'm planning on skipping '16 if it happens.

[fullmetal]

How realistic is it for Washington, Colorado and Under Stanford Control (again) to all attend New Year Bowls?

It's possible. UW to the CFP, CU to the Rose, and if U$C has any mojo left, it could be the Cotton Bowl at-large.  But U$C would have to beat out Michigan, I think.  I would think the Rose takes the Big 10 CCG winner, leaving the Orange and Cotton to pick either Michigan or the Big 10 CCG loser.  The Orange will take a Big 10 team by contract, but the Cotton is an at-large--would U$C beat either Penn St., Wisco, or Michigan?

[fullmetal]

How realistic is it for Washington, Colorado and Under Stanford Control (again) to all attend New Year Bowls?

It's possible. UW to the CFP, CU to the Rose, and if U$C has any mojo left, it could be the Cotton Bowl at-large.  But U$C would have to beat out Michigan, I think.  I would think the Rose takes the Big 10 CCG winner, leaving the Orange and Cotton to pick either Michigan or the Big 10 CCG loser.  The Orange will take a Big 10 team by contract, but the Cotton is an at-large--would U$C beat either Penn St., Wisco, or Michigan?