List of current bowl projections FWIW

[Simple Swineman]

ESPN (Mark Schlabach)
Liberty vs West Virginia

ESPN (Brett McMurphy)
Music City vs Penn State

CBS Sports
Liberty vs Texas

Fox Sports
Liberty vs Texas

Phil Steele
Liberty vs West Virginia

SI.com
Independence vs North Carolina

Sporting News
Liberty vs West Virginia

USA Today
Birmingham vs Memphis

Scout
Birmingham vs Memphis

Yahoo Sports
Liberty vs West Virginia

[Dominicanhog]

ESPN (Mark Schlabach)
Liberty vs West Virginia

ESPN (Brett McMurphy)
Music City vs Penn State

CBS Sports
Liberty vs Texas

Fox Sports
Liberty vs Texas

Phil Steele
Liberty vs West Virginia

SI.com
Independence vs North Carolina

Sporting News
Liberty vs West Virginia

USA Today
Birmingham vs Memphis

Scout
Birmingham vs Memphis

Yahoo Sports
Liberty vs West Virginia

If we win this week, we'll be T25 and they'll get matched against another T25 team...

[Hoggie17]

We just need to win the bowl game for recruiting and to start next year in the top 25.

[FutureMan]

Match-ups against either Texas or West Virginia would be hard-fought games.  The rest of those...beat-downs.

[Pulled(PP)pork]

Match-ups against either Texas or West Virginia would be hard-fought games.  The rest of those...beat-downs.

I don't think either of those would be tough draws, not to say they would be easy either


PP

[JaketheSnake]

Let's win so we don't have to go to Birmingham.

[Destin2bAhog]

I would like to have an easy bowl game.  "Beatdown in Birmingham" would be a great way to end the year.

[thirrdegreetusker]

Having been to all three places for bowl games, I can assure you that a December game, in Memphis, Birmingham, or Nashville, is not always a "reward" for fans.

[FutureMan]

I don't think either of those would be tough draws, not to say they would be easy either


PP

Texas has improved immensely since the start of the season.  In a lot of ways, they are like us, finally "finding their groove" so-to-speak.

West Virginia is a wild-card.  They have the potential to play a really good game and be a very tough out.  By the same token, they can be pretty awful.

[The_Bionic_Pig]

Bowl in Shreveport is the only fertile recruiting area...we need to win the final game to get into a bowl gane in Texas or Florida to see recruits in their backyards!!

[Pulled(PP)pork]

Texas has improved immensely since the start of the season.  In a lot of ways, they are like us, finally "finding their groove" so-to-speak.

West Virginia is a wild-card.  They have the potential to play a really good game and be a very tough out.  By the same token, they can be pretty awful.

what's their respective SOS?


PP

[yraciv]

Having been to all three places for bowl games, I can assure you that a December game, in Memphis, Birmingham, or Nashville, is not always a "reward" for fans.

All 3 are rewards in my opinions for fans.  Now nothing compares to New Orleans or some of the other prime locations, but Nashville is a great place. Memphis is a dump but Beale can be fun for one or 2 nights and maybe the Grizzlies are in town.  I really can't say much positive about Birmingham, but then again it is a big enough city that I'm sure you can find a good meal or bar to hang out at while in town.

The stadiums in the latter two are dumps, and we would be playing a midmajor likely in Birmingham. But give me either Memphis or Nashville and I'd be happy with it.  I'm just glad we're back in this conversation.

[ricepig]

All 3 are rewards in my opinions for fans.  Now nothing compares to New Orleans or some of the other prime locations, but Nashville is a great place. Memphis is a dump but Beale can be fun for one or 2 nights and maybe the Grizzlies are in town.  I really can't say much positive about Birmingham, but then again it is a big enough city that I'm sure you can find a good meal or bar to hang out at while in town.

The stadiums in the latter two are dumps, and we would be playing a midmajor likely in Birmingham. But give me either Memphis or Nashville and I'd be happy with it.  I'm just glad we're back in this conversation.

Yeah, Memphis or Nashville would be better destinations than Birmingham. In fact, my crew has basically vetoed going to Birmingham if that's the choice.

[Supermark101]

If we win this week, we'll be T25 and they'll get matched against another T25 team...

With conferences having a say in the process, geography and fan travel will have a huge impact on where teams go. Bowls require schools to buy a certain number of tickets, so they make money. The conference buys the schools unsold tickets, it can be millions of dollars. Closer games means more fan can go means lees the conferences has to spend.

If we win Friday, MAYBE we go to the Outback Bowl. I still don't see that happening. I still say we end up in Memphis playing West Virgina.

We will not play Texas in the Liberty Bowl. A match up with Texas in the Texas Bowl is possible, if the Big 12/Texas allows it. The only way Texas doesn't go to the Texas Bowl is if TCU or Baylor lose and fall out of the New Years Day Bowls. Even then it is unlikely to change.

[WilsonHog]

The Liberty Bowl would be my first choice because I live about 40 minutes outside of Memphis. I went to the Music City Bowl with some friends last year and had a great time; wouldn't mind that again at all. I've never been to Shreveport, so I might talk myself into going to the Independence Bowl. Birmingham....seriously doubt it.

[jgphillips3]

Geographically for recruiting, I always pull for bowls in fertile states: Louisiana, Texas or Florida.  Therefore, this year I would be pulling for Shreveport but Memphis is an easy drive for fans and not a bad recruiting area either.  Hopefully no Birmingham.

[Simple Swineman]

I put more stock in what the TV people are projecting since they are typically more in the know. They talk to the TV executives every day and those are the real decision makers when it comes to bowl matchups.

3 of the 4 TV people have us in the Liberty Bowl and the other one has us in the Music City. Just reading between the lines it seems that if we lose Friday we are in the Liberty and if we win Friday we will be in Music City.

[hoggusamoungus]

Having been to all three places for bowl games, I can assure you that a December game, in Memphis, Birmingham, or Nashville, is not always a "reward" for fans.

Other than possible weather issues, nothing wrong with Nashville.  The 2002 game against Minnesota was a bust but that wasn't Nashville's fault. 

[rickm1976]

Texas has improved immensely since the start of the season.  In a lot of ways, they are like us, finally "finding their groove" so-to-speak.

West Virginia is a wild-card.  They have the potential to play a really good game and be a very tough out.  By the same token, they can be pretty awful.

I agree about Texas.  A lot of guys on here are wanting to play them, but they are getting better every game under Charlie.  It would be tough, but I still would love to play them.

[idochog]

Liberty Bowl or Independence at lease allows you to stay at the casinos

[SpaCityHawg]

Having been to all three places for bowl games, I can assure you that a December game, in Memphis, Birmingham, or Nashville, is not always a "reward" for fans.

Silly me, I thought the bowl game was a reward for the players.

[ricepig]

Silly me, I thought the bowl game was a reward for the players.

That's ok, several make that mistake.

[SpaCityHawg]

That's ok, several make that mistake.

Right.

[hawganatic]

Would love the West Virginia matchup.  Two opposing styles with two name programs.

[hogcard1964]

I want the Music City or Gator.

[Dan42AR]

I know it won't happen but since I live in Ft. Smith I would love to see a match up with Oklahoma.

[TX HOG]

Nothing about the texas bowl

[Paul]

Shreveport is the worst of the bunch...by far. 

[hogcard1964]

Just throwing spitballs here, but isn't there a chance we could get into the Outback?

[yraciv]

Just throwing spitballs here, but isn't there a chance we could get into the Outback?

Not likely, but the SEC will assign bowls and it's not necessarily on conference rankings.  If we blow up Mizzou and A&M/LSU is a tight one things could get shaken up.  Of course MS State and Alabama have got to stay in the tournament or teams start getting knocked down a level.  We're not likely to jump Auburn, Georgia, or Ole Miss, for the top 3 SEC tieins Peach, Citrus, & Orange, but all the others could be in play if things break right.

[HogPsych]

No, Birmingham much worse than Shreveport. Please no Birmingham, not a real bowl.

[Dominicanhog]

as I stated above, we win, our bowl prospects multiply... we will be a hot commodity and in the T25... we'll play a team like Clemson, Minnesota, OU, Georgia Tech... and I'm sure a number of bowls would like to put us against Louisville or Wisconsin.

We won't be playing a team that is not in the T25, which means you have to set your sights a bit higher than Shreveport... Houston or Memphis maybe, but I think we'll have a lot of options IF we win.

[TNRazorbacker]

Liberty is a great game for us. Essentially a home game and TX or W Va either one would be a good matchup. The Stadium is underrated in my opinion too.

[HF#1]

Music City vs Louisville would be epic...  However I'm good with whatever, I'm just stoked we are bowl eligible.

[Lake City Hog]

Should we look at a Bowl Game from an overall program point of view or just as a "reward game"?
If it is a fun game then Memphis or Nashville with the players probably hoping for Nashville since the mileage money would give them a bit of spending money.
If it is a program builder then we should all hope for either Shreveport or Houston since Texas and Louisiana are both great recruiting areas. The added exposure in those areas could really help recruiting for a few years.

[Hou-Hog]

i would rather go to the Texas bowl than Memphis, Shreveport, or Birmingham

[Dominicanhog]

Music City vs Louisville would be epic...  However I'm good with whatever, I'm just stoked we are bowl eligible.

could see this happening...  :razorback:

[(notOM)Rebel123]

ESPN (Mark Schlabach)
Liberty vs West Virginia

CBS Sports
Liberty vs Texas

Fox Sports
Liberty vs Texas

Phil Steele
Liberty vs West Virginia


Sporting News
Liberty vs West Virginia


Yahoo Sports
Liberty vs West Virginia

I know the Liberty Univ. Flames are 8-4, but a FCS team making a FBS Bowl? 

[The_Bionic_Pig]

Nashville & Birmingham offers Arkansas coaches nothing in regards to recruiting purposes....

Memphis very little...

Shreveport & Houston would give our program daily media (local television) Exposure with updates of teams practices & activites and most of all major, major access to H.S. Coaches & players!!

[Dominicanhog]

Nashville & Birmingham offers Arkansas coaches nothing in regards to recruiting purposes....

Memphis very little...

Shreveport & Houston would give our program daily media (local television) Exposure with updates of teams practices & activites and most of all major, major access ti H.S. Coaches & players!!

what would a bowl in Florida give us in terms of recruiting?

[tophawg19]

i hate everything about Memphis . that bowl was a dump. it made WMS IN LR look good .

[NC_Hog_Fan]

The independence bowl takes sec #9 vs. Acc #8

That would be Arkansas vs. NC State

After many years in Raleigh, we adopted NC State as our "other team" and I'm fairly confident that the Hogs would kick the snot out of NC State!!

[Lake City Hog]

Well, for those that thought Texas might earn a better bowl, it ain't happening!
It could very well be the Liberty for Texas. I was VERY unimpressed with them and would think that our ability to throw is not too far below TCU, but our run game is much better.
I think that if we win tomorrow it could be Houston for us. If Texas is out of the Texas Bowl who would be the Big 12 representative?

[FBREW000]

i hate everything about Memphis . that bowl was a dump. it made WMS IN LR look good .

Then you haven't seen it lately... The Liberty has spent millions on the field, underpinning, jumbotron, concessions, restrooms, etc... and have significantly moved up in the bowl situation as well as in bowl payouts...

FWIW... Much better than Shreveport or Birmingham...

[A.K.A.]

Not likely, but the SEC will assign bowls and it's not necessarily on conference rankings.  If we blow up Mizzou and A&M/LSU is a tight one things could get shaken up.  Of course MS State and Alabama have got to stay in the tournament or teams start getting knocked down a level.  We're not likely to jump Auburn, Georgia, or Ole Miss, for the top 3 SEC tieins Peach, Citrus, & Orange, but all the others could be in play if things break right.

Since when does the conference assign or choose who goes to what bowls? Is that something new?

Bowl assignment is just picking order, but the bowl can choose whomever (come their time to pick) they want, unless things have changed.