Bowl Predictors Point to Holiday Contest vs. Oregon
6 comments so far
May 21, 2009 by
We’ve reached the point in the year where many of us slowly countdown the days until fall camp begins in August. That’s because we’re entering a period of three months where there is very little news relevant to the 2009 season (other than injuries and suspensions). It’s also a period of time where the prognosticators begin to go on the record.
For those who scour these predictions, it was interesting to see CollegeFootballNews.com come out with some early bowl projections. They picked a Nebraska/Oregon match-up as the most likely to occur in the Holiday Bowl. Normally, one website’s prediction wouldn’t be worth a whole lot except for how closely it resembled some earlier picks by collegebowlprojections.com which came out last December and had the identical Holiday Bowl pairing. Both sites also put Texas and Oklahoma into BCS bowls and both thought Oklahoma State would be headed to the Cotton Bowl. Both also had a Georgia Tech versus Notre Dame Gator Bowl.
Taking with a huge grain of salt that these two sites making the same pick means anything, the question is whether or not a Holiday Bowl is something worth being excited about. On the one hand, each of the past three seasons saw both participating teams enter the Holiday Bowl with nine wins or more. If you said the Huskers would go 9-3 in the regular season with a chance to win one more, most would call that a fairly successful season.
On the other hand, it’s a hard bowl to get too excited about. First, it’s not played on New Year’s Day. Next, the Huskers presence in the game means they lost the Big 12 championship game at best or failed to win the division at worst. It also means the Husker’s are probably fourth in the pecking order of Big 12 teams when the bowl assignments are made. Going back further than three seasons, you’ll also find some teams made it to the Holiday Bowl with four losses.
Still a Holiday Bowl appearance could mean the Huskers are going to be ranked in the AP top 25. The way these sites projected bowls, it also suggested a better year for Nebraska than Kansas, Missouri, or any other Big 12 North squad. When you think that the Huskers are just over one year removed from a losing season and that Pelini probably exceeded the baseline expectations in 2008, it wouldn’t be a bad finish and could be considered progress if indeed it meant nine regular season wins.
But even if the Huskers grab the North, win nine and play in a Holiday Bowl, it won’t feel like the Huskers are “back”. If the standard is a typical Tom Osborne season, then Nebraska needs to finish ranked in the top ten and play in a BCS bowl. Anything less still feels like a rebuilding year.
Did you enjoy this article?
Get Husker news by email
Follow us on Twitter
Related Stories: Predictions
Post a comment
Matt May 21 09
If we get the Holiday Bowl after making it to the Big XII Title Game, it wouldn't feel like we're "back", but it will be positive progress.
Remember that the Cotton Bowl isn't exactly keen on Nebraska, nor are we on it. Living in the DFW area, all I heard was complaining and moaning from the locals about why there isn't a 'better' (read: south of the Mason-Dixon line) team playing. Add to that the playing conditions (typically cold, crappy weather) and the stadium (it's still a dump, no matter how pretty you make it), and there's not a lot to cheer about with a Cotton Bowl selection.
Add to this Dr. Tom's supposed dislike for the Cotton Bowl (per various message boards), and there's no way in heck we'll go back to the Cotton Bowl anytime soon.
So outside of a BCS bowl, that leaves Nebraska with the Holiday Bowl as the 'best' bowl our team can get. And frankly, it's 10x better than the pig wearing lipstick that the South keeps trying to resurrect IMO.
Greg Morrow May 21 09
As Solich used to say, (still does, I'm sure) it is what it is.
San diego doesn't give you the tropical or, swampy feel, as a winter getaway. You still might want to bring a light jacket, for the night game. Might even be overcast, all week. Not too bad, though. You can do the Sea World thing, go see the Zoo. Downtown's been modernized, just don't stray off. Like any big city. There's the Midway Aircraft Carrier museum, right at the edge of downtown at the harbor, which is pretty cool. You can also see "live" carriers, right across the bay.
You get the ocean from several scenic vantage points, including Cabrillo Monument, which is spectacular. Might even see a Sub or Carrier cruising out, from there. Or a whale.
Too bad SD doesn't offer a more prestigious game, but it's often a good one.
The Big 12's done well, but it seems like an almost setup game. With the Pac 10's runner up against our 3rd place, there's also the likelihood of Nebraska coming off a loss.
Not sure of Nebraska's bowl record after a seasonal loss, maybe I'll look it up, later. (Probably not.)
Matt May 22 09
Good points Greg.
And let me add that there's not really a whole lot to do down here in Dallas proper for tourist attractions. Ft. Worth, Arlington--yes, but Dallas, no. And the Ft. Worth and Arlington attractions are weather-dependent.
This is one of the reasons Dallas is trying to force the College Football Hall of Fame down to Dallas. The other reason being that the Texas fans don't feel there are enough Texans in said Hall of Fame. :|
bnahusker May 22 09
Is The Cotton Bowl Game not moving into Jerry's new stadium?
If not, why?
GBR!
Bob
vaver Nov 17 09
What I don't get is how Nebraska wouldn't be playing as the conference 2nd place team. If they do win the north and go to the Big 12 title game, and by some chance beat Texas, they would be conference champs and go to a BCS game automatically. Isn't that the reason to have to halves of the conference? If Oklahoma State is the second place team by record, assuming they beat OU, then why not have them play Texas? It kinda makes the conference championship game unneccesary. Yes I'm a Husker fan. But I always cheer for the Big 12 so don't think I'm hateful. Just want a GOOD explanation for this. Don't give me the "That's the way it works answer".
vaver Nov 17 09
What I don't get is how Nebraska wouldn't be playing as the conference 2nd place team. If they do win the north and go to the Big 12 title game, and by some chance beat Texas, they would be conference champs and go to a BCS game automatically. Isn't that the reason to have to halves of the conference? If Oklahoma State is the second place team by record, assuming they beat OU, then why not have them play Texas? It kinda makes the conference championship game unneccesary. Yes I'm a Husker fan. But I always cheer for the Big 12 so don't think I'm hateful. Just want a GOOD explanation for this. Don't give me the "That's the way it works answer".