MWC Bowl Picture

Utah has just accepted an invitation to the Las Vegas Bowl.  With that, the MWC bowl picture is pretty much set, with only opponents to be played as the unknowns.  Here is how bowls are shaping up for MWC teams:


First place TCU will likely play in the Rose Bowl.  This is the Rose Bowl's year in which they are obligated to take the highest-ranked non-AQ team if a team from either the Pac 10 or Big Ten plays in the national championship game.  So barring an Oregon State upset of Oregon this weekend, TCU is headed to the Rose Bowl, almost assuredly to play Wisconsin.

Second place UTAH is headed to the Vegas Bowl.  A dearth of bowl-eligible teams from the Pac 10 (including sanctioned USC) leaves Utah's opponent wide open.  There have been rumors of MAC teams Temple or Ohio.  Some have speculated that Vegas will try to get Boise State, but a Vegas Bowl official has said he didn't think they would be able to.

Third place SAN DIEGO STATE will play in the home town Poinsettia Bowl (while not yet announced, it will be announced later tonight).  They will play Navy.

Because Army has already accepted a bid to the Armed Forces Bowl, and they are not very likely to pit them in a service academy rematch, fourth place AIR FORCE will be heading to Shreveport, Louisiana for the Independence Bowl.  This bowl gets 7th pick of ACC teams.  This leaves potential teams of Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Boston College.  Georgia Tech is closest in proximity.

Fifth-place BYU will play in the New Mexico Bowl.  Rumors say that Boise State is ready to accept an invitation to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco when invited, this bowl has first pick of WAC teams.  While the New Mexico Bowl gets second pick, it will not likely be Hawaii as they will be staying at home for the Hawaii Bowl.  This leaves BYU playing Nevada or Fresno State, depending on what the Humanitarian Bowl works out.  Would they invite Nevada to Boise after last week's upset?