Iowa stomped on PSU this season, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are a shoe in for an at-large birth
The Big 10 regular season has just about come to an end but it certainly left an interesting dilemma for the BCS bowl committee. Basically, the Big 10 has three eligible teams for two BCS bids. Ohio State clinched the first bid with its automatic BCS Rose Bowl birth by winning the Big 10. This leaves Iowa and Penn State as the two remaining teams for one precious at-large birth.
Iowa is currently ranked 11th and Penn State is ranked 13th after both completing their regular season with 10-2 records. One would think Iowa should be next in line–but not so fast my friend!
From a rankings perspective, Iowa beat Penn state head-to-head this season so that should put Iowa ahead of PSU. However, the BCS is about money and Penn State is notorious for traveling well and spending money. Iowa, not as much. Because of a deep pecuniary interest, The Matador is predicting PSU will undeservedly get the nod over Iowa for the remaining BCS at-large bid.
Frankly, the conference should only get one bid based on past performance. By only getting one bid, it will help their abysmal bowl record as of late. When you have two teams in the BCS, your lower raked teams are now playing higher ranked teams in the remaining bowl games which makes it more challenging to win.
Here are last seasons bowl match-ups and results:
#3 Texas 24 v #10 Ohio State 21
#5 USC 38 v. #8 PSU 24
#15 Georgia 24 v. #18 Michigan State 12
Iowa 31 v. South Carolina 10
Kansas 42 v. Minn 21
Mizzou 30 v. Northwestern 23
Florida State 42 v. Wisconsin 13
Imagine if PSU was the lone Big 10 team in the BCS last season, all the other teams would have shifted down one spot. Meaning, OSU would have played Georgia rather than Texas and so forth. There wasn’t one Big 10 team ranked higher than any of its opponents. This is indicative of the conference’s bowl record.
However, as the system is applied today, the BCS is about the Benjamins and the Big 10 has proven year-after-year that it will travel well and spend. So to all my PSU fans, book your flights to Arizona, we are more than likely headed to the Fiesta Bowl.
We will know for sure on December 6, when the BCS committee releases its bowl schedule.
