That’s my feeling, anyway.

i live in scottsdale and bought my tixs last week. Last time i did the same thing for the insight.com bowl and Central Michigan fucked my life up. Ok State and Indiana ended up there and i think only about 25,000 people showed up. I lost a hundy a tix on that bullshit. Football gods don’t fuck me now. Fiesta Bowl, Tucson next year, then National Championship next year all in Arizona. I hope its against TCU also as they are supposed to be more physical and a better team. I really like how we match up with them and it would go a long way towards earning back respect nationaly for the Big Ten. Everyone talks about Boise being so great and they are good, but i think our D is to much for them. Either one of those two makes the Fiesta the second best BCS game ratings wise if i were a beating man. Go Hawks!

Seems to me that if they pick first to replace the SEC champion, why would they not want to pick an Iowa team that travels better than most of the other teams they might choose?

The trick is to get a team that isn’t “local” (you can get those teams later, since there are plenty of local teams, usually) but getting a northern team that will fill your seats and restaurants and hotels can be difficult.

I think we may be overstating the ‘PR issue’ with the BCS. Do you really think they give a fuck? (I’ll give you one guess and the answer is ‘no’). Anyway, of the teams listed above, Iowa is the one team with a proven record of selling out more than their allotment for bowl games. The Pitt/PSU storyline may be a good one, but AZ is a long way from PA. This argument would make more sense for the Orange Bowl if the pecking order were different. Okie St., Boise, Cincy and Pitt either have difficulty selling out their own stadiums or traveling well or both. My assumption is both Ga Tech and Oregon win out. And unless the TV guys promise to buy the remaining seats for the bowl, I don’t see the Fiesta electing to roll the dice on teams that won’t bring the dollars to their stadium.

And you left off Notre Dame?

If they lose to Oregon State to end their regular season, I think it is unlikely they’ll be in the top 14.

that is the classic, let’s see how many people buy so we can tell the Bowl Execs. If the numbers are high with these sales, that will only strengthen Iowa’s case. But, the more I think about this, the more I think Iowa is going to the Fiesta and maybe even the Orange should the Fiesta feel pressured to take Ok. State due to tie-in and/or Boise due to high ranking.

http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2009/11/22/1169807/troy-johnson-is-big-ten-potw#comments

I didn’t, but buddy of mine said one of the commentators spoke to Fiesta Bowl insider, who said they’d take Penn State because “of what what JoPa has done for this bowl.” whatever that means.

I think TCU lucks out this year. Sugar will take either Alabama or Florida and with the last pick they will get stuck with TCU. Despite the BCS rankings heading into that game it is really #3 v #4. So TCU gets a chance to prove what they’ve got on the big stage. Sugar lucks out that it’s first selection will be such a strong draw and the NCAAF geeks will tune in to see what all the TCU fuss is about.

Nebraska could be 9-3 going into the BigXII Championship game versus Texas. Crazier things have happened than to see a Nebraska team fueled by a dominant defensive performance defeat an erratic Texas squad. If everything else played out, it would put TCU in the MNC Game and would push either Nebraska or Texas to the Fiesta Bowl. It would mean one less at-large position for the likes of the Big Ten.

they have as close to a zero chance as is possible. Texas A&M has a better chance to beat Texas.

and I’m aware someone’s already posted on this – but I would positively blow my load if we managed to get Boise. Just think of it! On one hand you have one of the most conservative play calling coaching staffs (staves?) in the country and on the other you have Captain Crazy-Pants Chris Petersen. Yes, I believe our D could make them cry – but that could be a truly EPIC game!

/end ecstacy. ((falls on floor drooling))

If the Fiesta is dumb enough to skip over us with their first pick then the Orange is just waiting to take us. The amount of money we spent there in 2003 was crazy. We more than doubled the USC crowd and most fans were in Miami for an entire week. $$ talks and unless some crazy BS happens in the Big XII then we are in one of them for sure. Big10 network and sports Illustrated have Fiesta matchup of Iowa VS. Boise St.

Where ever we end up just understand one thing…We will kick some ass!!!

They apparently are focused on TCU as likely to be their other team. This piece argues picks like this:

Fiesta- Big Ten team / logic = if they take Ok. St. then they are likely left with choice btwn Cinncy or TCU and they don’t want Cinncy due to lack of fan support if if they are left with TCU they don’t want “regional” game with Ok. St.
Orange Bowl – Ok. St. or Boise / logic = don’t want another bowl with Cinncy as it was bust last year.
Fiesta – TCU (req. team) / logic = given choice between TCU and Cinncy they want more regional TCU to ensure fan travel
Sugar Bowl – Cinncy (req. team)

So, the question is will it be TCU and Penn State or TCU and Iowa. You know the arguments on that one.