Rivals.com releases bowl projections every Wednesday, and, good news for local fans, even after the home loss to Mississippi State, Kentucky is still in, and after the devastating road loss to Central Florida, Marshall is still in.
Ohio State, West Virginia and Cincinnati are obviously in the mix, but where they land is up for debate.
So, don’t make plans yourself to land at any particular destination yet. And if you’re a Herd or Cats fan, don’t schedule off work or make any hotel reservations yet.
The next two weeks are absolutely crucial for both the Herd and the Cats.
Marshall (5-4) has an extra week to either prepare for Southern Mississippi or dwell on the most heartbreaking, gutwrenching loss of the season, and perhaps the start down a black diamond slope for Mark Snyder.
Kentucky (4-4) has two winnable games in the next couple of weeks—Eastern Kentucky and Vanderbilt. If the Wildcats come out of Nov. 14 with six wins, that will likely get them in. With a road game against Georgia and a home affair with white-hot Tennessee, a 6-6 season is most probable. However, if Randall Cobb is given more chances in the Wildcat formation, as he should have last Saturday, who knows what can happen.
The ball needs to be Cobb’s hands as often as possible. Just as it should have been on a certain two-point conversion at South Carolina and a red zone opportunity in the final minutes against Mississippi State. Kentucky, go with what works!
According to Rivals.com, Marshall is projected to face Northern Illinois in the EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 29.
Any bowl game would be great for Snyder’s bunch, who lately have disappeared after November faster than grandma’s pumpkin pie.
Other possible destinations for the Herd include Fort Worth, Texas, St. Petersburg, Fla., New Orleans or Honolulu. At least those are all warmer than Washington.
For Kentucky, the odds are slim that it will go anywhere but back home to Lexington or down to Birmingham, Ala., which is an eight-hour drive from Ashland. It’s typically where the No. 9 SEC team lands, but the SEC could get 10 teams in if two are in BCS bowls.
Rivals.com has the Wildcats playing in the Yellowhammer State against the Big East No. 5 team, projected to be South Florida.
Same goes for Kentucky—any bowl would be a blessing. The Gravy Bowl would be better than going home, even though it’s not real. Wouldn’t that be great? Marshall vs. Kentucky in The Independent Gravy Bowl. Could they play at Putnam?
I digress. Cats fans, start showing your support and ordering pizza online because I don’t see a much better option than finishing 10th in the conference and heading to the PapaJohns.com Bowl.
Going back to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis would be fantastic. It’s a great city, and not too bad of a drive—about the same distance as Birmingham. I traveled to Memphis with my father last Jan. 2, and we made a weekend out of it. There’s a lot to do there, and you have to try the ribs.
The actual game was the best part, though, as Kentucky blitzed back to beat East Carolina behind a fumble recovery return for a touchdown by then-senior Ventrell Jenkins. Perhaps the coolest part about it was that we were sitting right behind an entire row full of Jenkins’ family. We were able to share some high-fives with the Jenkins’ crew after the game-winning TD.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats’ dream of a high-profile bowl essentially ended last week, but the season is not over. Just hope that Vanderbilt and Mississippi State hold off from any end-of-the-season magic.
Ohio State is projected to play LSU in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. West Virginia is projected to play Temple in the International Bowl in Toronto. Cincinnati and Florida are predicted to meet in the Sugar Bowl.
If the Mountaineers can win three of their next four, they can possibly make a move up to the Meineke Car Care Bowl or the Gator Bowl, but that entails a win over Pittsburgh or Cincinnati.
Ohio State could fall to the Outback Bowl if it does not take care of business and beats Michigan.
The Cincinnati-Florida projection is very much in question, because that means Alabama beats LSU Saturday and Florida loses to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Rivals.com has Alabama and Texas slated for the BCS Championship game.
Bearcats fans are hoping Alabama can lose this weekend, Florida can fall, and Iowa can lose at Ohio State, because Texas has the easiest road right now.
AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.
