subject: Fiesta Bowl Tickets - Projected Bowl Participants [print this page] The Fiesta Bowl, taking place on JanThe Fiesta Bowl, taking place on Jan. 4 in Glendale, Arizona at the University of Phoenix Stadium just outside Phoenix, will draw a huge crowd and tons of media attention no matter which teams are invited to play. However, if you're rooting for a specific team this year, you might be interested in knowing what teams out there have the best chances of making the Fiesta Bowl. If your favorite team gets into the Fiesta Bowl this season, make sure you head online as fast as you can to secure Fiesta Bowl tickets, because the stadium is going to fill up very quickly. Here is the lowdown on a few of the most likely teams to play in the Fiesta Bowl.
Texas - Most Texas Longhorns football fans are expecting their team to make it all the way to the ultimate prize of college football, the BCS National Title Game, played this year in Pasadena, Calif. at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7. Currently (as of Nov. 22, 2009), the Texas Longhorns are ranked No. 3 in the BCS poll and No. 3 in the AP Top 25 Poll. Considering the fact that either Florida (No. 1) or Alabama (No. 2) must lose one of their remaining games (because they play each other in the SEC Title Game) Texas will likely fill the No. 1 or No. 2 spot by season's end, effectively sealing the deal on a bid to the title game.
However, that's assuming that Texas will win out the rest of the way, which isn't guaranteed. First the Longhorns will have to beat Texas A&M on Nov. 26, which is no guarantee considering the bad blood between these two Lone Star State rivals. Then, Nebraska will get a chance to secure the Big 12 title against the Longhorns on the 5th of December. So, if Texas loses against A&M, it might be the case that they play in the Fiesta Bowl.
Boise State - Lots of experts are picking Boise State to play in the Fiesta Bowl. By rule the Fiesta Bowl will select the winner of the Big 12, unless that team is invited to the BCS Title Game. If that happens, then the BCS can pick anybody, and they might just go with an undefeated team from the western half of the U.S., Boise State, assuming the Broncos can finish undefeated. Boise will have to play two more games this season, one against Nevada on the 27th of November and one against New Mexico State on Dec. 5.
TCU - Texas Christian makes the same case for a Fiesta Bowl Game bid as Boise State-they're an undefeated team from a smaller conference that has a high BCS and AP Poll ranking. Currently TCU is ranked No. 4 in the BCS and AP Polls, so they have some clout, assuming they can finish strong against New Mexico.
A Big Ten Team - Iowa, Ohio State and Penn State are all 10-2 overall with decent positioning in the BCS polls. However, Ohio State will play in the Rose Bowl as the winner of the conference title, so Iowa and Penn State look like good, solid schools for the selection committee to decide upon for the at-large bid of the Fiesta Bowl.
A Big 12 Team - There's always a possibility that another Big 12 team could slip into the Fiesta Bowl. It's a long shot, but Nebraska is a three-loss team that could prove something against Texas in the Big 12 championship, and Oklahoma State is a two-loss team with relatively high poll numbers and a big game against rival Oklahoma coming up. Could the Big 12 make its way to the Fiesta Bowl without Texas?
