By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com PublisherFollow Chris on Twitter @ChrisMWilliams
Happy bowl selection Sunday Cyclone Nation.
Where is Iowa State going?
Right now, I don’t know. Nobody knows. I’m not even sure when to tell you to expect any sort of announcement to be made. However, we can connect a few dots.
Yesterday provided more drama with the Bowl Championship Series than most saw coming.
For instance, Southern Miss’ dismantling Houston was a real head scratcher.
Then, there was Oklahoma State’s statement win over Oklahoma.
Here’s what Iowa State fans need to watch for when polls start coming out later this afternoon. Since Houston is no longer in the BCS mix, who gets that final bid? Is is TCU, who needs to move up in the polls? Or will Kansas State somehow sneak into the mix? Both could technically get selected as well. The good news is that most "experts" are projecting the Wildcats to make the cut.
If you’re an Iowa State fan wanting to take a trip to San Diego, hope for that scenario.
Two bowl projections that I’ve seen this morning have Iowa State playing in the Holiday Bowl vs. California. Those areSI.com’s Steward Mandel and Scout.com.
Elsewhere, CBS and the USA Today both have an Iowa State vs. Rutgers matchup in New York City in the Pinstripe Bowl. NOTE that both of these projections have Missouri going to the Holiday Bowl?
Why exactly would the Holiday Bowl select Missouri over Iowa State again? The Tigers don’t travel well and have shunned the Big 12 (a Holiday bowl partner) to leave for the SEC?
From where I sit, the CBS and USA Today projections have simply filled in the blanks strictly by records. That isn’t the way it works. Bowls are not obligated to take teams in the order that they finished in their perspective leagues.
Yesterday’s happenings were definitely positive for Iowa State as far as bowl games go.
However as of noon on Sunday, sitting tight is the best thing to do. I wouldn’t go book any plane tickets quite yet.
