The speculation ran rampant all week long.  Who will the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns be playing in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on December 20th.

Most of the speculation centered around teams from the Mountain West Conference, with Utah State and Nevada mentioned most.  Air Force was also listed as a possibility.

As it turned out, those speculations were spot on.

The University of Nevada has been offered and has accepted a bit to be Louisiana’s opponent in the bowl, to be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome Saturday, December 20th according to an ESPN report.

The Wolfpack, (7-5, 4-4 Mountain West) was sweating it out after Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson issued a statement saying Nevada would be left out of the bowl picture if Fresno State had beaten Boise State in the MWC Championship game.  That didn’t happen.

But it turned out to be an interesting evening for the Mountain West.

Earlier, Oklahoma State upset Oklahoma to become bowl eligible.  That closed up a slot in the Cactus Bowl, which had a secondary agreement with the MWC.  This made it possible for the Mountain West to send a team to New Orleans.

Rice out of Conference USA was listed as a possibility, but the Oklahoma State win closed the door on a team from CUSA.  Teams from Power Five leagues, including Illinois, Florida and Pittsburgh, were mentioned in some bowl projections as well.

Nevada has a win over Washington State and also defeated both San Diego State and BYU.  Their losses were to Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State, Air Force and Fresno State.

There is a connection between the Wolfpack and the Cajuns.  Former Louisiana OL Coach Ron Hudson and former Cajuns OL Jonathan Decoster are both on the Nevada staff.

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