WIll the Bowls Fill All of Their Slots?

In all leagues that have a championship game, that is to say, every league except the Big 12 and Sun Belt, next week will be the last week of the regular season.  And, the bowls are watching with interest.

After Saturday's action, there are now 71 bowl eligible teams.  The bowls have 80 slots to fill.  And, this week eyes will be on the 17 teams that technically still have a chance to qualify.  That seems pretty easy...but a majority of those teams will be underdogs next weekend.

Here's a look, by conference

AMERICAN:  7 are in.  Temple, USF, UCONN, Cincinnati, Navy, Houston Memphis :  East Carolina (5-6) is at home vs. Cincinnati.  Tulsa (5-6) is at Tulane.  Tulsa will be a heavy favorite to win.  Cincinnati has really struggled the last few weeks.

ACC:  8 are in:  Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, NC State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Miami, Duke.  Virginia Tech (5-6) at Virginia.  VT should be a road favorite.

BIG 12:  Six are in:  Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, TCU, West Virginia, Texas Tech.  Still with a chance:  Texas (4-6) hosts Texas Tech and travels to Baylor.  Kansas State is at Kansas and hosts WVU.  Kansas State has an outside chance.

Big 10:  In:-7:  Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin.  Nebraska (Iowa), Minnesota (Wisconsin) and Indiana (at Purdue) are all 5-6.  Indiana will be a favorite.  Illinois (5-5) plays Northwestern.  They had their season opener vs. Kent State cancelled.  They'll get consideration if the bowls can't get to 80.

CONFERENCE USA:  In-5:  WKU, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, La. Tech, Southern Miss: Old Dominion (5-6) takes on FAU and will be favored.

INDEPENDENTS:  In: 2  Notre Dame, BYU

MID AMERICAN:  In: 7, Bowling Green, Ohio, Akron, NIU, Toledo, Western Michigan, Central Michigan.  Buffalo (5-6) plays UMass and will be favored to win.

MOUNTAIN WEST:  In -7:  Air Force, Utah State, Colorado St., Boise State, New Mexico, San Diego State, Nevada.  San Jose State (5-6) hosts Boise State as an underdog

PAC-12:  In:-9 Stanford, Oregon, Washington State, Cal, UCLA, USC, Utah, Arizona St., Arizona.  Washington (5-6) hosts Washington State, making the Apple Bowl more important than ever.

SEC:  In -10  Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn   Kentucky (5-6) has a non conference game with Louisville.

SUN BELT:  In: 3  Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern.  South Alabama (5-5) has Georgia Southern and Appalachian State.  Louisiana (4-6) has Appalachian State and Troy.  Neither will be favored to get to six wins

All told, there are still 17 teams with a chance to get bowl eligible.  However, only five (Tulsa, Indiana, Old Dominion, Buffalo and Virginia Tech) will be favored.

This week is going to be really interesting.