Las Vegas Bowl Could Take Loser Of Mountain West Title Game
Could Boise State go to Las Vegas even if they lose to Fresno State?
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Las Vegas Bowl wants to make money.
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As the Mountain West Bowl selection goes, as does most leagues, makes picks based on bowl order and necessarily order of finish. The Las Vegas Bowl is no exception as they get the first pick and have almost always taken the Mountain West champion.
The 2011 season was the last time that the Las Vegas Bowl did not take the Mountain West champion when the bowl took Boise State over TCU. The other times came when the Mountain West champ was in a BCS or New Year’s Six game.
It is no secret that the bowl can pick who they want and bowl director, Josh Saccenti, made that clear.
https://twitter.com/BJRains/status/935203386055581696
Taking Boise State likely would result in more ticket sales, even though Fresno is a much closer drive to Sin City compared to Boise. Broncos fans are known to travel more, but last time Fresno State went to the Las Vegas Bowl they showed up and part of that was due to playing USC in Derek Carr’s final game, but that did not go well.
Everyone can admit the biggest brand is Boise State and bowl games are a business, but it would be bad optics to take the Broncos if they lose back to back games to Fresno State. Also, if the Bulldogs win they would be ranked and easily considered the better team.
The comment that Saccenti said made it clear that he prefers Boise State and he is laying the groundwork to take the Broncos even if they lose.