Alternative View of Cal's Bowl Destination -- LA Bowl?

Los Angeles Times reporter's tweet suggests the Bears might not be headed to the Independence Bowl

Based on deductive reasoning and bowl projections across the country, Cal Sports Report reported on Saturday night that Cal is likely headed for the Independence Bowl.

But bowl game selections always feature some surprises, and Los Angeles Times reporter Ben Bolch, who covers UCLA, suggested on Twitter that the Bears may be headed to the LA Bowl.

I’m hearing it’s likely UCLA goes to Independence Bowl because of tiebreakers that will send Cal to LA Bowl.

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) November 26, 2023

That is entirely possible. 

The six bowls affiliated with the Pac-12 (after the New Year's Six bowls) select in this order: Alamo, Las Vegas, Holiday, Sun, LA, Independence. 

The Alamo, Las Vegas and Holiday bowls can juggle their selections to meet their particular needs as long as the team selected is not more than a one-game behind an unselected team in the conference standings.

However, the Sun, LA, and Independence bowls must select in the order of the remaining teams' place in the final standings.

When the selection gets down to the LA Bowl, it presumably could choose between Cal and UCLA because they ended up tied with 4-5 conference marks.  The fact that UCLA (7-5) had a better overall record than Cal (6-6) as well as the local appeal of UCLA suggested the LA Bowl would choose UCLA. 

But the fact that Cal clobbered UCLA 33-7 in the regular-season finale on Saturday night might cause the LA Bowl to select Cal. That's the tie-breaker to which Bolch is referring.

That would leave UCLA for the Independence Bowl.

Independence Bowl rep in the UCLA postgame presser. pic.twitter.com/CjeBcRz01C

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) November 26, 2023

If Cal does end up in the LA Bowl, to be played December 16 at SoFi Stadium, it would be matched against the top team from the Mountain West Conference, which would be the winner of the Mountain West championship game between UNLV and Boise State.

Having said all that, most experts across the country are still projecting Cal to be placed in the Independence Bowl, which is played the same day as the LA Bowl.  The Bears' opponent there would be a Big 12 team, possibly Texas Tech.

Of course, these scenarios are all dependent on the Pac-12 getting two teams (Washington and Oregon) in the New Year's Six bowl games.

Things can change. Stay tuned.

Cover photo of Cal football by Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

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