BCS Standings 2011: Bowl Outlook for Florida State Football

Despite starting the 2011 season firmly entrenched inside the top 10 of the preseason polls, the Florida State Seminoles are nowhere to be found near that prime rating in the initial BCS standings released on Sunday. 

With Clemson and Wake Forest ahead of them in the Atlantic Division, and possessing head to head wins over the Seminoles, their dreams of winning the ACC look to be on life support at best. 

With a 3-3 record after last week’s win over Duke, the Seminoles have work to do to become bowl eligible.

Assuming they continue the nation’s longest streak of going bowling for the 30th consecutive season, where are their best options to land at season’s end? 

Here we take a look at Florida State’s bowl outlook for 2011, from worst to best:

5. Sun Bowl

For a team that had high BCS hopes entering the season, a trip to El Paso, Texas, probably is as uninspiring as it sounds. 

Add in the fact that FSU usually doesn’t travel well, and they would likely face a Pac-12 team, everything about this potential match up screams “yuck!”

Still, the Seminoles are a huge draw for TV networks, and with the Sun Bowl owning the third spot for ACC bowl tie-ins, they could be tempted to opt for the big name instead of the team that finished third in the league.

4. Independence Bowl

The Independence Bowl would pit the Seminoles against a team from the Mountain West Conference.

For a team aspiring to reclaim its status as one of the nation’s elite teams, being relegated to a matchup like this would be a humbling reminder of how far away they are from reaching that goal. 

Located in Shreveport, Louisiana, this game is another travel nightmare for ‘Noles fans.

Another negative for this game is that the Seminoles have nothing to gain by winning, and everything to lose playing against a team who would be fired up to knock off one of college football’s most storied programs.

3. Meineke Car Care Bowl

A matchup in Charlotte against a Big East school would not be nearly as frowned upon as the prospects of playing in El Paso or Shreveport. 

This bowl has traditionally fared well in terms of fan support, and with the game being in the heart of ACC country, the travel issues are not as big of a factor. 

You better believe that the Seminoles will be fueled by playing in Charlotte a few weeks later than their team, coaches and fans had anticipated. 

2. Champs Sports Bowl

Located at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, the Seminoles would basically get a home game instead of a true bowl environment.

You can bet that the executives associated with this bowl would jump at the chance to select the Seminoles if they are available.

Considering how they thrashed Wisconsin 42-13 in the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl, staying close to home during bowl season may not be a bad thing after all.

1. Chik-Fil-a Bowl

Perhaps the Seminoles could return to defend their Chik-fil-A Bowl title, as they defeated South Carolina 26-17 in last year’s edition.

With the game located in Atlanta and always one of the best non-BCS bowl games in terms of competition and ratings, the Seminoles and their fans may have Georgia on their minds on New Year’s Eve for the second consecutive year. 

Considering where they are now in the ACC standings, snagging the most desirable non-BCS game for their conference would be a great way to finish off the 2011 season.