Sports - Colleges - Southern Miss

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

Golden Eagles looking for a shot at a bowl

Southern Miss is in good position to earn its eighth straight Bowl appearance, as well as remain on the national radar. The Golden Eagles need to win once to qualify for a bowl bid.

The national media also likes the Golden Eagles’ chances of playing beyond Thanksgiving Day weekend, but their opinion is split. Bowl projections were made after last weekend’s games and change varies each week.

The Golden Eagles (5-3, 3-1) can take a big step toward their top destination, the Liberty Bowl, with a victory at No. 15 Houston on Saturday. For that to happen, the Golden Eagles must reach the C-USA title game on Dec. 5. C-USA champion earns an automatic berth to the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 in Memphis.

At least one national observer likes the Golden Eagles’ hopes of winning their first C-USA title since 2003.

‘’Southern Miss put up a nice fight against Kansas and got the nation’s attention,” wrote Graham Watson, who covers C-USA for ESPN.com. “It’s a good team with a strong chance to win its conference.”

The national opinion is that Southern Miss will in a bowl game between Dec. 19 and Dec. 29.

ESPN.com predicts that Southern Miss will play in the St. Petersburg Bowl against either West Virginia or South Florida on Dec. 19 at Tropicana Field.

Rivals.com has the Golden Eagles facing Connecticut in the Eagle Bank Bowl on Dec. 29 at Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium.

Scout.com puts Southern Miss in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve against Nevada.

One prominent online outlet, CBSsportsline.com, currently doesn’t have the Golden Eagles in a bowl.

Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora is not concerned with the postseason, just the high-powered Cougars (6-1, 2-1).

“We understand the task at hand and our goal will be to be 1-0 at the end of this week,’’ Fedora said. “Houston is an exceptional team.”

The Golden Eagles beat Troy 30-27 in overtime of last year’s New Orleans Bowl.