A FSU-UCLA Emerald Bowl Appears Likely

Posted Nov 28, 2006 by Aaron Knox

Updated Nov 28, 2006 at 04:06 PM

At first, Arizona was the leading contender from the Pac-10 to face FSU in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27 in San Francisco. The Wildcats then lost to rival Arizona State on Saturday, opening the door more for Oregon, which has in excess of 15,000 alumni in the San Francisco area according to Emerald Bowl Executive Director Gary Cavalli.

Now, it looks like UCLA is the preferred choice of the bowl’s committee. The Bruins close the regular season Saturday against heavy favorite USC. Barring a Bruins upset, the Emerald Bowl will offer UCLA (6-5) an official invitation on Sunday. FSU, which still has not received its official invitation because of BCS delays, has a conditional agreement already in place to make its first trip to California since opening the 1997 season at USC.