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Temple bowl scenarios

NEW ORLEANS - Temple's bowl situation could go in many different directions before selection Sunday, Dec. 4. The Owls could still emerge as the top Group of Five school and earn a Cotton Bowl berth. Several things would have to happen for Temple to get that chance, but it's not as far-fetched as it once appeared.

NEW ORLEANS - Temple's bowl situation could go in many different directions before selection Sunday, Dec. 4.

The Owls could still emerge as the top Group of Five school and earn a Cotton Bowl berth. Several things would have to happen for Temple to get that chance, but it's not as far-fetched as it once appeared.

If that doesn't occur, Temple faces an interesting situation. Of the bowls that the Owls' conference, the American Athletic Conference, has ties with, there is a great appeal from Temple, according to sources, for the Military Bowl, which is Dec. 27 in Annapolis, Md. The AAC will send a team against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent.

There is one catch.

If Temple wins the AAC East Division, there is a good chance the Owls would play the title game Dec. 3 at Annapolis.

Navy has clinched the AAC West Division. If the Midshipmen win next week at SMU, they will likely host the championship game.

So would Temple want to play in the AAC title game and return to the same place for the bowl game?

It's not likely, according to a person familiar with Temple's situation.

One bowl with an AAC tie-in that interests Temple is the Birmingham Bowl in Alabama, which is Dec. 29 against a team from the Southeastern Conference.

A source said that the Bahamas Bowl on Dec 23, one that Temple was rumored to be considering, is not one that the Owls prefer.

There is another wild card - the Independence Bowl, which the AAC has a secondary partnership with. That is Dec. 26 in Shreveport, La.

The only thing for sure right now is that is that Temple will be going to consecutive bowls for the first time in school history.