Disclaimer: We all know that ABC purchased the majority of ESPN with both companies being owned by Disney. ABC's sports division has been merged by Disney into ESPN Inc. as they are the leaders in sports. So while ABC owns the majority of ESPN, Disney is the parent company of both.

With that said, ABC wants a game between brand name schools. There are six games scheduled for Saturday, December 19. ABC has two, ESPN has three, and CBSSN has one.

12:00 p.m. ABC - Celebration Bowl between the MEAC vs. SWAC (N.C. A&T State to represent the MEAC) Expected payout $1.0 million per conference - seriously$
2:00 p.m. ESPN - Gildan New Mexico Bowl the C-USA vs. MWC
3:30 p.m. ABC - Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl the BYU or MWC vs. PAC 10 1/2
5:30 p.m. ESPN - Raycom Media Camellia Bowl the MAC vs. Sun Belt
7:00 p.m. CBSSN - AutoNation Cure Bowl the AAC vs. Sun Belt
9:00 p.m. ESPN - R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl the C-USA vs. Sun Belt

If you are ESPN, obviously you don't want viewers turning the channel from ESPN to ABC during your 2:00 and 5:30 games. Now if you are ABC, you want the highest possible national draw! You want viewers to turn the channel to your game.

Obviously, ESPN's Gildan New Mexico Bowl between C-USA vs. MWC could be an interesting game. But seriously the Ryacom Bowl between the MAC vs. Sun Belt doesn't hold interest for me. When the Vegas Bowl kickoffs at 3:30, the Gildan Bowl will be at half time. The Vegas Bowl will be in the 2nd half when the Raycom Bowl begins.

If you (Vegas Bowl and ABC/ESPN) are choosing between AFA, BYU, and SDSU history tells you BYU is the jewel in your jewelry box. ESPN knows the Hawaii Bowl has no other bowl game to compete with only two games on December 24 and both on ESPN. Therefore, ESPN can plug a MWC team into the Hawaii Bowl vs. an AAC team and still have an average audience for non-P5 schools.

This is all speculative, but I do like BYU's chances in the Vegas Bowl.

Go Cougars!!!!!!!