Yeah you can thank corporations for that one (it used to be called the Emerald Bowl).
As far as practice time goes, bowl eligible teams are allowed 15 practices. It is similar to spring practices in that it does not matter what days are practice...the limit is 15.
There are multiple reasons, including getting all 15 practices in, why I do not feel the Las Vegas bowl is a good idea. With our finals schedule finishing less than a week before I feel it is highly unlikely anyway we will want to go to this one. Kelly has stated they will not practice this week and sparingly during finals week. A later bowl is a must to assure we exhaust the allowed coaching during practice to grow our team for this game and next year.
I also agree the Champs Sport bowl is not a great idea but not a bad one. We may be handcuffed to it if West Virginia and UConn loose and look bad doing it. I still say a favorite of mine is the Holiday Bowl. Oregon and Wash St. win and it will happen. I would like to play Missouri. In their 4 road games this year they are 2-2 and their schedule does not impress me besides the obvious win against #1 Oklahoma and then wins @ A&M + a ranked K State. Their complete schedule:
Missouri Football - Tigers News, Scores, Videos - College Football - ESPN
W Illinois 23-13 1-0 (0-0)
W McNeese State 50-6 2-0 (0-0)
W San Diego State 27-24 3-0 (0-0)
W Miami (OH) 51-13 4-0 (0-0)
W Colorado 26-0 5-0 (1-0)
W @ Texas A&M 30-9 6-0 (2-0)
W #1 Oklahoma 36-27 7-0 (3-0)
L @ #14 Nebraska 31-17 7-1 (3-1)
L @Texas Tech 24-17 7-2 (3-2)
W #24 Kansas State 38-28 8-2 (4-2)
W @Iowa State 14-0 9-2 (5-2)
W Kansas 35-7 10-2 (6-2)
8 home games and only 4 road games is unreal...talk about unfair. lets beat 'em