Are you ready for some really terrible football? It is bowl season! Which means ESPN will be shoving some really terrible football teams down our throats and pretending they are amazing matchups. For example, the first bowl game of the season kicks off on Saturday. Who’s playing? NC Central and Grambling State. I’ve got $10 that says they advertise this game as some big deal since it’s the first one, except it’s between two teams that absolutely no one in the country should care about. But hey, that’s bowl season! If there’s one thing to be said about these games, it is they can unexpectedly be fun to watch. Not because they are quality, but because they aren’t. Late turnovers that decide games, overtime in a game that was begging to be won, and blowouts are all to be expected.
Here are a couple of games that “should” feature actual quality or the matchup is at least interesting:
Las Vegas Bowl - Houston vs. San Diego State (Saturday, Dec. 17)
Remember when Houston beat Oklahoma and we all thought they were going to compete for the national title? Ha. That was funny. They ended the season by BEATING Louisville and then LOSING to Memphis! Who is this team?
Valero Alamo Bowl - (12) Oklahoma State vs. (10) Colorado (Thursday, Dec. 29)
How is there a Big 12 match up in a bowl game? I thought bowls were supposed to be across conferences. What’s that? Colorado isn’t in the Big 12 anymore? Could have fooled me. This game represents the first top 25 matchup on the calendar which signals we’re getting into the good part of the bowl schedule.
Capital One Orange Bowl - (6) Michigan vs. (11) Florida State (Friday, Dec. 30)
Time to find out if Michigan and the Big 10 is any good. This game has all the makings to be a blowout assuming Michigan fans were right and their team was deserving to be the playoff. Michigan fans cant be wrong, can they? Florida State has been up and down all year. Michigan has paid $9 million to a coach to get to this spot.
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl - (20) LSU vs. (13) Louisville (Saturday, Dec. 31)
I’m not sure there’s a bigger difference in styles in a bowl game. Louisville’s high powered offense will meet an SEC defense. I’m excited to see the result. Also, can Louisville stop a real running game?
Rose Bowl Game - (9) USC vs. (5) Penn State (Monday, Jan. 2)
Penn State was screwed, is something that someone from Penn State would say. If that’s true, then they better put a beating on USC, because if this game is close or USC wins, all that argument about being screwed goes out the window.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl - (15) Western Michigan vs. (8) Wisconsin (Monday, Jan. 2)
Western Michigan went undefeated this year! BUT… Remember that Eastern Michigan team the Mizzou crushed? Western won 45-31. Not exactly dominant. Their best win was against Northwestern. Now they play a real football team. Wisconsin had better win and decisively. Western Michigan has no business in the Cotton Bowl. This game is the classic power conference team vs undefeated nobody. Can they be the Boise State of 2017?
Allstate Sugar Bowl - (14) Auburn vs. (7) Oklahoma (Monday, Jan. 2)
The SEC was down this year, but by how much? This game will help to determine just that. After a mediocre non-conference win/loss record during the last regular season, the SEC came storming back and went 8-2 in bowl games. This is a fun match up because both teams have that hot/cold thing going on.
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl - (3) Ohio State vs. (2) Clemson (Saturday, Dec. 31)
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - (4) Washington vs. (1) Alabama (Saturday, Dec. 31)
And the last two games should go without saying. The playoff is going to fun to watch. Ohio State has a lot to prove, but so does Clemson. Washington will most likely just hang on as long as they can, but either way, I’ll be watching. Also, PlayStation Fiesta Bowl? It will forever be the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in my mind. That was bowl/sponsor match up that I could actually respect because it made sense. I guess PlayStation outbid Xbox? Have some self respect Fiesta Bowl.
For a great guide of what games to watch and which to avoid check out SBNation's post. We highly recommend it.
Here are a couple of games that “should” feature actual quality or the matchup is at least interesting:
Las Vegas Bowl - Houston vs. San Diego State (Saturday, Dec. 17)
Remember when Houston beat Oklahoma and we all thought they were going to compete for the national title? Ha. That was funny. They ended the season by BEATING Louisville and then LOSING to Memphis! Who is this team?
Valero Alamo Bowl - (12) Oklahoma State vs. (10) Colorado (Thursday, Dec. 29)
How is there a Big 12 match up in a bowl game? I thought bowls were supposed to be across conferences. What’s that? Colorado isn’t in the Big 12 anymore? Could have fooled me. This game represents the first top 25 matchup on the calendar which signals we’re getting into the good part of the bowl schedule.
Capital One Orange Bowl - (6) Michigan vs. (11) Florida State (Friday, Dec. 30)
Time to find out if Michigan and the Big 10 is any good. This game has all the makings to be a blowout assuming Michigan fans were right and their team was deserving to be the playoff. Michigan fans cant be wrong, can they? Florida State has been up and down all year. Michigan has paid $9 million to a coach to get to this spot.
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl - (20) LSU vs. (13) Louisville (Saturday, Dec. 31)
I’m not sure there’s a bigger difference in styles in a bowl game. Louisville’s high powered offense will meet an SEC defense. I’m excited to see the result. Also, can Louisville stop a real running game?
Rose Bowl Game - (9) USC vs. (5) Penn State (Monday, Jan. 2)
Penn State was screwed, is something that someone from Penn State would say. If that’s true, then they better put a beating on USC, because if this game is close or USC wins, all that argument about being screwed goes out the window.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl - (15) Western Michigan vs. (8) Wisconsin (Monday, Jan. 2)
Western Michigan went undefeated this year! BUT… Remember that Eastern Michigan team the Mizzou crushed? Western won 45-31. Not exactly dominant. Their best win was against Northwestern. Now they play a real football team. Wisconsin had better win and decisively. Western Michigan has no business in the Cotton Bowl. This game is the classic power conference team vs undefeated nobody. Can they be the Boise State of 2017?
Allstate Sugar Bowl - (14) Auburn vs. (7) Oklahoma (Monday, Jan. 2)
The SEC was down this year, but by how much? This game will help to determine just that. After a mediocre non-conference win/loss record during the last regular season, the SEC came storming back and went 8-2 in bowl games. This is a fun match up because both teams have that hot/cold thing going on.
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl - (3) Ohio State vs. (2) Clemson (Saturday, Dec. 31)
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - (4) Washington vs. (1) Alabama (Saturday, Dec. 31)
And the last two games should go without saying. The playoff is going to fun to watch. Ohio State has a lot to prove, but so does Clemson. Washington will most likely just hang on as long as they can, but either way, I’ll be watching. Also, PlayStation Fiesta Bowl? It will forever be the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in my mind. That was bowl/sponsor match up that I could actually respect because it made sense. I guess PlayStation outbid Xbox? Have some self respect Fiesta Bowl.
For a great guide of what games to watch and which to avoid check out SBNation's post. We highly recommend it.
