Sorry Beef O’Brady, the bowl season really doesn’t begin until December 26th. After a week of mediocre (at best) bowls spread out over each night, your plate is about to get extremely full. It can be hard to tell which match-ups of 6-6 teams are worth your time (all of them, obviously). Of course, they even let teams with winning records play in bowl games as well, so you might even see one or two of those. Let’s take a look at all of the games to be played and find out which ones are going to be tasty and which ones might be worth pushing to the side of your plate in the Holiday Season College Football Buffet (/throws confetti).
Holiday NCAA Football Buffet: Previewing All The Bowls Worth Consuming
All times are Eastern.
GIVE ME A HEAPING HELPING
BCS National Championship: No. 1 Alabama v. No. 2 Texas (ABC, January 7, 8pm)
You don’t go to war with the BCS Championship Game you want, you go to war with the BCS Championship Game available to you. The name of the game here is “physical.” Alabama’s practices have been physical. Texas’ D is getting ready for Bama’s physical RBs. Cue creepy old announcers talking about how physical the young men playing this game are.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Boise State v. No. 3 TCU (FOX, January 4, 8pm)
Two undefeated non-BCS teams qualify for BCS bowls and they’re reward is to...play each other. Bravo, BCS. Every time we think you’re reached the limit of stupidity, you find a way to top yourself. Boise State’s ability to win might come down to the availability of RB Austin Pettis, who’s still in doubt.
I’LL HAVE A SCOOP OF THAT, PLEASE
Holiday Bowl: No. 22 Arizona v. No. 20 Nebraska (ESPN, December 30, 8pm)
There seems to be some question regarding Nebraska’s motivation heading into the Holiday Bowl against Arizona. Don’t expect Bo Pelini to let that happen. The Wildcats are too busy worrying about Ndamukong Suh.
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State v. No. 7 Oregon (ABC,January 1, 5pm)
The last time these two met in the Rose Bowl? 1958. Considering this is a BCS bowl game, it would be unwise to bet on the Buckeyes. Seems like an eternity since they’ve won one.
Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Florida v. No. 4 Cincinnati (FOX, January 1, 8pm)
Despite being undefeated, it's hard to know if Cincy will show up for this one. Brian Kelly is already gone, their new coach isn't there yet and the guy in charge in this game is out the door as soon as it's over. Florida fans can't be too excited for this consolation prize...then again, many of them won't be able to watch it anyway. Tim Tebow's college career ends not with a bang but with a whimper.
I’LL TASTE IT FIRST...
Orange Bowl: No. 9 Georgia Tech v. No. 10 Iowa (FOX, January 5, 8pm)
Hey, remember this BCS game? Me neither. But Paul Johnson is a “genius” so you might want to see him at work. Jacket fans are wary of talking smack against the Hawkeyes, however, lest they have to eat those words.
Champs Sports Bowl: No. 24 Wisconsin v. No. 14 Miami (ESPN, December 29, 8pm)
Miami finished the regular season with the ACC’s third-ranked offense with 413.5 yards per game and 31.7 points per game. Whether or not Wisconsin’s defense can shut them down will determine the outcome. If the bowl logo is any indication, part of Orlando explodes when it’s over. So that’s something to look forward to.
Emerald Bowl: USC v. Boston College (ESPN, December 26, 8pm)
What the hell is USC doing here? A disappointing season for the Trojans can be somewhat salvaged with a win. It looks like Joe McKnight will be back in the line-up but there’s still some uncertainty. It certainly doesn’t help that two other starters are already ineligible.
FINAL SCORE: USC 24, Boston College 13
Armed Forces Bowl: Houston v. Air Force (ESPN, December 31, Noon)
You want offense? Oh, you'll get offense. We could realistically expect over 1,000 yards between these two. Air Force ranks 3rd in the nation with 273.6 rushing yards per game and Houston can't stop the run. Even with the nation's number one pass defense, Air Force will have their hands full with Houston QB Case Keenum and the Cougars passing game, which ranks first in total yards, (581.2) passing yards, (460.5), touchdown passes (43), and leads the nation in points scored at 43.2 per game. Oh yes, there will be scoring.
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: No. 12 Virginia Tech v. Tennessee (ESPN, December 31, 7:30pm)
Tennessee returns to the postseason under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin. The Vols' solid finish (4-1) was sparked by the play of their often maligned quarterback, Jonathan Crompton. He'll be going up against a Hokie defense that led the ACC in pass defense, pass efficiency defense, and scoring defense.
Sun Bowl: No. 19 Stanford v. Oklahoma (CBS, December 31, 2pm)
The bad news for Oklahoma...they finished 7-5 and have to consider this a dissappointment . The good news...it doesn’t seem to be affecting recruiting.
Cotton Bowl: No. 21 Oklahoma State v. Mississippi (FOX, January 2, 2pm)
Some have dubbed this The Preseason Fraud Bowl. Then again, the ones lobing those accusations are the same ones dumb enough to have over-ranked them in the first place.
I’LL KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR THE NEXT TRIP
Meineke Car Care Bowl: North Carolina v. No. 17 Pittsburgh (ESPN, December 26, 4:30pm)
Pitt came within one win of representing the Big East in a BCS bowl. Instead, they'll be here, entertaining an ACC team they should beat. That spells trouble as the Panthers lost earlier this year to a sub-par NC State. If nothing else, watch for Pitt RB Dion Lewis, who will be a Heisman candidate next year.
FINAL SCORE: Pittsburgh 19, North Carolina 17
Music City Bowl: Kentucky v. Clemson (ESPN, December 27, 8:15pm)
I'm not even entirely sure anyone at Kentucky knows they're still playing football. Clemson could sure use the bowl win to help prop up a weak recruiting season.
Capital One Bowl: No. 13 LSU v. No. 11 Penn State (ABC, January 1, 1pm)
LSU’s offense is ranked 84th nationally in rushing and 99th in passing, which combines to make them 108th in total offense. Not good, especially when you’ve got someone like DT Jared Odrick lining up against you.
Gator Bowl: Florida State v. No. 18 West Virginia (CBS, January 1, 1pm)
The Bobby Bowden Bowl. Jimbo Fisher might officially be the man at FSU but this game is all about Bobby Bowden. West Virginia wants to end their own season on a high note but it won’t be easy without players like Scootber Berry, who is ineligible.
Liberty Bowl: Arkansas v. East Carolina (ESPN, January 2, 5:30pm)
East Carolina is going for its first 10-win season since 1991. They'll have their hands full with Razorback QB Ryan Mallett, who leads the nation's 10th ranked pass offense with 3,425 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Alamo Bowl: Michigan State v. Texas Tech (ESPN, January 2, 9pm)
Are you a matriculated student at Michigan State? Can you catch a football? Stay loose, the Spartans might just need you by the time this one starts.
I DON’T KNOW...SMELLS KINDA FUNNY...
Independence Bowl: Texas A&M v. Georgia (ESPN2, December 28, 5pm)
An intriguing match-up between a rebuilding Bulldog team and a young Aggie squad. The Bulldogs field the more stout defense of the two but youth could be served as well.
EagleBank Bowl: Temple v. UCLA (ESPN, December 29, 4:30pm)
Just as a reminder, we now live in a world where Temple and Rutgers are perennial bowl teams. The end is most certainly nigh.
Texas Bowl: Missouri v. Navy (ESPN, December 31, 3:30pm)
Missouri is bringing a three-game winning streak into their fifth-consecutive bowl game appearance. Navy is bringing its most victories in three seasons to their academy-record 7th straight bowl game appearance. This game has all the criteria for an exciting, high-scoring offensive shootout.
Outback Bowl: Northwestern v. Auburn (ESPN, January 1, 11am)
Auburn has had a propensity for hitting big plays, and thus enjoys better offensive averages in many areas. Northwestern has been better at long, deliberate drives, playing keep-away from the defense. That said, the Wildcats have their Fear-O-Meter set high.
Papajohns.com Bowl: South Carolina v. Connecticut (ESPN, January 2, 2pm)
South Carolina's Stephen Garcia has come a long way since last season. Not everyone would have expected him to be here in this position...maybe even Steve Spurrier.
NO THANKS, PLATE’S FULL
Insight Bowl: Iowa State v. Minnesota (NFL Network, December 31, 6pm)
Minnesota’s offensive output has been on the downward slope for the last couple years. That doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t be successful however, especially in this game. Iowa State, meanwhile, is probably just happy to be here.
GMAC Bowl: No. 25 Central Michigan v. Troy (ESPN, January 6, 7pm)
The Chippewas are the MAC champs for the third time in four seasons, and now they look to finish the season strong, though they’ll be doing it without the coach who led them to their first national ranking.
Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl: Marshall v. Ohio (ESPN, December 26, 1pm)
Neither team does any one thing particularly well, collectively ranking 78th (Marshall) and 98th (Ohio) in total offense. Marshall wants to get off to a good start as new coach Doc Holiday prepares to take over and Ohio has been awful against the run, so the Herd should thunder all over this one.
FINAL SCORE: Marshall 21, Ohio 17
Humanitarian Bowl: Bowling Green v. Idaho (ESPN, December 20, 4:30PM)
A bowl game so uninteresting and irrelevant that gamblers are using the eenie-meenie-minie-moe-method.
International Bowl: Northern Illinois v. South Florida (ESPN2, January 2, Noon)
South Florida started the year 5-0. Now they’re playing in Toronto to end the season. As usual, the Bulls faded down the stretch. Husky fans seem particularly good about this match-up and the experts actually seem to agree.
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