Monday, 12/22
Miami Beach Bowl, 2 / 1, ESPN
BYU (8-4, Independent) vs Memphis (9-3, 7-1, American)
Would I go if Iowa was playing ranking: 8/10
I’ve been to Miami for an Iowa Orange Bowl. Great town but it isn’t as hot as you would expect (usually 70s) so there are not too many beach activities regardless of what the name of the bowl is. Still, the weather is way better than 90% of the nation.
Would I go if I was a BYU fan ranking: 7/10
I would like to believe that if I was a BYU fan I would love how this team rallied after a four game losing streak sunk them from 4-0 to 4-4 before finding a way to win out. Senior qb Christian Stewart did an admirable job once Taysom Hill was lost for the season.
Would I go if I was a Memphis fan ranking: 10/10
This program has been pathetic. They weren’t expected to do well at all this season. Yet, here they are as co-champions of a league and in a position for double digit wins. If there is ever a time to venture to a bowl and celebrate your team it is after seasons like this.
…So should we watch on TV ranking: 10/10
Memphis defense is 5th, BYU offense is 20th…love games like this. Let’s see who can play to their strength more in a neutral site game. I also love the coaches. Bronco Mendenhall is a proven winner in Provo and 38 year old Justin Fuente is an up and comer not just based on this season at Memphis but his work at TCU in developing Andy Dalton and calling the offense. Two coaches I wished were on the Iowa sideline.
Tuesday 12 / 23
Boca Raton Bowl, 6 / 5, ESPN
Marshall (12-1, 7-1, C-USA) vs Northern Illinois (11-2, 7-1, MAC)
Would I go if Iowa was playing ranking: 7/10
Same rational as the Miami Beach bowl but move the setting a few miles north.
Would I go if I was a Marshall fan ranking: 9/10
This is one of the greatest Marshall teams ever assembled and will be Rakeem Cato’s farewell game. Only travel costs would bar me from going and since I don’t factor that into this hypothetical, I would be there.
Would I go if I was a NIU fan ranking: 9/10
Super easy travel to drive from De Kalb to Chicago O’Hare and then fly down. This might not be the BCS buster of a few years ago but this is still a damn good team.
…So should we watch on TV ranking: 10/10
Umm, let me get this straight…two conference champions and a 23-3 combined record. Two great quarterbacks are also doing battle in veteran Cato and Sophomore Drew Hare for the Huskies. You put these teams in a blind resume without the names or leagues next to them and you would assume this was a Cotton Bowl level game. It is, just with smaller schools that don’t get the love they deserve.
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia, 9:30 / 8:30, ESPN
Navy (7-5, Independent) vs San Diego State (7-5, 5-3, Mountain West)
Would I go if Iowa was playing ranking: 10/10
I love, love, love San Diego. Great weather, great city, great Mexican food. Total package city.
Would I go if I was a Navy fan ranking: ?/10
Here’s a tough one. If I was a local Annapolis Navy fan, I wouldn’t see the point of making it to the same fourth time since 2005. If I were a local San Diego Navy fan and / or active duty at the big base down there then you know I would be there in my peacoat and belting out Anchors Away.
Would I go if I was a SDSU fan ranking: 10/10
What am I, in a coma? If you are playing a local game there is no reason to stay home.
…So should we watch on TV ranking: 5/10
I’m a little weary of SDSU. They have a stout defense but for whatever reason I don’t trust Rocky Long all that much. Don’t get me wrong, he has a good record but this team just doesn’t excite me. Maybe because I watched them in their worst performance of the year at Nevada but I don’t think this is going to be a close one. Navy is 5-1 down the stretch and Ken Niumatalolo is a man I have a tremendous amount of respect for both on and off the field. Watch SDSU blow them out now after all this.
Wednesday, 12/24
Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl, Noon / 11, ESPN
Central Michigan (7-5, 5-3, MAC) vs Western Kentucky (7-5, 4-4, C-USA)
Would I go if Iowa was playing ranking: 10/10
It’s the Bahamas…in December…coming from the midwest.
Would I go if I was a CMU fan ranking: 10/10
It’s the Bahamas…in December…coming from the midwest.
Would I go if I was a WKU fan ranking: 10/10
It’s the Bahamas…in December…coming from whatever Kentucky says they are from – mid south east?
…So should we watch on TV ranking: 1/10
You want to watch a team that lost to Kansas take on a club that lost to FAU, because that what this one features. This is bowl inflation personified in this sorry game. The silver lining is WKU’s all-in mentality resulting in the 6th ranked scoring offense paired with the 122nd ranked scoring defense makes for some crazy video game football. Go big or go home is the Hilltopper motto.
Hawai’i Bowl, 8 / 7, ESPN
Fresno State (6-7, 5-3, Mountain West) vs Rice (7-5, 5-3, C-USA)
Would I go if Iowa was playing ranking: 10/10
It’s Hawaii…in December…coming from the midwest.
Would I go if I was a Fresno fan ranking: NO
This is a sorry team with a losing record making a bowl on a stupid technicality. I would not spend the money to get to Hawaii to see a team potentially drop to 6-8. On second thought for the Bahamas bowl…this is bowl inflation personified.
Would I go if I was a Rice fan ranking: 10/10
This is Rice’s third straight bowl game but first in a great weather city. Based on last year’s embarrassing 44-7 bowl smoking by Mississippi State, they are anxious to get back on track in the post season.
…So should we watch on TV ranking: NO
First of all it is Christmas Eve but that could be excusable for a football junkie like me if it was an intriguing game which it is not. The fact that you can get a waiver for playing in a game if you lose your league title game like Fresno did is a joke. Even if they win, they will get to all of .500! Yay! Pointless game but I hope Rice destroys them to prove a point about letting clubs like Fresno in.
Big Ten and Counting 