RANKING THE FBS BOWLS PART 1
Ah! The
Holidays. A time where we celebrate. Celebrate with friends and family, sing
wonderful songs, eat lots and lots of delicious (and unhealthy) food and watch
classic movies. It’s also a time where we enjoy something uniquely American.
BOWL SEASON! College Football’s postseason is an amazing part of holiday celebrations all across the United States, whether you’re a CFB junkie or a
degenerate who watches games for entertainment purposes or as background noise
at a holiday party. Bowl Season has provided many exciting moments over the
years and this year promises to be no different, storylines, regional battles and
other unique subplots should make this another fascinating Bowl Season. Don’t
let the talking heads fool you, these games still have meaning and there is no
such thing as too many Bowls. So, without further ado, here’s our ranking of
every FBS bowls from 1-41. We’ll start from the bottom and work our way to the
top. Part one will be Bowls 41-31.
41. Music
City Bowl: Iowa vs Kentucky, December 31, Noon ET on ABC
You’re
probably wondering why I would put a game with 2 Power 5 Teams Rock Bottom on
my list especially when the 2 teams played one of the better Bowl Games last seasons,
and therein lies one of many problems with this game. One of the things that
makes Bowl Season Unique is that you get matchups you do not always get. Who
wants a Rematch? And to top it all off, it will be nowhere near the quality of
last season’s game. Both offenses are outside of the Top 100 in scoring, Both
Defenses are Top 15 in scoring; Iowa will be playing with its third string QB,
Kentucky with its backup after Will Levis opted out, and very few 1st
string WR will play as well. This game has very little redeeming qualities to
it. But, will I watch? Probably
40. First
Responder Bowl: Memphis vs Utah State, December 27, 3:15 ET on ESPN
These 2
teams are usually among the best teams in the Group of Five. However, not this
year as both teams could only muster 6-6 records. Seth Henigan can sling it for
Memphis at QB and Utah State has RB Calvin Tyler Jr. who ran for seven TDs this
season. This game could be entertaining, but it has very little sex appeal at
the moment
39.
Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs Buffalo, December 27, Noon ET on ESPN
Another
battle of 6-6 Group of 5 Teams takes place in Montgomery, Alabama as Georgia
Southern meets Buffalo. The Eagles won at Nebraska and beat hated Rival
Appalachian State in the Finale to seal a Bowl Bid in Clay Helton’s 1st
Season. Buffalo also had to win its finale to punch their ticket to Bowl Season
as the Bulls came from behind to beat lowly Akron. Eagles QB Kyle Vantrease
threw 25 TDs during the season as the star attraction. Buffalo’s Bowl unveiling
video seemed to indicate a team excited to be Bowling. We’ll see what happens
at the Cramton Bowl.
38. Quick
Lane Bowl: New Mexico State vs Bowling Green, December 26, 2:30 ET on ESPN
I’ll be
honest, I feel kind of bad putting this game this low. Both teams are feel good
stories. Jerry Kill has the Aggies in a Bowl for just the fifth time in school
history while in a make it or break it year for Scot Loefler the Falcons
reached a Bowl for the 1st time since 2015. But I had to rank it
somewhere. No way can you question the motivation of either of these teams so
it should make for a compelling game in the Motor City.
37. New
Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs South Alabama, December 21, 9 ET on ESPN
This game could
be your typical Bowl shootout WKU QB Austin Reed went into the Transfer Portal,
only to come back to the Hilltopper program. The Hilltoppers can light up the
scoreboard quick, fast and in a hurry. Meanwhile, South Alabama had a quiet
10-2 season under Coach Kane Wommack. The two Jaguar losses? To UCLA and Troy
by a grand total of 5 points. Fireworks should be aplenty in the Big Easy.
36.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs San Jose State, December 20, 3:30
ET on ESPN
Both these
teams were once among the Sport’s Bottom Feeders. Now both are making Bowl
Games a habit. Eastern Michigan is in its fifth Bowl in seven Years while San
Jose State appears in its second in three Years. The Eagles beat Arizona State
and both of their in-state conference rivals. San Jose State had a good year, but
a closer look reveals that only one of their seven wins came against a team in
a Bowl.
35.
LendingTree Bowl: Rice vs Southern Miss, December 17, 5:45 ET on ESPN
2 former
Conference Rivals that make a return to the postseason square off in Mobile.
Rice is the only 5-7 team that made a Bowl this season and is limping to Mobile
having lost 3 straight while Will Hall brought the good times back to
Hattiesburg this season which included a win over Tulane, no doubt USM Fans
should show up in full force for this one. Frank Gore Jr. is the name you need
to know. He’s USM’s star RB.
34. Boca
Raton Bowl: Liberty vs Toledo, December 20, 7:30 ET on ESPN
Folks, It’s
simple. This game is never good. Every year an entertaining matchup is promised
and every year we’re left disappointed in the wake of a Boca Blowout. Bet on it
happening again this year. Toledo won the MAC and have a stud QB in DeQuan
Finn. Liberty lost Hugh Freeze to Auburn, and is coming off a blowout loss to
New Mexico State in the finale. Yeah. Don’t get your hopes up this year for a
good Boca Bowl either.
33.
Bahamas Bowl: UAB vs Miami (OH), December 16, 11:30 AM ET on ESPN
The 1st
Bowl of Bowl Season takes place in the Bahamas. UAB had a trying season by
their standards under an interim and coach and finished 6-6. Miami (OH) also
finished 6-6 as they beat Ball State in the Finale to claim their spot in this
game. UAB RB Dewayne McBride ran for a career high 272 yards in the finale vs.
Louisiana Tech and will no doubt be looking to impress new Blazer Coach Trent
Dilfer.
32.
Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs Wyoming, December 30, 4:30 ET on Barstool
There are
many reasons why a good amount of people won’t be watching this game. The
Bobcats lost in the MAC Title Game while the Cowboys had another solid year
under Craig Bohl. The Bobcats had a seven Game Winning Streak snapped in the
title game loss while Wyoming enters on a 2-game losing streak. This should be an
interesting contest…. even if it won’t be highly viewed.
31.
Hawaii Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs San Diego State, December 24, 8 ET on ESPN
*Knocks on
Wood* This Christmas Eve tradition gets renewed at long last this season in a
new venue! Both Middle Tennessee and San Diego State took interesting paths to
their respective 7-5 records. QB Chase Cunningham and WR Jaylin Lane key the
Blue Raider offense; their season highlight was a late September Win at Miami and
won their last three games to get here. San Diego State had a 3-game win streak
snapped in a 10-point loss to Air Force in the finale. You can watch A
Christmas Story afterwards. Enjoy the return of a Christmas Eve Classic.
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