Now that the regular season has ended and the Playoff is set, we are heading head-long into bowl season. Some people say they hate the bowls, especially the minor ones (like the ones we’ll discuss today). Others, like me, have said “the more the merrier!”. In truth, I think we’ve reached the point at 44 bowls where there are a few too many. I’d prefer keeping it around 35 so the top half of the sport has ability to end their season in a bowl but more 6-6-type teams are kept out. With all that said, we’ve got the slate and we’re going to break down the best matchups (since they are all either meaningful or not to the teams involved) for the first phase of bowl season, through Christmas Day.
Here we go>>>>>>
10. Lending Tree Bowl - E. Michigan (7-5) vs. Liberty (7-5) – Dec. 18th 5:45 PM on ESPN – While LU and EMU both had designs on having a better season, this is a great intersectional matchup between contrasting styles. If Liberty’s QB Malik Willis plays, he’s the best player on the field while Eastern Michigan usually features a pretty strong defense. Mobile, Alabama is the site of this “clash”.
9. New Mexico Bowl - UTEP (7-5) vs. Fresno State (9-3) - Dec. 18th 2:15 PM on ESPN – Fresno had another really good season but is losing their head coach to Washington. On the other side, Dana Dimel probably deserves national coach of the year votes for coaxing a winning record out of UTEP which was thought to be one of the worst FBS teams coming into this year. This venue is really a beautiful one with the mountains surrounding the stadium in New Mexico and this game is usually a pretty wild shootout.
8. Boca Raton Bowl - W. Kentucky (8-5) vs. App. State (10-3) - Dec. 18th 11:00 AM on ESPN – the #2 team from Conference USA (WKU) squares off against the Sun Belt runner up. This matchup is a contrast in styles between hurry-up spread Air Raid WKU and more methodical but also more sturdy Appalachian State. Could be a sneaky good game.
7. New Orleans Bowl - Marshall (7-5) vs. Louisiana (12-1) – Dec. 18th 9:15 PM on ESPN – As Sun Belt Champion, Louisiana’s reward is a New Orleans bowl game but against an opponent that didn’t even make the CUSA Championship game. I’m not sure why that happens – but Marshall isn’t a pushover. Louisiana lost their head coach to Florida but in about the best way possible. I’d expect a Ragin’ Cajun win.
6. Kimmel L.A. Bowl - Utah State (10-3) vs. Oregon State (7-5) – Dec. 18th 7:30 PM on ABC – a bowl game sponsored by Jimmy Kimmel…what could go wrong? In all seriousness, this is a good matchup with Mountain West Champion Utah State versus possibly the best Oregon State team in a decade. Should be a close game with running game as a focus.
5. Armed Forces Bowl - Army (8-4) vs. Missouri (6-6) – Dec. 22nd 8:00 PM on ESPN – it’s always a lot of fun when a service academy goes bowling and Army relishes beating Power 5 teams when it gets the opportunity. They came up short against West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl last year but Missouri has struggled to stop the run all year – I think this is a mashing by Army.
4. Gasparilla Bowl - Florida (6-6) vs. UCF (8-4) – Dec. 23rd 7:30 PM on ABC – this matchup of a disappointing SEC team and a slightly-above-average UCF may not look like much but it’s VERY meaningful to the Golden Knights who have long wanted to get a fair shot at the Gators. It’s important for recruiting, boosters and bragging rights. It’s kind of a nightmare scenario for Florida backers with a lame duck coach and not a lot to play for but I bet it will be a close game.
3. Independence Bowl - BYU (10-2) vs. UAB (8-4) - Dec. 18th 3:30 PM on ABC – UAB has been one of the most consistently good CUSA programs since coming back from a two year shutdown in 2018. BYU meanwhile may be better this year overall than last year’s Cougar squad that won 12 games. This matchup could be good if UAB can stop BYU at all…but I’d expect the Cougar offense to really roar. People make fun of the Independence Bowl because of past sponsorships (like Poulan Weed Eater) but it is usually a good matchup and I’d expect a good game.
2. Cure Bowl - N. Illinois (9-4) vs. C. Carolina (10-2) - Dec. 17th 6:00 on ESPN – This game is probably worthy of a later in calendar slot but MAC Champion (out of nowhere) Northern Illinois is another amazing story this season. Coach Hammack probably deserves national coach of the year votes as well as Dimel above. However, Coastal is likely the better team – they finished just out of the championship game hunt in the Sun Belt but I would be they’ll be riled up to avenge last year’s bowl loss to Liberty here.
1. Frisco Bowl - UTSA (12-1) vs. San Diego State (11-2) – Dec. 21st 7:30 PM on ESPN – this is it – the best game of the early slate of bowls. UTSA had a phenomenal season, only one late loss stained an otherwise perfect record and the future looks bright as they held on to their coach. Meanwhile, San Diego State was in position to be in the NY6 but lost in a surprise blowout in the Mountain West Championship game to Utah State. I’m betting they will be raring to go against a quality opponent in what may be a road-like atmosphere for them in Texas. This one is one to watch for sure!
The rest:
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Kent State (7-6) vs. Wyoming (6-6) – Dec. 21st 3:30 PM on ESPN – Possibly the coldest bowl location, played on the blue turf in Boise, ID, this matchup features a high flying Kent State squad that won their half of the MAC and is playing in only their third bowl game in school history against a Cowboy squad that sagged in the second half of their season but is an interesting contrast in styles with more of a ground and pound attack.
Bahamas Bowl – Toledo (7-5) vs. Middle Tennessee (6-6) - Dec. 17th Noon on ESPN – Perhaps the nicest/oddest bowl location (along with Hawaii, see below), this game is…not a great matchup but it does kick the entire bowl slate off…so that’s something.
Hawai’I Bowl - Memphis (6-6) vs. Hawaii (6-7) – Dec. 24th 8:00 PM on ESPN – As a kid I always loved watching the Aloha Bowl which became the Hawaii Bowl. But neither of these teams feels like one that “earned” a bowl trip….feel a bit bad for the Rainbow Warriors as they get to play another home game basically – and on their temporary practice field no less! Watch for the beautiful shots of Oahu though…
Camellia Bowl - Ball State (6-6) vs. Georgia State (7-5) – Dec. 25th 2:30 PM on ESPN – Over/under on amount of fans in Montgomery, AL on the afternoon of Christmas has to be about 8000. Georgia State is growing as a program while Ball State was expected to be much better and was disappointing in the MAC this year. However, they have a senior laden team with a lot of talent. This could be a pretty good game if either team cares.
Myrtle Beach Bowl - Tulsa (6-6) vs. Old Dominion (6-6) – Dec. 20th 2:30 PM on ESPN – Two teams that fought to get bowl eligible. Tulsa probably saved Phil Montgomery’s job while ODU didn’t get to play in 2020 due to COVID overreaction by their administration so it’s a victory that they are here. Not sure whether it will be much of a game or not. Tulsa probably better team.
Frisco Classic - Miami (OH) (6-6) vs. North Texas (6-6) – Dec. 23rd 3:30 PM on ESPN – Yes there is a “Frisco Bowl” AND “Frisco Classic”. This is not a classic. Both teams scrambled to get bowl eligible – North Texas is hotter and closer to the location. They staved off the firing of their coach Seth Littrell by beating UTSA to get bowl eligible.
There you have it – enjoy the show through Christmas – I’ll post the next breakdown of games next week. Enjoy bowl games between weirdly matched teams in exotic locales! As always, you can follow me on Twitter for insights and banter at @ReadyCFB.