Ten (Well, Twelve) Bowl Games I’m Looking Forward to Seeing – From the Bird’s Nest

While the debate of "are there too many bowls" rages on (as it does every single year) the reality is, there are 41 bowl games coming up.  And, my attitude has always been, if you think there are too many, don't watch them.  That's what I'm going to do.  I'm guessing there are many I'll have on while I'm doing something else.  There are some I won't pay attention to at all.  But there are others I'd really like to see...to the point where I may record them if I can't be in front of a television.

Before I compiled this list, I eliminated the New Year's Six.  We're going to watch them.  We're all going to watch them.

Of the minor bowls, these are the one's I'll be paying the most attention to.  Most of them are before Christmas:

1.  ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL---UTAH vs. BYU--Dec. 19th 2:30pm ABC--What a great matchup between two pretty darned good ball clubs.  The Holy War....in Las Vegas, of all places.  Not sure the casinos are thrilled about this...but hey...I'll bet there will still be plenty of folks (albeit, in disguise, perhaps) gambling at the tables.

2.  CAMELLIA BOWL--APPALACHIAN STATE vs. OHIO Dec. 19th, 4:30 ESPN/CURE BOWL--GEORGIA STATE vs. SAN JOSE STATE--Dec. 19th, 6pm CBSSports Network, GODADDY BOWL--GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. BOWLING GREEN  Dec. 23 7pm, ESPN.---I'm lumping these three together.  And, I'm watching them because the Sun Belt is the league I cover.  The Georgia State/San Jose State matchup may be played in front of a crowd of ten.  Not ten thousand.  Ten people.  But I'm happy for Trent Miles and Nick Arbuckle is worth watching.  App and Ohio are both solid mid-major football teams and App (with apologies to my friends in Jonesboro) might be the most complete team in the league.  Godaddy could be fun.  A Bowling Green squad who throws it all over the place against a Georgia Southern team that doesn't throw it at all.  That one should have a lot of points.

3.  R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL--LOUISIANA TECH vs. ARKANSAS STATE--Dec. 19th, 8pm ESPN--This one gets a mention all by itself.  Tech is really solid offensively and capable of scoring a lot of points.  Arkansas State is really solid offensively and capable of scoring a lot of points.  Louisiana Tech is not great defensively.  Arkansas State is not great defensively.  Some Louisiana Tech fans are upset that Tech is lowering itself to play a team from the "Belch" in a bowl game.  Hey, if you're scared, say you're scared.

4.  MIAMI BEACH BOWL--WKU vs. USF--Dec. 21st, 1:30, ESPN--USF Coach Willie Taggart is an alum and former head coach at WKU.  He got the Hilltoppers on the right track.  He's done a solid job of rebuilding the Bulls, who narrowly missed out on a division title in the AAC.  He recruited Brandon Doughty to the hill.  He may regret that in this game.

5.  POINSETTIA BOWL---BOISE ST. vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS--Dec. 23, 3:30 ESPN--Normally, this would be one of the best "minor bowl" matchups.  The two G5 programs who have been the most consistent over the last couple of years both had down seasons by their standards.  But it's still Boise and NIU and that makes it worth watching.

6.  SUN BOWL--MIAMI vs. WASHINGTON STATE--Dec. 26, 1pm CBS--The Cougars became relevant this season and it's been awhile.  Mike Leach's teams are always a lot of fun to watch and this Washington State team is no exception.  Miami turned things around after the firing of Al Golden.  It'll be interesting to see this and see just how much work Mark Richt has ahead of him.

7.  HEART OF DALLAS--WASHINGTON vs. SOUTHERN MISS--Dec. 26--1:20, ESPN--It's Southern Miss.  They've had a great bounceback year and I'm really interested to see how they do against a Power 5 conference team.  My guess is they'll do pretty durned well.

8.  RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL--NORTH CAROLINA vs. BAYLOR, Dec. 29, 4:30 ESPN--These two teams were probably one win each away from making this a New Years Six matchup.  Two very good teams who suffered tough breaks and tough losses.

9.  TEXAS BOWL--LSU vs. TEXAS TECH--Dec. 29, 8pm, ESPN--LSU runs it as well as anyone.  Texas Tech can't keep anyone from running it.  Texas Tech's offense can score on anyone.  This one might be the most fun of any of the "minor" bowls.  Must see TV.

10.  ALAMO BOWL--OREGON vs. TCU, January 2, 5:45 ESPN--Like the Russell Athletic Bowl, these two teams weren't far away from playing in a big money bowl.  Both offenses can score.  Oregon faded from contention early but they're a much better team now than they were in September.