Well, we all at least can agree on the worst bowl…I know power ratings have become more overdone than McDonalds hamburgers, but let us venture into a power ratings of the 28 bowl matchups, instead of teams.
I will rate for you the best of these games before they are played, and then afterwards you will bastardize me for how wrong I was.
But let me try.
All I guarantee is that the New Orleans Bowl will not be #1…
1. Autozone Liberty Bowl: Boise State (11-0) vs. Louisville (10-1)
Both of these teams have been dominant all year, with Louisville’s only loss coming AT then-#3 Miami.
2. MPC Computers Bowl: Virginia (8-3) vs. Fresno State (8-3)
Virginia may be from the upper echelon of the ACC, but Fresno State can and will beat anybody on any given day.
3. FedEx Orange Bowl: Southern California (12-0) vs. Oklahoma (12-0)
Four of the top five Heisman vote getters play in the same game and it is not the NFL Busts Bowl. Oh, and a national title is on the line.
4. Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl: Miami (FL) (8-3) vs. Florida (7-4)
Fourth time in five years these rivals meet after more than a decade of isolation. The outright state title is on the line as is the Seminole War Canoe.
5. Toyota Gator Bowl: Florida State (8-3) vs. West Virginia (8-3)
A battle between 2 almost BCS teams is featured in the best game NBC has televised in a long time.
6. Nokia Sugar Bowl: Auburn (12-0) vs. Virginia Tech (10-2)
A split of the title could happen if Auburn wins here and Oklahoma wins the Orange Bowl. Va Tech is on a roll.
7. EV1.net Houston Bowl: Colorado (7-5) vs. Texas-El Paso (8-3)
A battle between teams’ coaches who were scandalized to threads the past two offseasons. This should produce a good game to boot.
8. Vitalis Sun Bowl: Arizona State (8-3) vs. Purdue (7-4)
Just because a battle between two successful senior quarterbacks is better than any matchup between a Big XII and Big Ten team.
9. Capital One Bowl: Iowa (9-2) vs. LSU (9-2)
2 overrated teams hook up as a prelude to the BCS games. At least that beats a matchup of 2 unrated teams as a prelude to the Motor City Bowl.
10. GMAC Bowl: Bowling Green (8-3) vs. Memphis (8-3)
Look at what is left and you’ll be happy that I picked this.
11. SBC Cotton Bowl: Tennessee (9-3) vs. Texas A&M (7-4)
This matchup is intriguing if only because Tennessee is as bad as a 9-3 SEC team can be AND they are missing their top two quarterbacks.
12. Rose Bowl presented by Citi: Michigan (9-2) vs. Texas (10-1)
Two excessively overrated teams from two excessively overrated conferences playing each other in what will be an excessively overrated bowl matchup.
13. Continental Tires Bowl: Boston College (8-3) vs. North Carolina (6-5)
It is being played in the state of North Carolina and BC is from a pitiful conference. This game is actually very evenly matched and should be good.
14. Emerald Bowl: New Mexico (7-4) vs. Navy (9-2)
Navy is a horrible 9-2 team going against a team, which we have been waiting for them to break out for 5 years now.
15. Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Utah (11-0) vs. Pittsburgh (8-3)
If this game did not give me an excuse to indulge on Tostitos, it would be around 22 or 23.
16. MainStay Independence Bowl: Miami (OH) (8-4) vs. Iowa State (6-5)
After ISU lost out on their hope for a division title, they play in the bowl game which 2 years ago had the unquestionable champion of commercials.
17. Insight Bowl: Notre Dame (6-5) vs. Oregon State (6-5)
Check Fiesta Bowl, Results, Oregon State 41, Notre Dame 9. A little revenge factor may take place in this otherwise dull 6-5 clash.
18. Outback Bowl: Wisconsin (9-2) vs. Georgia (9-2)
I could really care less. Wisconsin is pitiful and Georgia is really good. Should be a blowout both on the field and on my waist size if I eat more cheese fries.
19. MasterCard Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State (7-4) vs. Ohio State (7-4)
350 round-trip tickets, $207,388.78. 180 hotel rooms for 5 days, $164,151.33. 30 car rentals, $29,999.71. Confusing which OSU to bill: Priceless. There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there are commercials in the middle of a boring game.
20. Motor City Bowl: Toledo (9-3) vs. Connecticut (7-4)
A blue collar bowl matchup. That is all you need to know. Well, you also need to know how to change the channel.
21. Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: Texas Tech (7-4) vs. California (10-1)
Cal should romp, but this bowl always plays surprisingly close. I’ll watch it so that I can see the second best team in the country play.
22. Sheraton Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii (7-5) vs. UAB (7-4)
I’ll watch it after I watch a special Friday edition of the NFL on FOX. I’ll take the under 20 for # of minutes I’ll actually watch for.
23. Champs Sports Bowl: Syracuse (6-5) vs. Georgia Tech (6-5)
A 1950s matchup, not a 2000s matchup. As dull as an Olympic broadcasting team.
24. PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl: Marshall (6-5) vs. Cincinnati (6-5)
A West Virginia/Ohio border brawl in central Texas. Expected crowd is something like 1519. Expected viewership on TV is even lower.
25. Wyndham New Orleans Bowl: Southern Mississippi (6-5) vs. North Texas (7-4)
I like New Orleans so I’ll hope to catch a few glimpses of the city. Hell, just show me a tour of the city and a studio break-in after each score. Who cares even IF a game is played? The seniors will want the game to end so they can party (legally)…
26. Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl: Alabama (6-5) vs. Minnesota (6-5)
Grandma, tell me ’bout the good ‘ole days so I don’t have to watch this garbage.
27. Silicon Valley Football Classic: Troy State (7-4) vs. Northern Illinois (8-3)
Shoot me now. Spare me the misery.
28. Las Vegas Bowl: Wyoming (6-5) vs. UCLA (6-5)
If it were not for the fact that the game was in Vegas, they might not even have two teams. This is the consensus #28. It makes The NFC West look good.
