Following up on the today’s article with a list of the full bowl schedule and how to help SFN, we want to take a slightly deeper look at the 35 games. I will take a moment now to remember Temple, who went 8-4 and was the only FBS team with at least a 6-6 record who did not get a bowl invitation. Maybe next year Coach Golden.
Every year I have a resolution to watch part of every single bowl game. Every year I fail. (I haven’t been able previously to watch the Insight Bowl as it has always been broadcast on the NFL Network and I don’t get that channel. Thanks Time Warner Cable.) Now that we know all of the bowl games, here is a viewer’s guide to the games we should watch and tidbits about each one.
Saturday, December 18th
New Mexico Bowl: BYU vs. UTEP 2:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
The newest Independent team plays UTEP in the first bowl. Hey BYU, at least you aren’t playing in your 6th consecutive Las Vegas Bowl.
Humanitarian Bowl: Fresno State vs. Northern Illinois 5:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
NIU is reeling from a heartbreaking MAC title game loss. Fresno State is on a high after beating a BCS school, Illinois, again.
New Orleans Bowl: Ohio vs. Troy 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Um, Frank Solich is the Ohio head coach. That’s all I got.
Tuesday, December 21st
St. Petersburg Bowl: Louisville vs. Southern Miss 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
A bowl game for the Cardinals is an achievement for first year coach Charlie Strong. The Golden Eagles will be playing for their 3 teammates, who are still recovering from a shooting outside a club a few weeks ago.
Wednesday, December 22nd
Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Utah 6:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Kellen Moore’s last game. The Broncos, who probably deserved a BCS berth, play a Utah team who never recovered from the TCU beatdown and now are without their QB. The Broncos win big time.
Thursday, December 23rd
Poinsettia Bowl: Navy vs. San Diego State 6:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Who will be the home crowd be pulling for here? The game in San Diego pits the surprising Aztecs (Brady Hoke is a great up and coming coach) versus the Midshipmen. Should be a very good game.
Friday, December 24th
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. Tulsa 6:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
On Christmas Eve, a high octane matchup between two prolific offenses. Hawaii was the only team to beat Nevada. Tulsa throws the ball all over the field.
Sunday, December 26th
Little Caesars Bowl: Florida International vs. Toledo 6:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
FIU’s first ever bowl game. Watch this if you don’t want to watch San Diego at Cincinnati on NBC.
Monday, December 27th
Independence Bowl: Air Force vs. Georgia Tech 5:00 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)
Two option offenses collide. I thought Army-Navy was this Saturday. Oops.
Tuesday, December 28th
Champs Sports Bowl: North Carolina State vs. West Virginia 6:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Two teams who easily could be playing in a higher profile bowl. Will be an interesting matchup between Geno Smith and Russell Wilson. Could this be Bill Stewart’s final game? Go Pack! Must see TV.
Insight Bowl: Iowa vs. Missouri 10:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Missouri, who couldn’t follow-up beating Oklahoma, faces the 7-5 Hawkeyes. On paper this is a mismatch. The winner depends on how motivated the 12th ranked Tigers are.
Wednesday, December 29th
Military Bowl: East Carolina vs. Maryland 2:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
ECU is happy to be bowling. The Terps are probably not happy falling down to this bowl after a 8-4 season. That’s what a non-traveling fanbase will do for you.
Texas Bowl: Baylor vs. Illinois 6:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Robert Griffith is an extremely good QB. The Bears are going to a bowl for the first time since joining the Big 12. They play Illinois, who probably saved Ron Zook’s job with a bowl bid.
Alamo Bowl: Arizona vs. Oklahoma State 9:15 p.m. ESPN (HD)
This is always a good bowl game no matter who plays. And these teams should put on a good show. I love watching the Cowboys play. Justin Blackmon is phenomenal. And Arizona’s Julio Criner is not shabby either. Must-see TV.
Thursday, December 30th
Armed Forces Bowl: Army vs. SMU 12:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
This is Army’s first bowl since 1996. This is a great matchup in contrasting styles. Army’s triple option versus June Jones’ Run –n-Shoot offense.
Pinstripe Bowl: Kansas State vs. Syracuse 3:20 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Was this game played in the NCAA Tournament? No. Well, outside of the Syracuse’s revival, the only reason to watch this is that the game is being played at Yankee Stadium.
Music City Bowl: North Carolina vs. Tennessee 6:40 p.m. ESPN (HD)
To copy what a poster said earlier, the Volunteers vs. the Professionals. Is this Butch’s last game? Does this make up for UT canceling the home-and-home? Go Vols!
Holiday Bowl: Nebraska vs. Washington 10:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
A rematch of a September game at Husky Stadium. Hopefully, this will be a better matchup as the first one was a Nebraska beatdown of Jake Locker and Co.
Friday, December 31st
Car Care Bowl: Clemson vs. South Florida 12:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Kyle Parker’s last game with his underachieving team versus Skip Holtz’s first USF team. Clemson should fill the stadium in Orange to play the Bulls.
Sun Bowl: Miami vs. Notre Dame 2:00 p.m. CBS (HD)
Catholics vs. Criminals. Oh, it isn’t 1988 anymore? 2 teams whose fans live in the past play in the present in El Paso.
Liberty Bowl: Central Florida vs. Georgia 3:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
The Golden Knights, winners of Conference USA, play AJ Green and the Bulldogs who improved after a horrible start.
Peach Bowl: Florida State vs. South Carolina 7:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
2 conference title game losers play in Atlanta. Can the FSU defensive line get to Stephen Garcia while keeping Marcus Lattimore in check? I hope so.
Saturday, January 1st
TicketCity: Northwestern vs. Texas Tech 12:00 p.m. ESPNU (HD)
The Wildcats, whose QB, Dan Persa, is out after getting injured celebrating a TD, will struggle to keep up with Mike Leach’s offense, even though Leach is no longer the coach.
Capital One Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State 1:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
The best non-BCS bowl matchup by a long shot. The defending champs play the Big 10 champs. A very physical game is in store. Must-see TV.
Outback Bowl: Florida vs. Penn State 1:00 p.m. ABC (HD)
2 teams who are playing on January 1 because of name and not because of accomplishments. Can the Gators have a good shotgun snap? Can the Nittany Lions win away from home?
Gator Bowl: Michigan vs. Mississippi State 1:30 p.m. ESPN2 (HD)
Can Denard Robinson run through the Bulldog defense like he did everyone else? The Bulldogs were a FG against Auburn and a OT FG against Arkansas away from being 10-2 and in the BCS.
Rose Bowl: TCU vs. Wisconsin 5:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
TCU was so mad about not being in the title game that they blew up their stadium. Take solace guys. The Granddaddy of them all, along with a high-scoring Wisconsin offense awaits. Must-see TV.
Fiesta Bowl: Connecticut vs. Oklahoma 8:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / ESPN 3D
Is Connecticut this year’s Boise State? All respect to Jordan Todman, but no. Oklahoma will roll over the Huskies.
Monday, January 3rd
Orange Bowl: Stanford vs. Virginia Tech 8:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
This is the ACC’s chance to prove its worth. Beating Stanford and Andrew Luck will show that the Hokies slow start was an anomaly. Must-see TV.
Tuesday, January 4th
Sugar Bowl: Arkansas vs. Ohio State 8:30 p.m. ESPN (HD)
The BCS game between two at-large teams. Ryan Mallett versus Terelle Pryor. Mallett, who transferred from Michigan, gets a chance to do something Rich Rodriguez never has done, beat the Buckeyes. Must-see TV.
Thursday, January 6th
Go Daddy Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (Ohio) 8:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Will there be any Danica Patrick commercials? Seriously, Miami had the biggest turnaround of a FBS team and are MAC champs.
Friday, January 7th
Cotton Bowl: LSU vs. Texas A&M 8:00 p.m. FOX (HD)
The Mad-Hatter versus General Sherman. 2 coaches who, in mid-October, were going to be fired by their fanbases meet. These teams improved dramatically over the season, especially at QB.
Saturday, January 8th
Birmingham Bowl: Kentucky vs. Pittsburgh 12:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Randall Cobb is the best player in the nation that few people have ever seen. Watch him for the Wildcats.
Sunday, January 9th
Emerald Bowl: Boston College vs. Nevada 9:00 p.m. ESPN (HD)
Can Mark Herzlich and Luke Kuechly contain the Wolf Pack’s Pistol offense? Will Nevada still be on Cloud 9 from ruining Boise State’s season?
Monday, January 10th
BCS Championship: Auburn vs. Oregon 8:30 p.m. ESPN (HD) / ESPN 3D
Will either team be stopped? Auburn has a bad habit of getting down early before taking over the game. Oregon wears people down in the 2nd half. Can’t wait to see this game. Obviously, this is must-see TV.
Look out for a SFN Bowl Game Challenge. Information to follow. Please look for this out on our forums page.
Originally published on December 8, 2010. Re-published on December 27, 2010.