Hypothetical College Basketball Bowl Game Matchups

Since the college football bowl games are beginning this weekend, we thought it might be a fun exercise to take the top bowl games and make them special college basketball matchups.

With this being a fun exercise just intended to look at some good games (and fanbases), we didn't adhere to any rules when it comes to conference ties to certain bowl games, and we tried to make it like a draft system that starts at the top bowl and trickles down. 

Some of these games are classic rivalries that add a new wrinkle to their history while other games are intriguing because of the personnel taking the floor. Here's a look at ten hypothetical college basketball bowl games that would happen based on play from this early season.

10. Music City Bowl

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Matchup: Butler vs. Notre Dame

What to Watch: This fun in-state rivalry moves a little bit south as Butler goes against Notre Dame. The Bulldogs have an unsung star in junior Kelan Martin, and there's a strong group of players around him, including Andrew Chrabascz. Notre Dame is coming off of back-to-back Elite 8 appearances as they're looking strong again this season. Bonzie Colson is averaging a double-double for the Irish while Steve Vasturia and V.J. Beachem are also having strong seasons.

Better Fanbase Turnout: With the regional proximity and in-state rivalry, this would be a pretty even split between both fanbases. Notre Dame might have a slight bump because its a bigger school with more national pull but Butler will travel well.

Winner: Since Notre Dame has the stronger recent resume with making deep tournament runs, they get the edge because of the trio of Colson, Beachem and Vasturia. The Irish gave No. 1 Villanova all they could handle, and they get the edge over a talented Butler team. 

9. Sun Bowl

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Matchup: Xavier vs. Arizona

What to Watch: The Sean Miller connection is one of the obvious factors, and these two teams faced each other in 2015 Sweet 16, with Arizona winning. The rosters have some different names this time around as Arizona is led by freshmen Lauri Markkanen, Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons. Dusan Ristic and Kadeem Allen provide a veteran presence. Junior Trevon Bluiett is having a strong season for Xavier while J.P. Macura and Edmond Sumner are having strong seasons.

Better Fanbase Turnout: With the Texas location, Arizona is the choice as they have a large fanbase that would easily make that trip for this type of game. Xavier has a sizable fanbase thanks to its recent Sweet 16 appearances, but they don't have a fanbase like Arizona.

Winner: While Arizona won the last matchup with some veteran players, this time around, Xavier gets the upper hand thanks to its experienced scorers who bring nice balance. The Wildcats aren't very consistent at times and Xavier can mostly rely on some of its players like Bleuiett or Sumner to get it done.

8. Citrus Bowl

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Frank Martin

Matchup: Purdue vs. South Carolina

What to Watch: Stopping the Purdue interior duo of sophomore Caleb Swanigan and junior Isaac Haas would be tough for anyone as they are one of the best frontcourts in the country. South Carolina has one of the toughest defenses in the nation and will attempt to slow down Purdue as they rely on senior Sindarius Thornwell and sophomore P.J. Dozier. 

Better Fanbase Turnout: Both of these programs have good groups of basketball fans, but because of regional proximity, South Carolina would have a bigger turnout for a game in Florida. The drive would be a short one for fans who want to make a quick trip. 

Winner: Frank Martin has led an impressive resurgence for this South Carolina program but they don't have the interior bodies to match up with what Swanigan and Haas bring to the table. When you also include that Purdue is shooting over 40 percent from three-point range this season, their offense is rolling on all cylinders and tough to stop.

7. Alamo Bowl

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Tony Bennett

Matchup: Virginia vs. Wisconsin

What to Watch: There are a lot of connections to the Bennett family in this one as Tony Bennett was an assistant at Wisconsin when his dad, Dick Bennett, was coach there. On the floor, these are two quality programs who have won a lot of games lately as the Badgers have seniors Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig along with sophomore Ethan Happ. Virginia has experienced senior point guard London Perrantes while Marial Shayok and Darius Thompson are also part of a deep group.

Better Fanbase Turnout: Wisconsin fans are used to traveling in large groups for bowl games and recent deep NCAA tournament runs, so this is natural to them. Virginia has great fans that have traveled well, but they haven't had a game of this magnitude in a long time compared to Wisconsin. Definitely more red in this one. 

Winner: Now that Hayes has figured out how to balance scoring and facilitating, it has made the Badgers a very dangerous offense as Koenig is also at his best shooting off the catch. Happ is tough to stop inside and he makes a lot of plays as a defender to disrupt the game. Virginia's packline defense will slow things down, but the Badgers have enough weapons to win a tight game.

6. Cotton Bowl

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Bob Huggins

Matchup: Creighton vs. West Virginia

What to Watch: This is an intriguing clash of styles as high-octane Creighton faces Press Virginia. The Bluejays have one of the best backcourt groups in the nation with Mo Watson, Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas as they shoot well from three-point range. West Virginia can create turnovers and offense thanks to the athletes they throw on the floor. Esa Ahmad and Nathan Adrian lead a balanced attack that comes from all over the roster.

Better Fanbase Turnout: If you asked the common college basketball fan, they might not realize that Creighton is top 10 in attendance, but Bluejay fans come out to support their team. West Virginia has a great fanbase that travels and brings it, but this would be a unique opportunity for Creighton fans. So they come out with a big group.

Winner: Backcourt depth of this quality is hard to find and Creighton has multiple handlers who can carve up the West Virginia defense and make plays for open three-pointers. While West Virginia will get some buckets in transition and off of turnovers, this Creighton offense is one of the best in college basketball. The Bluejays have too much here.

5. Orange Bowl

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Rick Pitino

Matchup: Indiana vs. Louisville

What to Watch: A regional rivalry gets a new layer as Indiana battles Louisville in a game that features plenty of talent. The Hoosiers have one of the best offenses in the nation when they get rolling as Thomas Bryant is a mismatch down low while James Blackmon and Robert Johnson are scoring in bunches. OG Anunoby is another X-factor on both ends. Louisville is balanced as Donovan Mitchell and Quentin Snider are a talented backcourt with Deng Adel on the wing. Raymond Spaulding and Jaylen Johnson are also in the mix. 

Better Fanbase Turnout: Flip a coin because both fanbases are going to be involved heavily in a matchup like this. Indiana vs. Louisville would demand a lot of attention, and both fanbases would have fans who went into town just to be where the game is. 

Winner: Since the Hoosiers have the advantage of Thomas Bryant inside and more reliable depth, Indiana will outlast a Louisville team that will run out of gas at the end. Indiana can get out of Louisville's press and get open looks as they knock down enough three-pointers to overcome inconsistent defense.  

4. Sugar Bowl

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Roy Williams

Matchup: North Carolina vs. Gonzaga

What to Watch: This would be a fun one that features two of the best lead guards in the country in North Carolina's Joel Berry and Gonzaga's Nigel Williams-Goss. This Gonzaga team has a chance to be special and finally make the Final Four as they're deep and talented. Przemek Karnowski and Josh Perkins are both back while freshman center Zach Collins and Missouri transfer Johnathan Williams are making an impact. The Tar Heels would need good games from Justin Jackson, Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks in this one.

Better Fanbase Turnout: North Carolina has won championships in New Orleans before—in 1982 and 1993—and their fanbase would be expecting another big victory in this one. I'm sure Gonzaga would bring plenty of fans, but North Carolina brings a lot of support on this trip.

Winner: This is potentially Mark Few's best and deepest team at Gonzaga, and they have the balanced attack and bodies down low to run past North Carolina in this one. Nigel Williams-Goss and Josh Perkins work to slow down Joel Berry, and the Zags win the interior with their wave of four quality players to earn a close win. 

3. Rose Bowl

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Matchup: Kentucky vs. Baylor 

What to Watch: Baylor has been the surprise Final Four sleeper to emerge this season while Kentucky remains a juggernaut filled with one-and-done freshmen. This one would be fascinating thanks to the amount of high-level athletes on the floor for both teams. The Wildcats have 5-star freshmen like Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox and Bam Adebayo while the Bears have Johnathan Motley, Manu Lecomte and Al Freeman. 

Better Fanbase Turnout: This one would clearly go to Kentucky as nobody is bringing it more than Big Blue Nation in this category. No disrespect to Baylor's fanbase, but I've never heard of them camping out to go to the team's madness event. 

Winner: Baylor has earned some quality wins over Oregon and Louisville to begin this season, but they haven't played anybody with the kind of depth that Kentucky can bring. Since John Calipari's team can bring waves of athletes at multiple positions, it would be tough for Baylor to handle since they don't have as much high-quality depth. Seeing Lecomte and Freeman handle an athletic backcourt would also be a question in this one.

2. Fiesta Bowl

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Matchup: Kansas vs. UCLA

What to Watch: These teams have storylines that would appeal to everyone. The Jayhawks have talented upperclass players like Frank Mason, Devonte Graham and Landen Lucas while also having an explosive 5-star freshman in Josh Jackson. The Bruins counter with one of the most explosive offenses college basketball has seen as 5-star freshman Lonzo Ball has led to a flurry of points. UCLA might be the best three-point shooting team college basketball has ever seen with six guys who can really fill it up.

Better Fanbase Turnout: Kansas fans will travel anywhere in the country, and they would come out in full force for this one. UCLA's fanbase seems to be a bit better this season, but they don't come anywhere near the Jayhawks in this category.

Winner: With an ability to play an uptempo game while also getting key stops late, the Jayhawks have the personnel on the wing to hang with UCLA in this one. The combination of Mason, Graham and Jackson are a good group to counter Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton and Ball. Lucas is serviceable inside to battle Thomas Welsh. The key might be stopping UCLA freshman T.J. Leaf, and the Bruins have a major mismatch there that helps win them this win. 

1. Peach Bowl

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Matchup: Villanova vs. Duke

What to Watch: The defending national champions against the team that many had at No. 1 entering the season. Now that Duke is finally becoming fully healthy, they have a chance to be one of the deepest teams in college basketball with talented veterans like Grayson Allen, Amile Jefferson and Luke Kennard along with 5-star freshmen like Jayson Tatum, Frank Jackson, Harry Giles and Marques Bolden. Villanova is off to an unbeaten start as senior Josh Hart has been a Player of the Year candidate. Kris Jenkins, Jalen Brunson and many other key players from last season are back as this one would be a ton of fun.

Better Fanbase Turnout: Villanova's fanbase is underrated, but Duke's mix of local fans and national fans could get to a potential game in Atlanta. It wouldn't be Cameron Indoor South but there would be a lot of Blue Devils support in the building.

Winner: Assuming both teams are fully healthy, then Duke would have so many bodies to throw at the Wildcats. With Allen, Matt Jones and Kennard able to play against Hart and a lot of bigger bodies that could hurt Villanova's lack of big men, the Blue Devils would have the edge on the interior. It would be close, but Duke has too many playmakers.

Recruit star ratings courtesy of Scout.com.