2010 Bowl Matchups: Which Will Be the Most Entertaining Bowls?
Bowl games are set for the 2010-11 College Football post-season.
With 35 games and 70 teams playing, some matchups will be nothing more than a snooze fest, while others should provide for some fireworks.
So, what games have the makings of a great game and which one will be duds? Let's break them down from least to most exciting matchups.
35. New Orleans Bowl: Troy Vs. Ohio
1 of 35
Date: December 28, 2010
Location: New Orleans, LA
Signal-caller Corey Robinson has led Troy to a 7-5 record with Jerel Jernigan as his utility man.
Ohio has been decimated by injuries, so making it to the New Orleans Bowl is a nice consolation.
Either way, this is one Bowl game you can skip.
34. New Mexico Bowl: UTEP Vs. Brigham Young
2 of 35
Date: December 18, 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
These two teams will kick off the Bowl season with a rather boring matchup.
BYU's offense will really need quarterback Jake Heaps and tailback J.J. Di Luigi to come up.
Quarterback Trevor Vittatoe and running back Donald Buckram have been hobbled by injuries, and if they're not healthy for UTEP, this will be one game you're glad you don't have to stick around to see.
33. Godaddy.com Bowl: Miami (OH) Vs. Middle Tennessee
3 of 35
Date: January 6th, 2011
Location: Mobile, AL
If quarterback Zac Dysert is ready for the game, he will greatly help their offense.
Middle Tennessee will be led by dynamic playmaking quarterback, Dwight Dasher.
If Miami forces turnovers early on, this could quickly turn ugly. However, with Dasher behind center, Tennessee has a fighting chance of winning this one.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
32. New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse Vs. Kansas State
4 of 35
Date: December 30, 2010
Location: Bronx, NY
Both teams started the season strong, but faltered in the stretch run.
They'll be headlining this New York based bowl game with Syracuse having a significant home field advantage.
However, Syracuse's offense is subpar, and they could get blown out if they can't find a way to consistently put up points.
The Wildcats will lean on quarterback Collin Klein and running back Daniel Thomas to get the job done in what could be a yawner.
31. Little Caesars Bowl: Toledo Vs. Florida International
5 of 35
Date: December 26, 2010
Location: Detroit, MI
Neither team were expected to go to Bowl games early on, but they made it to the Little Caesars Bowl. Not the greatest of the bunch, but it's better than nothing.
Florida has a strong defense, and they will find success on their defensive laurels.
Do-it-all multi-position star Eric Page will need to come up big for Toledo, especially if quarterback Austin Dantin is unable to go after a separated shoulder injury.
Florida will have their own standout wide receiver in T.Y. Hamilton to go up against Eric Page.
Regardless, this doesn't look like it'll be an exciting one with friends, family and a few die-hard fans the only ones in attendance.
30. Holiday Bowl: Nebraska Vs. Washington
6 of 35
Date: December 30, 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Jake Locker was projected as a No. 1 pick in preseason, but he's fallen out of favor and will need to play big here. Washington looks to be overmatched in the Holiday Bowl.
Nebraska will finish the season on a bad note. They were on the verge of getting to a BCS Bowl, but faltered in their final game.
The Cornhuskers destroyed Washington earlier in the season 56-21. The outcome shouldn't be much different here.
29. Ticketcity Bowl: Texas Tech Vs. Northwestern
7 of 35
Date: January 1, 2011
Location: Dallas, Texas
Northwestern will be without quarterback Dan Persa, who tore his Achilles. Their offense is in shambles, and their defense isn't much better.
Texas Tech should have no trouble disposing of Northwestern behind the arm of Taylor Potts and the hands of Lyle Leong.
28. Meineke Car Care Bowl: Clemson Vs. South Florida
8 of 35
Date: December 31, 2010
Location: Charlotte, NC
This looks to be a defensive battle, which is essentially another way of calling it a low scoring and boring game.
Clemson's sack machine—Da'Quan Bowers—will be on full display as he looks to be one of the top 10 players taken off the board.
27. Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State Vs. Utah
9 of 35
Date: December 22, 2010
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Two misses by Boise State kicker Kyle Brotzman against Nevada led to a crushing overtime loss and left the Broncos out of the running for any BCS Bowls.
Utah's starting quarterback, Jordan Wynn, is out with a shoulder injury and the team's backup, Terrance Cain, will be taking over.
This doesn't look like a great matchup on paper with Boise State looking to redeem themselves after missing out on a BCS Bowl game.
26. Humanitarian Bowl: Fresno State Vs. Northern Illinois
10 of 35
Date: December 18, 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Nothern Illinois may have lost the MAC title game, but they can still get to 11 wins for the season.
Fresno State has a solid pass rush, but they'll need to be at their best in stopping the run. They'll have their hands full with Chad Spann leading the Huskies rushing attack.
If Robbie Rouse is in peak shape for the game, it could feature a ground battle between the two teams.
With coach Jerry Kill leaving the Northern Illinois for Minnesota, this game could go either way.
25. Insight Bowl: Missouri vs. Iowa
11 of 35
Date: December 28, 2010
Location: Tempe, AZ
The Insight Bowl should be a quarterback shootout between Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.
The Tigers have a tough defense, and they'll have the upper hand here.
However, Iowa could easily upset them in this duel.
24. Alamo Bowl: Arizona Vs. Oklahoma State
12 of 35
Date: December 29, 2010
Location: San Antonio, TX
Arizona will be underdogs in this game.
Oklahoma City has one of the top ranked offenses in the nation. The trio of Justin Blackmon, Kendall Hunter and Brandon Weeden make up the core of the Cowboys' potent offensive attack, and they'll undoubtedly put up a lot of points on the board.
The Wildcats' defense and quarterback—Nick Foles—won't make it easy for them though.
23. Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl: Louisville Vs. Southern Miss
13 of 35
Date: December 21, 2010
Location: Saint Petersburg, FL
In the worst named Bowl game scheduled for this postseason, it will feature two contrasting teams.
Southern Miss has the 15th highest scoring offense, while Louisville has the 11th ranked defense.
Louisville will rely on running back Bilal Powell to power their offense, while Southern Miss will turn to quarterback Austin Davis.
If quarterback Adam Froman returns for Louisville, he could significantly bolster the teams offense.
22. Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma Vs. UConn
14 of 35
Date: January 1, 2011
Location: Glendale, AZ
Oklahoma is back in the BCS after a win against Nebraska.
The Sooners standout linebacker and expected first round selection, Travis Lewis, should be in line for a big day against the Huskies.
UConn will be overmatched on nearly all fronts, and this should be a blowout win for Oklahoma.
Jordan Todman will have to carry the team on his back and power the Huskies on the ground if the team is expected to have any success.
21. Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State Vs. Navy
15 of 35
Date: December 23, 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
This should be a heated game with a both sides likely to split the crowd.
San Diego State has a well-rounded offense behind the arm of Ryan Lindley, the legs of Ronnie Hillman and the hands of their stud receiving duo.
Quarterback Ricky Dobbs and tailback Alexander Teich will have to rely on the triple-option to control the game and the clock to keep the ball out of the hands of San Diego and their passing game.
20. Music City Bowl: Tennessee Vs. North Carolina
16 of 35
Date: December 30, 2010
Location: Nashville, TN
UNC was expected to have a much stronger season, but suspensions and injury derailed their season.
The Tar Heels' quarterback, T.J. Yates, will be battling against the Vol's Tyler Bray.
North Carolina's defense would have been one of the best in the nation if not for the suspensions. This should be an all-offense-no-defense game.
19. Outback Bowl: Penn State Vs. Florida
17 of 35
Date: January 1, 2011
Location: Tampa, FL
Both teams have not had great seasons—with each squad finishing with 7-5 records—but making it to the Outback Bowl should be a nice consolation.
This Bowl game will be a chess match headed by the legendary Joe Paterno and the well-respected Urban Meyer.
Penn State's quarterback—Matt McGloin—will need to step up in this game and his task will not be an easy one.
After the departure of Tim Tebow, Florida's offense has failed time and again to find the end zone with any consistency. The Gators will rely on their defense to get the job done as the quarterback carousel on the Gators is on shaky ground.
Florida was a surprise inclusion in the Outback Bowl, but they should come into the game with a strong home field advantage as the game is played in their backyard.
18. Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: South Methodist Vs. Army
18 of 35
Date: December 30, 2010
Location: Dallas, TX
When you look at both teams, it doesn't exactly scream must watch TV. However, both have strong and varied offenses that could make for an exciting game.
Army has the ninth ranked rushing offense with their potent triple option behind the legs of Trent Steelman and Jared Hassin.
SMU utilizes the Run 'N' Shoot offense with a strong run game to back that up.
17. BBVA Compass Bowl: Kentucky Vs. Pittsburgh
19 of 35
Date: January 8th, 2011
Location: Birmingham, AL
Both squads had high hopes for the season, but they've both failed to meet expectations.
Tailback Dion Lewis and star receiver Jon Baldwin will need to carry Pittsburgh as they face off against Kentucky's equally formidable offensive combination of running back Derrick Locke and receiver Randall Cobb.
Each team will be playing to prove something, and this could be a high scoring game.
16. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Nevada Vs. Boston College
20 of 35
Date: January 9th, 2011
Location: San Francisco, CA
Colin Kaepernick has settled into Nevada's offense seamlessly as their quarterback, running their Pistol offense to near perfection.
Their running back, Vai Taua, has played in near perfect tandem with Kaepernick as they have formed one of the most menacing rushing combos in the nation.
Boston quarterback Chase Rettig and running back Andre Williams will have to do all they can to battle against the Wolfpack's dominating rushing offense. If tailback Montel Harris is back and healthy, it should help their rushing offense tremendously.
However, Boston is backed up by one of the best rushing defenses, which should make for an interesting battle between the two sides.
15. Independence Bowl: Georgia Tech Vs. Air Force
21 of 35
Date: December 27, 2010
Location: Shreveport, LA
This should make for an interesting game with two evenly matched teams facing off.
The Yellowjackets will have to do all they can to contain quarterback Tim Jefferson and the Falcons triple-option. However, Georgia has an advantage in the run game as they run the same offense, but more effectively.
Georgia Tech will get a significant boost if quarterback Josh Nesbitt is able to play.
14. Sun Bowl: Miami Vs. Notre Dame
22 of 35
Date: December 31, 2010
Location: El Paso, TX
This matchup will renew an old rivalry between the two schools.
Miami has had a disappointing season with head coach Randy Shannon getting the axe just recently. Jeff Stoutland has taken over as interim head coach
The Irish finished the regular season strong, and they'll look to ride the wave into Texas.
At the start of the season, this would have been an easy prediction going in favor of the Hurricanes, but at this juncture, anything can happen.
13. Champs Sports Bowl: West Virginia Vs. North Carolina State
23 of 35
Date: December 28, 2010
Location: Orlando, FL
West Virginia has a significant advantage on the defensive side of the ball and will look to exploit every possible matchup.
North Carolina's signal-caller, Russell Wilson, is ranked 11th in total offense, and he'll need to put on a show against the Mountaineers and their dominating defense.
This looks to be a quarterback battle with West Virginia signal-caller Geno Smith having the advantage.
12. Liberty Bowl: UCF Vs. Georgia
24 of 35
Date: December 31, 2010
Location: Memphis, TN
Freshman quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Jeff Godrey will be dueling in Tennessee.
However, Murray has the significant upper hand with superstar wide receiver A. J. Green to throw to.
UCF is a well-rounded team, and they could give Georgia fits in this matchup.
11. Military Bowl: Maryland Vs. East Carolina
25 of 35
Date: December 29, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Maryland's quarterback—Danny O'Brien—is the ACC Rookie of the Year, and he'll be up against East Carolina's standout quarterback, Dominique Davis.
Both sides also have great receivers, with Torrey Smith flanking O'Brien and Dwayne Harris flanking Davis.
The Terps' defense has an advantage over the Pirates, but the two teams will rely on their quarterback-receiver combination to get the job done in a likely shootout.
10. Texas Bowl: Baylor Vs. Illinois
26 of 35
Date: December 29, 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Dual-threat quarterbacks will be playing on both sides of the ball.
Baylor's quarterback, Robert Griffin, will be flanked by running back Jay Finley and Illinois' signal-caller, Nathan Scheelhasse, will have tailback Mikel Leshoure at his side.
The Texas Bowl has the makings of a great game with a high scoring game sure to be looming ahead.
9. Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Florida State Vs. South Carolina
27 of 35
Date: December 31, 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA
Both teams are Conference championship game runner-ups. They both boast two top-notch defenses, and this should make for a good Bowl game.
Making their first trip to the SEC Championship game, the Gamecocks were thoroughly beaten down by Auburn. They'll look to rebound on the last day of the calendar year against Florida State.
Marcus Lattimore will give Florida State a handful on the ground, while Ashlon Jeffrey will do the same through the air.
Quarterback Christian Ponder should be good to go for Florida State after sitting out in the ACC Championship game. This should be a big boost to their offense.
8. Gator Bowl: Michigan Vs. Mississippi State
28 of 35
Date: January 1, 2011
Location: Jacksonville, FL
The Gator Bowl will feature two spread offenses in a high scoring affair.
Rich Rodriguez will need to win this game for any shot of retaining his head coaching gig in Ann Arbor.
Dual-threat stud, Dernard Robinson, will have to do all he can with Michigan's weak defense.
Mississippi State will rely on their 16th ranked rushing offense to get the job done with quarterback Chris Relf leading the way.
7. Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii Vs. Tulsa
29 of 35
Date: December 24, 2010
Location: Honolulu, HI
This matchup initally doesn't sound great on paper, but it features two explosive offenses.
Tulsa is ranked No. 5, led by quarterback G.J. Kinne.
Hawaii is ranked at No. 8 behind signal-caller Bryant Moniz.
This is all but guaranteed to be a shootout with a combined score that could approach the triple-digit barrier.
6. Cotton Bowl: LSU Vs. Texas A&M
30 of 35
Date: January 7th, 2011
Location: Arlington, Texas
LSU found itself out of contention for a BCS Bowl game after losing to Arkansas.
The Tigers' offense is not in great shape, with quarterback Jordan Jefferson playing poorly over the course of the season. They'll have some trouble against a much improved Texas A&M defense.
Texas A&M started the season slow, but they really played strong in the second half with a six game winning streak. Two of those victories came against opponents ranked in the top 10, shooting them up in the rankings as the second best team in the Big 12.
The switch to quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the emergence of running back Cyrus Gray injected life back into the Aggies offense and they'll be facing off against a LSU defense that has had some inconsistency lately.
5. Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech Vs. Stanford
31 of 35
Date: January 3, 2011
Location: Miami, Florida
Stanford—led by coach Jim Harbaugh—will be making their way down south to Miami to take on Virginia Tech. The Cardinals have taken on the identity of their coach and are a physical team, which helped them rank eighth in offense and 11th in defense.
Behind the arm of Andrew Luck—who looks poised to be taken first off the board in the 2011 NFL draft—Stanford finished this year better than they did last season. They did this even after losing Toby Gerhart, the runner-up for last year's Heisman race.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and the Hokies will have their work cut out for them against Stanford, but Virginia's stout secondary should pose some problems for Andrew Luck.
Virginia Tech started the season on a sour note—losing their first two games—but have since rattled off 11 straight wins.
4. Rose Bowl: Wisconsin Vs. TCU
32 of 35
Date: January 1, 2011
Location: Pasadena, CA
The Rose Bowl looks to be a great game in a clash of styles with Wisconsin's potent running game facing TCU's third ranked rushing and No. 1 overall defense.
While TCU managed to go undefeated for the second straight season, the fact that they played in the Mountain West Conference—which is widely considered to be weak—left the Horned Frogs out of the running for the BCS National Title Game.
TCU quarterback, Andy Dalton, will need to play better this year after last year's disastrous Fiesta Bowl performance against Boise State.
Wisconsin only lost a single game this season and they took home honors as co-champion for the Big Ten.
The Badgers are on a hot streak, ending the season with seven straight wins while demolishing the competition along the way. The long layoff is likely to take some momentum off their side, but Wisconsin should be prepped for their trip to Pasadena.
3. Capital One Bowl: Michigan State vs. Alabama
33 of 35
Date: January 1, 2011
Location: Orlando, FL
The Nick Saban led Crimson Tide are sure to be disappointed after watching their season take an unexpected turn after their second half meltdown against the Auburn Tigers, but they'll be making their way over to Orlando where they should enjoy a heavy home field advantage against Michigan State.
Alabama's secondary is banged up, and it won't be easy against the Spartans' Kirk Cousins, but 'Bama has experience and a more experienced coaching staff on their side.
The Spartans had a great season recording 11 wins and finishing as co-champion for the Big Ten conference. Michigan State may not have made it into a BCS Bowl game, but they'll have to settle for the next best thing.
Michigan State's run defense will be facing a true test against Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. While Alabama's formidable rushing duo has not had the same success they had last season, injuries are likely the culprit and they should be prepped come the first of January.
2. Sugar Bowl: Ohio State vs. Arkansas
34 of 35
Date: January 4th, 2011
Location: New Orleans, LA
The Razorbacks potent offense is headed by quarterback Ryan Mallet with Knile Davis paired in the backfield with him.
Arkansas has played red hot over the last six games of the regular season, capping it off with a victory over LSU. However, they're not alone, as Ohio State finished the season on an equally hot win streak.
Ohio State has a poor history against SEC teams in Bowl games, losing all nine of their matchups. Jim Tressel will look to break that streak here.
The Buckeyes stiff secondary will have to come up big against Arkansas' Ryan Mallet.
The same goes for quarterback Terrell Pryor against a Razorback defense that will dial up the pressure and find ways to get into the backfield.
1. BCS National Title Game: Auburn vs. Oregon
35 of 35
Date: January 10, 2011
Location: Glendale, AZ
This is the matchup that nearly everyone in the country wanted to see, and they're getting their wish. Both teams will be putting their perfect records on the line in this matchup.
Cam Newton—the nation's top ranked passer and 15th best rusher—appears to be a lock for the Heisman trophy and will be leading the charge for Auburn.
LaMichael James—leads the nation in rushing—is another Heisman hopeful, who will be paired in the backfield with Oregon's Darron Thomas. Thomas—who took over for Jeremiah Masoli at quarterback—has led the Ducks and their spread-option offense to one blowout win over another.
Expect nothing short of a shootout as both squads feature high-powered offenses that will be making multiple trips into the end zone on game day.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
