Bowl Games 2010: Cam Newton, Urban Meyer, "Big LEast" and the 10 Best Games
With 35 (yes, I said THIRTY-FIVE) bowl games this year, choices must be made. I ain’t watchin' all of 'em, and neither are you.
In fact, the best thing that can be said for most of them is that you won’t have to worry about missing something important by not watching.
So let me help: Here are the 10 best bowl games to watch from this year’s bloated bowl season.
10. Sun Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Miami
1 of 10
If you’re like me, you wouldn’t mind seeing both teams lose this game. ND and the “U” are two of my most hated teams—at least since the war of 1812.
These two “big name” programs have fallen on hard times in recent years. How hard? Well, think—they’re playing in the Sun Bowl.
The good thing about big name programs falling on hard times is that it gives the smaller bowls an opportunity to have a game that has a “big-time” feel. Kinda like your next door neighbor having Andy Williams sing at his daughter’s graduation banquet. You’d go, wouldn’t you? Okay then, watch this one.
9. Chick-fil-A Bowl: South Carolina vs. Florida St.
2 of 10
What gives this game "watchability" are the two coaches and what we might learn about the direction of their respective programs.
Steve Spurrier had his best team in all his years at South Carolina yet still could not win the championship (direction: downhill).
Jimbo Fisher finally got the opportunity to coach the Seminoles without Bobby Bowden peering over his shoulder and had a pretty good season (9-4)—one that might portend really good things for 2011 (direction: up).
Conclusion: It’s an interesting matchup. I’ll watch.
8. Outback Bowl: Florida vs. Penn St.
3 of 10
Urban Meyer’s last stand—and he will be coaching against Joe Pa in what ought to be his last stand (but apparently won’t be).
Otherwise, we have two pretty average teams from big name conferences. Not all that exciting—but still, it’s an opportunity to see the SEC beat up on the Big Ten, i.e. must see TV.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Gator Bowl: Mississippi St. vs. Michigan
4 of 10
Okay, here’s why you need to watch this one: We get to see Dan Mullen nail the final nail in Rich Rod’s coffin.
The Bulldogs will do to the Wolverines what every other reasonably good team has done to them all season—i.e. beat them like a dusty rug.
It could be the last game for both these coaches at their respective schools. Rich Rod may get a free ride off into the sunset, while Dan Mullen may get a new home in the Sunshine State.
6. Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Connecticut vs. Oklahoma
5 of 10
Okay, maybe you won’t want to watch all of this one, but at least we’ll have a chance to laugh at how terrible the “Big LEast” is (and scoff at the idea that they deserve a guaranteed spot in a BCS game) as the Sooners roll over the Huskies.
That’s worth some of your time, right? Sure it is!
5. AT&T Cotton Bowl: LSU vs. Texas A&M
6 of 10
If there’s one thing we’ve learned during Les Miles’ tenure at LSU, it’s this: You should never miss a game that he’s coaching unless you have to go to a wedding or a funeral (and both better be your own!).
Seriously. You must watch this just because you’re probably going to see something that’s never happened before.
I’m watching. You wouldn’t want me to miss history in the making, would you?
4. Allstate Sugar Bowl: Arkansas vs. Ohio St.
7 of 10
I don’t know exactly why, but I like this matchup. It's the first meeting between the Hawgs and Buckeyes and should be a pretty intriguing game: Ryan Mallett’s arm vs. Terrelle Pryor’s athleticism; the SEC against the Big Ten.
It has the feel of a “both hands on the wheel” vs. “both hands in the air coming up on a downhill turn” kind of game; or a “buttoned down” vs. “unbuttoned to the navel” type of game (okay, maybe that last is not an image we want to encourage).
Anyway, that sounds good enough to watch, doesn't it?
3. Capital One Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan St.
8 of 10
I’d watch this game regardless of whether it was interesting or not since I’m an Alabama fan—but there are plenty of reasons to watch even if you’re not a fan of either team.
Here we get a glimpse of what we might be in store for next year. Can Michigan State keep up the momentum of 2010? Can Alabama climb back into the national championship?
We'll get a good idea of the answers to those questions as we watch this one.
2. The Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO: Wisconsin vs. TCU
9 of 10
I’m watching this one in hopes that Wisconsin will demonstrate to the world why Boise State and TCU should not be considered legitimate national championship contenders, so I'll be watching with high hopes of witnessing a rout.
But if somehow TCU wins, that will mean I get to make fun of the Big Ten for getting humiliated again. It’s a “win-win” in either case, right?
1. Tostitos BCS National Championship Game: Auburn vs. Oregon
10 of 10
This is the one everyone’s waiting for (and not just to see what uniform combo the Ducks will wear).
It's going to be fun: Cam Newton vs. LaMichael James (advantage: Cam); Nick Fairley vs. the Oregon offensive line (advantage: Nick Fairley); Auburn’s veteran offensive line vs. Oregon’s defensive line (advantage: Auburn).
Auburn should win this one, but whatcha wanna bet it’s close and exciting? Yeah. I’m watching.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
