2011 Bowl Games: Power Ranking Every Game from Least to Most Watchable

This postseason, 70 teams have the fortunate opportunity to head onto a bowl game in one of 35 locations. These matchups range from the MAC versus the Sun Belt to the SEC taking on the Big Ten in what may turn out to be one of the best bowl seasons in recent memory.

For the first time ever, the BCS has a national title game with two squads from not only the same conference, but also the same division. It will most certainly be one of the most controversial postseasons since the BCS started, but that may just encourage viewership nationwide. 

Of the 35 bowl clashes, 33 will be on ESPN or an affiliated network, which makes watching all of them all the more simple. However, not every one of these games will be a slam dunk on the excitement scale.

We take a look at each bowl matchup this year and rank them from least to most watchable, taking careful consideration into conference, record and national recognition.  

35. Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl

In this year's St. Petersburg Bowl, the Marshall Thundering Herd match up against the Florida International Golden Panthers.

Taking place down in Florida, this Sun Belt-Conference USA clash won't be very high on anyone's list to watch.

Neither squad came in at more than eight wins, with Marshall only achieving the minimum six for bowl eligibility. Don't expect many fireworks in this early bowl. 

34. New Mexico Bowl

The only bowl to take place in New Mexico, Albuquerque provides a nice scenic background for this MAC-MWC matchup.

Temple takes on Wyoming in this small-time bowl.

Both going 8-4 on the season and coming into New Mexico off a win, this still won't garner much national attention.

It is the first bowl of the season, but that spot is obviously not reserved for the best. 

33. Idaho Potato Bowl

One of the biggest draws about this bowl will be to see the infamous blue turf of Bronco Stadium.

Utah State will face off against Ohio in the second bowl game of the season. Boise State's unique field provides an awesome venue though for both fans there and watching from home.

Being that this game is a MAC versus a WAC matchup will help to kill the viewership. Small-time conferences are usually of little concern to the masses, especially during bowl season. 

32. GoDaddy.com Bowl

In this battle of the small conference big-timers, Northern Illinois takes on Arkansas State.

Both won their respective conferences, the MAC and the Sun Belt, as well as winning 10 games each. Arkansas State even went undefeated in its conference.

This might be worth watching just because it provides a buffer between the other BCS bowls and the national championship, but don't expect it to hold your interest for very long. 

31. BBVA Compass Bowl

As the other "in-between" game, this Big East-Conference USA clash should be more exciting than you might give credit at first glance.

Pitt barely made bowl season with just six wins, placing fourth in the Big East, but the Mustangs finished at a solid 7-5 and beat big-shot TCU earlier in the year.

SMU has an exciting pass offense and should provide a lot of scoring for the game. It may be designed to keep you entertained until the LSU-'Bama rematch, but it might actually live up to more than its expectations.

The Mustangs are also part of the five-team expansion deal to the Big East and this might be their last chance to win a bowl game in C-USA. 

30. Military Bowl

In another MWC-MAC matchup, Air Force faces off against Toledo.

Any game with a military academy is worth watching just because those players deserve our respect, but this game might actually provide some excitement. 

Air Force was the only other squad in the MWC that challenged Boise State besides TCU, who actually upset the Broncos.

The Falcons have a top notch coach and some great talent, and an 8-4 Toledo won't be a letdown either. Fireworks may be in the cards for Washington DC this December.  

29. New Orleans Bowl

Two 8-4 squads meet up in New Orleans in what should be a very high-scoring affair.

The Aztecs of San Diego State, one season after losing their coach, return to a bowl game. On the other hand, Louisiana Lafayette only has to travel minutes to make it to the New Orleans Bowl.

San Diego State is in the midst of a move to the Big East in what is a very controversial move, as San Diego is about as non-east as you can get.

Seeing what they can do in what should be their last bowl game in the MWC against Louisiana Lafayette should be very fun to watch. 

28. Little Caesars Bowl

Up in Detroit, Ford Field plays host to a Big Ten Purdue squad and a MAC Western Michigan team.

The Boilermakers barely finished bowl-eligible, while the Broncos didn't do much better, only winning one game more.

As the first bowl on this list with a team from a conference that actually matters, it deserved some respect and will be watched. This Big Ten weakling will provide ample competition for a decent Broncos squad.  

27. Armed Forces Bowl

Tulsa out of Conference USA takes on independent BYU in this clash down in Dallas.

The Golden Hurricane finished a solid second behind Houston at 8-4, while BYU ended up 9-3 on the season. 

Two strong squads make up both sides of this matchup and shouldn't provide more than enough scoring for the average person to enjoy.

BYU's development of their offense should give the Cougars a strong shot to really turn this game into a blowout. 

26. Poinsettia Bowl

As the only squad able to beat Boise State at home in the last couple of years, the Horned Frogs deserve some recognition for a more than decent season.

Their losses only to Baylor and SMU, Louisiana Tech should be no match for TCU in this San Diego-based bowl.

The Horned Frogs will be setting up shop in the Big 12 next season, making this game their last official matchup in the MWC.

Such a strong record will be a thing of the past from now on in most likelihood and TCU should relish their last bowl game in a small-time conference.

25. Pinstripe Bowl

This bowl game provides some pretty good football, but it is mostly all about the venue.

Yankee Stadium provides the host for this matchup between the Big East and the Big 12, with Rutgers taking on Iowa State in an offensive-heavy matchup.

The Cyclones are the only team to take down Oklahoma State this season, ruining their chances at a national title.

Their upset capability is renowned as they have shocked at least one big-shot a season it seems for the past couple of years.

Taking on Rutgers in Scarlet Knight territory should be a challenge for Iowa State they will gladly accept. 

24. Hawai'i Bowl

The surprise Conference USA champion Southern Miss takes on Nevada out in Hawai'i in one of the best venues for a bowl game.

The Golden Eagles defeated Houston in the C-USA championship, killing the Cougars' chances of a BCS bowl and stunning the nation.

Coach Larry Fedora is now one of the most sought after men on the market, making this game all the more important for his strong squad.

They're 11-2 and should crush the 7-5 Wolf Pack, but after Nevada's upset of Boise State last season, you don't want to miss this game. 

23. Liberty Bowl

One of the three Big East co-champions, Cincinnati got shafted down to the Liberty Bowl after ranking lower than West Virginia in the BCS.

Vanderbilt, on the other hand, is a surprise bowl visitor as the Commodores and first-year coach James Franklin look to notch a huge bowl win.

This is a game that seems like it would be boring traditionally, but Vanderbilt's quarterback Rodgers is more than explosive and seeing him take on this strong Cincy defense should be exciting. 

22. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

The Fighting Illini started off the year with a stunning six straights wins and a top ranking in the Big Ten.

They then finished the year with a depressing six losses and the firing of their head coach, Ron Zook.

UCLA won the Pac-12 South by default but got crushed by Oregon in the inaugural championship game.

These two squads meet up in San Francisco, both looking for redemption after a disappointing finish to their seasons. Fireworks should spark if the offenses get going. 

21. Independence Bowl

The 7-5 Missouri Tigers face off against the 7-5 UNC Tarheels down in Shreveport this December.

Mizzou was a surprise squad this season in the Big 12, winning many games off the blood and sweat of their young QB James Franklin. 

UNC, however, comes into the bowl with a strong passing attack. The Missouri secondary will be more than tested against the Tarheels and should provide ample entertainment for viewers. 

20. Belk Bowl

This North Carolina-based bowl features another Big East co-champion in Louisville who, of the three co-champs, ranked the lowest in the BCS.

They take on the Wolfpack of NC State in what should prove to be a surprisingly exciting matchup.

The Cardinals' strong performance over the past two seasons have made their head coach, Charlie Strong, a big-time commodity on the extremely volatile coaching market.

A bowl win here could propel Strong into a huge vacancy such as Texas A&M, Illinois or UCLA. 

19. Texas Bowl

Texas A&M's "breakthrough year" turned out to be one of the most disappointing seasons ever for Aggie fans, finishing at 6-6 after starting in the top 10 in their last season before their move out of the Big 12.

The Wildcats also finished at 6-6, crushing division rival Nebraska's hopes for a Big Ten title shot with a huge midseason upset.

Down in Houston, this talented A&M squad should have no problem putting away Northwestern, but the Wildcats have come out strong in recent bowl appearances.

Watch out for some sparks to fly if Northwestern can keep this close going into the final quarter. 

18. Music City Bowl

Finishing fifth in a division loaded with LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas, the Bulldogs made a statement with their strong performance against big-time squads.

After starting out the season ranked in the top 20, it was disappointing to finish 6-6, but head coach Dan Mullen and company are looking more promising with every passing year.

They face off against a surprising Wake Forest squad up in Nashville. 

The Demon Deacons had a stronger year than usual in the ACC, upsetting Florida State early. They may not be the same caliber of team that MSU is, but don't expect them to give this game up without a fight. 

17. TicketCity Bowl

After losing the C-USA championship to Southern Miss not to mention a possible Heisman bid, QB Case Keenum and Houston head up to Dallas to face off against the scandalous Penn State.

The Nittany Lions had a rough year after firing long-time head coach Joe Paterno due to a sex scandal, but were still able to salvage a 9-3 season and a good bowl. 

All eyes will be on Penn State in this bowl, but don't expect that to deter the prolific Case Keenum. The man has a cannon for an arm and the tough Nittany Lion defense is exactly the test the Cougars want to prove themselves after dropping a possible BCS at-large bid. 

16. Holiday Bowl

Two big-time brands face off in San Diego this postseason in a game that should draw a lot of viewers.

Texas and Cal are both well-known in the college football world, and even though neither had a prolific season, this game should be more than fun to watch. 

The erratic Texas offense matched with the immovable Longhorn defense will make it tough for the Golden Bears, but don't put it past Cal to pull off the big win in their home state. 

15. Las Vegas Bowl

Usually, the Las Vegas Bowl isn't anything more than a great place to hold a football game, but this year we actually have a really great matchup there.

Arizona State lines up against Boise State in what should be a thriller. The Broncos are dangerous and a power in the northwest, but the Sun Devils have a surprising amount of talent on their hands.

QB Brock Osweiler is one of the best ever to play at ASU and should match up well against Broncos QB Kellen Moore.

Even though Arizona State fired head coach Dennis Erickson, they still have a fighting chance up against the BCS buster of the decade. Watch out for this game to be up there for best bowls of the postseason.  

14. Chick-Fil-a Bowl

A surprising Virginia squad has the opportunity to knock off the defending national champs this season in Atlanta.

Auburn has had a mediocre season in the SEC West, but that's just they way things go when two of your rivals are playing in the national championship and the other is ranked in the top 15 consistently. 

Virginia, on the other hand, has exploded under second-year coach Mike London, knocking off ACC powerhouses Georgia Tech and Florida State this year.

The Cavaliers have an arsenal of weapons and Auburn should not underestimate this ACC roughneck. 

13. Champs Sports Bowl

Almost any bowl that Notre Dame plays in will be watched by millions.

The Fighting Irish are the most recognizable college football brand in America and represent a huge group of people that most of us call Catholics.

They take on a Florida State squad which underachieved this year after a preseason top 10 ranking and having former Heisman hopeful QB EJ Emmanuel lead their squad. 

This isn't a far trip for Florida State down to Orlando, but the Irish should be happy to escape the cold of Southbend for a week or so. The game shouldn't be too bad to watch either.

Notre Dame has a QB debate between all-season starter Tommy Rees and the Stanford show-up Andrew Hendrix.

Florida State, meanwhile, just wants to gain some dignity back after a disappointing season, and a bowl win is exactly what they need. 

12. Alamo Bowl

Down in warm San Antonio, Baylor and Heisman winner QB Robert Griffin III will take on Washington in the Alamo Bowl.

The Bears' explosive offense will more than show up against the Huskies, but watch out for Huskies QB Keith Price to surprise some people down in Texas. 

Two big-time offenses should be the highlight of this no-defense-required matchup. Heisman winner RGIII should be huge in this game as he continues to put Baylor on the map for all the doubters. 

11. Sun Bowl

Georgia Tech was having a great season until they fell twice on flukes to Virginia and Miami.

The Yellow Jackets did pull off the huge upset over Clemson mid-season, however, in what turned out to be their highlight of the year. They take on Pac-12 newcomer Utah in what should be a great matchup.

The Utes joined Colorado in the Pac-12 this season, finishing at 7-5. Their defense will have to especially prepare for the unique option play of Georgia Tech in a game that could go either way. 

10. Insight Bowl

This game comes more down to brand recognition than talent, but both teams have enough of each to make this game more than fun to watch.

Oklahoma takes on Iowa in two traditional powers of the Big 12 and Big Ten down in Arizona. 

The Sooners just lost the annual Bedlam matchup with Oklahoma State in what was effectively the Big 12 championship, getting crushed by their rivals from Stillwater.

Iowa, on the other hand, had rough season in their division, only pulling off the big upset over Michigan earlier this season.

The Hawkeyes have the talent to take down the Sooners, but OU is a mountain the Hawkeyes might not be able to overcome. The injury to Sooners wideout Ryan Broyles should play a huge part in the game, however. 

9. Gator Bowl

Who better to play in the Gator Bowl than the Florida Gators? In head coach Will Muschamp's first season in Gainesville, the Gators had a rough year. Their 6-6 record is very "un-Florida-like."

On the opposite side of the ball, Ohio State had the same problems. This traditional power was doused in scandal in the preseason, forcing the resignation of big-time coach Jim Tressell. Their 6-6 record was very "un-Ohio State-like."

This 2006 national championship rematch should not have anyone too excited, but at least these two big players will be evenly matched.

Not to mention this game will get major media attention after the hiring of former Florida head coach Urban Meyer to Ohio State for next season. Can anyone say scandalous?

8. Orange Bowl

This season, the Orange Bowl drew the short straw and was forced to take upon itself the Big East champion, who in this case was the co-champion with the highest ranking.

West Virginia and Clemson face off down in Miami in what is a complete mismatch of squads.

The Tigers had an explosion this season. QB Tajh Boyd and the rest of the Orange and White won the ACC championship and had a Cinderella season.

WVU, on the other hand, just barely won the Big East and hasn't been impressive at all. This BCS matchup will still pretty fun to watch, but it's the joke of all the big-time bowls. 

7. Capital One Bowl

The Cornhuskers had the unfortunate experience of being upset by an inferior team. Their loss to Northwestern at home was the catalyst that kept Nebraska out of the first Big Ten championship in their inaugural season in the conference.

Their foes in this bowl, South Carolina, had the unfortunate experience of losing possibly the best RB in the nation when Marcus Lattimore went down this season.

Both squads managed to pull out great seasons, however, with USC grabbing 10 wins and second in the SEC East and Nebraska breaking nine wins on their way to third in the Legends Division.

Their matchup down in Florida will be huge and a must-watch as both teams will work to unleash pent-up anger from the season into this bowl game. 

6. Cotton Bowl

Head coach Bill Snyder is officially a miracle worker. He took a flailing K-State squad and turned them into one of the most potent in the conference, only losing to OU and Oklahoma State on the year.

Arkansas was unfortunate enough to have an extremely talented squad put into the same division with both Alabama and LSU, however. In any other conference, they win the title and go undefeated.

Arkansas should crush the Wildcats, but after seeing K-State win a quadruple-overtime against Texas A&M, I refuse to count them out.

Expect some fireworks down in Jerryworld as these two third-place teams face off. 

5. Fiesta Bowl

Two strong offenses and two potent defenses face off in this season's Fiesta Bowl.

Stanford, led by QB Andrew Luck, and Oklahoma State, led by QB Brandon Weeden, should provide ample offensive production to excite even the most bored of spectators.

Much controversy should surround this game as OSU was just mere points away from reaching the BCS national title game against LSU in the voting.

A crushing OSU victory would really bring about some debate, especially if Alabama pulls off the title game victory. 

4. Outback Bowl

Down in Florida, the two best football conference's championship losers face off: Georgia, who lost to LSU in the SEC championship, and Michigan State, who lost to Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship. This will be one of the best games of the postseason by far.

Last year, the Spartans had a great season, only to be ousted out of the Rose Bowl by Wisconsin and forced to play a tough Alabama squad who tore them limb from limb.

This time around, QB Kirk Cousins and coach Mark Dantonio will be looking for revenge on the SEC. Meanwhile, Georgia head coach Mark Richt looks to continue to impress in what was supposed to be his last season at Athens. 

3. Sugar Bowl

The Sugar Bowl this postseason has no SEC squad playing in it. Instead, ACC runners-up Virginia Tech will take on two-loss Michigan out of the Big Ten.

The Wolverines certainly impressed this season with first year coach Brady Hoke, going 10-2 in a extremely competitive Big Ten Legends Division.

Virginia Tech, on the other hand, acquired two losses to the same Clemson squad, failing to beat them during the regular season or the ACC championship. 

QB Logan Thomas and QB Denard Robinson should be more than exciting, as possibly two of the best scrambling quarterbacks in the country face off.

Most of this game's result will come down to who can stop the other the most times, because it shouldn't be happening often. This is one Sugar Bowl you can't miss.    

2. Rose Bowl

The traditional Rose Bowl occurs again this season as the Pac-12 champion Oregon faces off against Big Ten champion Wisconsin.

Two strong offenses and big-play defenses match up in what should be a fight to the death. The Badgers return for the second year in a row looking for revenge after the close loss last season to TCU.

Oregon and Wisconsin both have two huge offensive weapons in the form of a quarterback and running back.

Watch out for Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson and Heisman fourth place RB Montee Ball to be most of the offense for the Badgers while BCS-experienced QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James should a play a giant role for Oregon.

DO NOT MISS THIS MATCHUP.  

1. BCS National Championship

The rematch of the "Game of the Century." Everyone knows about it and everyone will want to watch it.

Even if you hate how the BCS rankings turned out, you still want to know if LSU can secure their perfect season or if Alabama can ruin it and steal the championship. Saban Bowl II will be the game to watch this postseason.

It may be cliche to say that the national title game is the matchup not to miss, but they don't pit No. 1 against No. 2 for nothing.

This will be another all-defensive, grind-it-out win by one of these SEC West powerhouses. Don't put anything else on your calendar for January 9th, because you better be watching the rematch.

I REPEAT...DO NOT MISS THIS GAME.