Is watching bowl games better than shoveling snow?
Last weekend has been called the best sports weekend EVER, highlighted by maybe the best World Cup final in history and some historical endings to NFL games.
It’s a tough act to follow, but if we get the big snow/arctic storm that is predicted, there will plenty of time to watch sports this weekend.
And what better way to enjoy a blizzard than watching the Hawaii Bowl?? That game kicks off the final 26 bowl games for the college football season. Here is some light-hearted commentary on the last batch of bowl games. Here’s hoping reading this is more enjoyable than shoveling snow.
Easyport Hawaii Bowl Saturday, December 24, 2022
8:00, ESPN Clarence TC Ching Complex, Honolulu, HI
MTSU (7-5) vs. San Diego State (7-5)
Comments: Christmas Eve in Honolulu. That’s what a 7-5 record gets you. Do you think MTSU would rather be in Middle Tennessee or Middle Hawaii? If these teams had one less win they would have been headed to … (see next game)
Quick Lane Bowl? Detroit Bowl?
Monday, December 26, 2022
2:30, ESPN
Ford Field, Detroit, MI Bowling Green (6-6) vs. New Mexico
State (6-6)
Comments: 6-6 sends you to beautiful Detroit for Christmas. I have seen this bowl called two different things. The first one makes me think of the bowling alley in Plymouth - which would probably be a more fun place to be truthfully. The second name, well, do you really want to promote Detroit? In December? Ever?
Camellia Bowl
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
12:00, ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Georgia Southern (6-6) vs. Buffalo (6-6)
Comments: Another beautiful locale for 6-6 teams. Could you point out Montgomery on a map? How about Alabama?
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
3:15 or 6:45, ESPN Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
Utah State (6-6) vs. Memphis (6-6)
Comments: At least if
the players from these 6-6 teams get hurt - and you know they will - there will be plenty of help available. Hopefully, they have decided what time to play the game too.
Ticketsmarter Birmingham Bowl
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
3:15 or 6:45, ESPN Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
East Carolina (7-5) vs. Coastal Carolina (9-3)
Comments: If you were really Ticketsmarter you would be going to another game than this one. Another game with a floating start time. If it’s the later time, you have more time to change your mind.
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
10:15, ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ Oklahoma State (7-5) vs. Wisconsin (6-6)
Comments: The ticket prices are guaranteed to be too high.
Military Bowl presented by Peraton
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
2:00, ESPN Navy-marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
UCF (9-4) vs. Duke (8-4) Comments: The sponsor is a technology company that specializes in cybersecurity, intelligence and homeland security and yet there will be players/ coaches on the sidelines signaling in plays using goofy hand motions. How sneaky.
Autozone Liberty Bowl
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
5:30, ESPN Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
Kansas (6-6) vs. Arkansas (6-6)
Comments: Another 6-6 dud. The swag bag includes hub caps “found” in the parking lot.
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
TBA, FOX
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Oregon (9-3) vs. North Carolina (9-4)
Comments: Now we’re talking. Two good teams in a great location. The start time is TBA, but who cares? This is Southern California. No matter the start time, people will show up late and leave early.
Taxact Texas Bowl
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
9:00, ESPN
NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Texas Tech (7-5) vs. Ole Miss (8-4)
Comments: This could be an entertaining game with lots of offense. By the way, Charlie Weis Jr. is the offensive coordinator for Ole Miss.
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Thursday, December 29, 2022
2:00, ESPN Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Minnesota (8-4) vs. Syracuse (7-5)
Comments: Bad boys, mowers and the Bronx. What could go wrong here? It sounds like a Lifetime movie title.
Cheez-it Bowl
Thursday, December 29, 2022
5:30, ESPN Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
Florida State (9-3) vs. Oklahoma (6-6)
Comments: Nothing says football like Cheez-its, although the Nacho Bowl sounds way more appetizing.
Valero Alamo Bowl Thursday, December 29, 2022
9:00, ESPN Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Washington (10-2) vs. Texas (8-4)
Comments: This should be an entertaining game too. Lots of offense! Maybe viewers will remember the Alamo.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl Friday, December 30, 2022
12:00, ESPN
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
NC State (8-4) vs. Maryland (7-5)
Comments: Pregame meal boys: ham sandwiches with mayo, salami sandwiches with mayo, cookies with mayo.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Friday, December 30, 2022
2:00, CBS
Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, TX
Pitt (8-4) vs. UCLA (9-3) Comments: UCLA plays its home games at the Rose Bowl. Any bowl game other than the playoffs or the Granddaddy of them all is a step down. The Tony the Tiger Bowl? Yeah, a major step down. Guess what the pregame meal is?
Taxslayer Gator Bowl
Friday, December 30, 2022
3:30, ESPN
TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL
Notre Dame (8-4) vs. South Carolina (8-4)
Comments: When Notre Dame found out it was going to play USC, they just about passed out. Then when they realized it was the University of South Carolina, not the Trojans, a big sigh of relief was heard from South Bend. Now the only question remaining is, Who will play QB for the Irish? Any volunteers? How fast does that transfer portal work anyways?
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Friday, December 30, 2022
4:30, Barstool Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ
Ohio (9-4) vs. Wyoming (7-5)
Comments: Ohio and Wyoming meet in Arizona. This sounds like the worst game of clue or just a terrible walks-into-a-bar joke. Guess it’s appropriate that Barstool Sports is the sponsor.
Capital One Orange Bowl
Friday, December 30, 2022
7:30 or 8:00, ESPN Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Tennessee (10-2) vs. Clemson (11-2)
Comments: This is the ‘orangest’ Orange Bowl possible. Have you seen Tennessee’s and Clemson’s unis? You might have to wear sunglasses whether watching in person or on TV.
Transperfect Music City Bowl
Saturday, December 31, 2022
12:00, ESPN Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
Kentucky (7-5) vs. Iowa (7-5)
Comments: As crazy as our world has become, when I saw ‘Trans’ in the name I expected the worse. It turns out Transperfect is a translation language services company. Whew.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Saturday, December 31, 2022
12:00, ESPN Mercedes-benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Alabama (10-2) vs. Kansas State (10-3)
Comments: My New Year’s Eve Day will start with this one. Is Kansas State for real or will Alabama destroy them? I was pleasantly surprised to hear all of Bama’s studs are going to play and not opt out.
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
Saturday, December 31, 2022
4:00, ESPN
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Michigan (13-0) vs. TCU (12-1)
Comments: Really looking forward to this one.
TCU losing its last game took some luster off, but if the Horned Frogs can hang with, or defeat, the Wolverines all will be forgotten … until they play Georgia.
Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl Saturday, December 31, 2022
8:00, ESPN Mercedes-benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Georgia (13-0) vs. Ohio State (11-1)
Comments: So you get crushed - at home! - in your last regular season game and you move UP into the playoff. Hmmm. Your reward? A game against the defending national champs.
Reliaquest Bowl
Monday, January 2, 2023 12:00, ESPN2 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Illinois (8-4) vs. Mississippi State (8-4)
Comments: Why is this on Jan. 2? Who is going to watch it? Very sad that Mike Leach is no longer around. He was a quote machine and I love his offenses.
Vrbo Citrus Bowl
Monday, January 2, 2023 1:00, ABC Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL
LSU (9-4) vs. Purdue (8-5)
Comments: I was hoping Notre Dame would face Brian Kelly, but Purdue will have to do. Go Boilers! Hope they win by 100.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl
Monday, January 2, 2023 1:00, ESPN
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
USC (11-2) vs. Tulane (11-2)
Comments: Tulane? Really?? Name one player on their team? Good luck against Caleb Williams and the Transfers, aka USC.
Rose Bowl
Monday, January 2, 2023 5:00, ESPN
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Penn State (10-2) vs. Utah (10-3)
Comments: No sponsor? And played on Jan. 2, not the 1st. What has happened to our world?
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, January 9, 2023 TBA, ESPN
Sofi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Comments: I’m hoping it’s Georgia-michigan.