The early games of college football's bowl season are riddled with teams haunted by broken dreams, much like the countless Christmas wish lists that go unfilled across the country every year. (I’m still fuming over my missing Sega Genesis from Christmas 93.)
Teams scribble their pre-season goals of New Year's in Glendale in August, only to be disappointed when they’re selected to spend Christmas break in lovely St. Pete’s for the Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl. Adding insult to injury, the Ohio Bobcats won’t be able to partake in greater Tampa’s vivid burlesque industry. Curfew and all.
Let’s check out the games that lead up to Christmas Eve. Even if your family has given up on you after a season spent glued to the couch from the early morning, when Cowboy Troy raps the QB cadence, to the dead of night when Mark May awards a helmet sticker to yet another middling Big Ten lineman, just remember: College football loves you.
Let’s get to work!
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Washington St -4 vs. Colorado State
Wazzu will be jacked to play in a bowl game for the first time since 2003.
Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl
Fresno State vs. USC -6½
The Trojans will endure the bowl game with a one game interim coach, and are ripe for a down game.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Buffalo -1 vs. San Diego State
The Aztecs will have the advantage of a shorter trip than the Bulls.
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Tulane -2½ vs. LA-Lafayette
"The Ragin' Cajuns" have the best college mascot name in the county.
Beef O'Brady's Bowl
Ohio vs. East Carolina -14
In a season where they beat in-state rivals UNC and NC State, East Carolina would be a contender in the ACC.
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Boise State vs. Oregon State -3
Like Southern Cal, Boise State will be navigating their bowl game without head coach Chris Peterson, who was hired to Washington. Top to bottom, the Pac-12 was the strongest conference in the country, and the Beavs are better than their record.
