Big Ten Bowl Watching Guide
Actually haven't seen this yet, which is surprising. These are the games which mostly matter to me, plus a couple of my random thoughts. Michigan first, then in chronological order. Mostly a bowl watching guide, I guess.
Note: I know there was a "all the bowl games, dates, times" thread, but that was literally just a link to a Yahoo article. There was also the "will the Big Ten win a bowl game" thread which was posted BEFORE the matchups were announced and, frankly, was kind of a dumb question. Sorry, OP.
#14 Michigan vs. #13 Alabama
- Citrus Bowl, Orlando
- January 1, 2020 @ 1pm ET (ABC)
- The last time Michigan and Alabama played in Florida, we won the Orange Bowl in OT with Tom Brady. 'Bama kicker missed a PAT. I'd be down for another thrilling Michigan victory over the Elephants Running Through a Tidal Wave Infected with the Red Tide Algal Bloom. I mean, seriously. That mascot is just all sorts of confused. And while we're on the subject, what's up with Auburn and their mascot confusion? Are they the Eagles? The Tigers? The Tigles? That should be a thing.
michigan state vs. Wake Forest
- Pinstripe Bowl, NYC @ 3:20pm ET (ESPN)
- December 27, 2019
- Enjoy the big apple. Don't get mugged. Or mug people.
#16 Iowa vs.#22 USC
- Holiday Bowl, San Diego
- December 27, 2019 @ 8pm ET (FS1)
- Defense vs. Offense. Could be interesting. Probably not an offensive explosion in the tradition of other Holiday Bowl matchups.
#10 Penn State vs. #17 Memphis
- Cotton Bowl Classic, Arlington TX
- December 28, 2019 @ 12pm ET (ESPN)
- Not actually at the Cotton Bowl, just co-opted the name for a game at Jerry-world. I know nothing about Memphis, other than the fact that I'm going to the city later this month.
#2 ohio state vs #3 Clemson
- Fiesta Bowl, Phoenix AZ
- December 28, 2019 @ 8pm ET (ESPN)
- CFP game. They were hoping for Okie, got Dabo instead. Yay. Whatever.
Illinois vs. California
- Redbox Bowl, Santa Clara, CA
- December 30, 2019 @ 4pm ET (FOX)
- Formerly known as the Fight Hunger Bowl. It's still technically a bowl game and I'm happy for my wife's alma mater. Now that I've gotten the contractually obligated "Go Illini" part out of the way...
#18 Minnesota vs. #12 Auburn
- Outback Bowl, Tampa FL
- January 1, 2019 @ 1pm ET (ESPN)
- On the one hand, this is Minnesota's best season in forever. On the other hand, they never really got THAT much respect, falling several places below 3 loss Michigan and Iowa. On the other other hand, they can gain some major respect by beating Auburn.
#8 Wisconsin vs. #6 Oregon
- Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
- January 1, 2019 @ 5:10pm ET (ESPN)
- Both schools are a little disappointed. Wisconsin handle osu in the first half. Oregon ain't osu. I think I think Wisconsin wins.
8Windiana vs. Tennessee
- Gator Bowl, Jacksonville FL
- January 2, 2019 @ 7pm ET (ESPN)
- Trying to become 9Windiana. Could 9Windiana be ranked in the AP and/or Coaches if they win??? It's nice to have a dream.
Bonus game:
#15 notre dame vs. 7-5 Iowa State
- Camping World Bowl, Orlando FL
- December 28, 12pm ET (ABC)
- Apparently, the "Camping World Bowl" is an actual thing. The dames take on 7-5 Iowa State (did I mention that Iowa State is 7-5?) in this "game." As you might guess, irish fans are quite "excited" about this bowl game and matchup. Ironically, they're bemoaning the fact they have to play 7-5 ISU instead of a marquee matchup against Texas which is *looks up schedules* also 7-5. Oh. Anyway, they're also wondering why they're not eligible for the ACC tie-in to the Orange Bowl. *ooh ooh pick me i know silly rabbit conference bowl tie-ins are for actual conference members something something cake and eating it too*
- Sidenote: Apparently, it used to be the Sunshine Football Classic, Blockbuster Bowl, CarQuest Bowl, Micron PC Bowl, Tangerine Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, and now the Camping World Bowl. So it has a long and illustrious history of sponsors you thought were defunct, but actually aren't.
December 9th, 2019 at 8:57 AM ^
Two loss ND playing in a bowl I've never heard of is hilarious.
I think the Big 10 is going to win most of their bowl games. And call me crazy, but I'm glad we're playing Alabama instead of Memphis.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:16 AM ^
10-2 Notre Dame in the Camping World Bowl is pretty funny.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:59 AM ^
I made this for my Spartan friend and his wife (both pictured). The ribbing between us has always been fun.
December 9th, 2019 at 10:21 AM ^
Did enjoy your comments, OP. Lift the spirits on a grey, overcast morning. Thanks.
December 9th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
Nice work OP. Have fun in Memphis. Lived there for a bit and it's a great place!
FWIW, Beale Street could either be considered another Bourbon Street or a slightly more mature college mile. Lots of drunk people at all times, but can be fun in the right setting. For BBQ, I have 2 recommendations. For ribs, go to Corky's just east of the UMemphis campus. For pulled pork, there is no better choice than Central BBQ (and for a different take, try the BBQ nachos).
December 9th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
I visited Memphis on business a while back. I took four cab rides and 3 of the 4 drivers offered me cocaine.
Great town!
December 9th, 2019 at 8:40 PM ^
and by, "I took four cab rides and 3 of the 4 drivers offered me cocaine", is this how the conversation really went:
MH: Hey man, where can I score some blow in this town?
Cabbie: I can help you out with some.
December 9th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
Thanks for the tips! Gotta get some good BBQ.
I think I'll skip the coke, Hatter....
December 9th, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
Drove from Dallas to see Auburn host Kent State (AKA: checking out a big-time stadium for $5 during Michigan's bye-week) and stopped in Memphis along the way. Central BBQ might be my new favorite BBQ... and I live in Texas.
December 9th, 2019 at 4:58 PM ^
I think you can like both. For the uninitiated, Memphis BBQ is pork-based so there's not a truly fair fight with Texas BBQ. There's a variety of dry rubs and sauce is a tomato and vinegar base
December 9th, 2019 at 5:07 PM ^
Having grown up in Atlanta, this is more my speed of bbq - pork with tomato/vinegar-based sauce
December 9th, 2019 at 10:34 PM ^
My boss sent me a package from Salt Link BBQ (He lives in Austin).
I thought it was pretty darn good (to a non-Texan that is). How's that rate on your scale?
December 9th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
Lived in Memphis for awhile myself, cosign Central BBQ.
December 12th, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
I like Memphis - the city is a mix of Detroit, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and plantation Mississippi, all rolled up into one.
December 9th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
The ONLY bright spot for us this year is knowing we sent ND into this game with our Crushing defeat of them
December 9th, 2019 at 2:18 PM ^
Don’t forget about the defenestration of Sparty. That was good too.
December 10th, 2019 at 9:50 AM ^
I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed that. We beat them so bad they can't even pull off their typical "pretend we're suddenly OSU fans" nonsense. All you have to say is "44-10" and they shut up.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
Good stuff. Excited to see ND win their bowl game and head into next year as 11-win ND and then head to Dublin to lose to Navy.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:44 PM ^
How in the world is ND ranked 15? #14 UM already crushed them, and is there anyone who thinks a game against #13 Alabama would be any more competitive?
December 9th, 2019 at 12:44 PM ^
echo chamber double post
December 9th, 2019 at 12:48 PM ^
It it wrong that the storyline I'm most interested in for the Rose Bowl is what flavor of uniform Oregon will show up in?
December 9th, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
Regarding the mugging joke in the Pinstripe post: OP, it's 2019, not 1990.
December 9th, 2019 at 3:10 PM ^
A buddy of mine got mugged in midtown Manhattan last year. Granted, it was somewhere around around 9th/10th Ave not too far from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, but it still happened in 2018. Can you believe it?
Also, "joke" is the operative word.
December 9th, 2019 at 5:23 PM ^
Logged in for the upvote. Love the low key disrespekt not capitalizing the rivals names. +1 for the chuckle.
December 9th, 2019 at 8:37 PM ^
Hope for OSU, PSU, and Staee losses... root for everyone else.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:27 PM ^
Are you sure about that Citrus Bowl?
December 9th, 2019 at 9:58 PM ^
Nice stealth crying Jordan edit. Lol at the lsj...
December 11th, 2019 at 5:52 PM ^
Thanks so much for this; it's one of the most helpful guides I've seen, and funny as well. I too take great joy from ND being relegated to [insert random corporation here] Bowl. Seriously, one of these days we'll see a Ribbed Trojans Bowl or a Tampax Bowl.
I'm rabidly pulling for an OSU/LSU final. (Yeah, I'm a Buckeye.) At first I was bummed not to be #1, but I think LSU was the right pick. But if Clemson is better than us, does it really matter whether we find that out in the semi-final or the final?
December 12th, 2019 at 10:47 AM ^
Amen to Alabama college football mascot confusion. Go Eagles? War Tiger? Roll Red Elephants? Maybe a deep south thing, which involves a banjo somewhere.
December 16th, 2019 at 3:37 PM ^
Looking for OSU to get throttled by a surging Clemson Tiger. Also will be happy if Our Lady struggles against Iowa State. That would almost make it worth watching.
Nah.
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