2018 / 2019 Bowl Preview: Part Five

We’ve reached the end. Thank God.

Tuesday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl
Mississippi State vs. Iowa
Noon ET, ESPN2
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida

I have very few positive things to say about Iowa, especially since it is the school responsible for my having to suffer through four years of sub-par Illini basketball, but the “wave to the kids in the children’s hospital” tradition is one of the best in football. This might be one of the few games that feels as though it is traditional. It has been called the Outback Bowl forever and it takes place on New Year’s Day in a Big Ten – SEC matchup. Add in the traditional “salute to Jazzercise” halftime show and it is what you want in a hangover remedy game.

VRBO Citrus Bowl
Kentucky vs. Penn State
1 p.m. ET, ABC
Camping World Stadium
Orlando, Florida

Ok, there is no reason why a New Year’s Day bowl game should have a sponsor that is completely random. And I mean random in the “it is just four random letters” sense of the word. Does anyone know what VRBO is? A bank? An anti-perspirant? Some new tech company spouting breakthroughs in mass transportation but producing what is in reality a poorly designed tunnel? No one knows.

I watched a lot of Penn State this year and the team probably deserves a better bowl than this. Or at least a better opponent. I know that Kentucky over-achieved in the SEC this year but it just seems wrong to be talking about their strength as a football program. Could we have Tennessee return to prominence?

(Also, for Christmas I got Kim a Lego Penn State Stadium. And a candle that smells like South Bend. I know what my wife’s heart desires.)

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
No. 11 LSU vs. No. 8 UCF
1 p.m. ET, ESPN
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona

Didn’t this use to be the University of Phoenix Stadium? As much as I dislike change I can at least support not having a stadium being named for a school that by definition cannot compete at the stadium. After the playoff games this weekend I know people were complaining about who made the games. I’m biased of course but I can’t see how it should have changed. Georgia lost twice and had their chance at Alabama. Ohio State was blown out by Purdue, should have lost to Maryland and is Ohio State and that alone should disqualify them. The team that I thought had the best argument was Central Florida but I couldn’t support them after their best player and quarterback was lost for the season when, uh, he had his leg amputated. Ok, not quite amputated but, yeah, way too severe of an injury to receive without being paid in the process. Oh well, geaux Tigers.

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual
No. 9 Washington vs. No. 6 Ohio State
5 p.m. ET, ESPN
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California

The granddaddy of them all! The reason why millions of roses are cruelly murdered every year! The last time this year you can feel the irrational hate fill your body just by seeing Ohio State on your television! I’m trying to think of a team that is more hated but I really can’t. Sure some people would say Notre Dame but at least you know that Notre Dame will lose at times and their players and coaches are slightly less likely to be criminals. Well, coaching staff is probably a wash but definitely the players. I’ll be cheering for Washington for obvious reasons.

Allstate Sugar Bowl
No. 15 Texas vs. No. 5 Georgia
8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans

Does anyone else feel weird knowing that they will be going back to work on Wednesday? For those of us who turn this time into a week or so of vacation time the fact that we will be immediately going back to the grind is bizarre. I don’t think anyone actually wants to work the rest of the week but it is a new year and we all have resolutions to keep and bills to pay. Anyway, here is the game to watch as you dread setting the alarm clock for the morning.

Monday, Jan. 7
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T
No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 2 Clemson
8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Levi's Stadium
Santa Clara, California

It’s a rerun. They’ll probably show last year’s game simultaneously on ESPN Classic. Your halftime entertainment is Imagine Dragons. We end bowl season with a game that is not a bowl game. Pass.