Bowl season offers entertaining possibilities
CHICAGO – Don’t judge the bowl season by its cover. Or in this case, its first page.
The first bowl is the worst – maybe even history’s worst. It’s the Dec. 20 New Orleans Bowl, but it will be played in Lafayette, La., because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. It’s one of three games that will feature a pair of 6-5 teams. In this case, it’s Southern Miss vs. Arkansas State. Ugh.
But at least 10 of the 28 games should be compelling, and here are some reasons why:
Team with the most to prove
Oregon. Last year Cal was outraged after missing out on a Rose Bowl berth. But the Bears had to quit complaining when Texas Tech stunned them in the Holiday Bowl. A similar scenario could play out this year with the 10-1 Ducks, who face 7-4 Oklahoma in the Holiday.
Team with the most to gain
Northwestern. OK, USC and Texas are playing for the national championship, but NU is vying for its first bowl victory since the Truman administration.
Team with the most to lose
Michigan. The Wolverines haven’t had a five-loss season since 1984, but they will fall to 7-5 if Nebraska can spring the upset.
Team with nothing to gain
Penn State. The Nittany Lions, 2 seconds from a victory over Michigan that would make them 11-0, face a four-loss Florida State team in the Orange Bowl. Penn State already is considered the nation’s third-best team and not even a 21-point victory can enhance that status.
Team with the most question marks
Colorado. The Buffaloes have a new coach in Dan Hawkins, but he will remain with Boise State for the MPC Computers Bowl. So lame-duck/interim coach/defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz will guide a team that was outscored 100-6 in its last two games.
Luckiest team
Central Florida. After the Golden Knights lost the Conference USA title game to Tulsa, they landed a spot in the Hawaii Bowl. “Are you serious?” defensive tackle Keith Shologan said. “We lose and go to Hawaii? That’s pretty cool.”
Can’t-miss games
USC-Texas: No big deal, other than USC has won 34 straight and Texas 19 in a row. Texas leads the nation in scoring (50.9 points per game) and USC is second (50). The setting is the best in college football – the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State-Notre Dame: There’s a reason standing-room only tickets are going for $85 a pop – and that’s face value. Charlie Weis’ play-calling genius will be challenged in the Fiesta by the nation’s best rushing defense.
Three more (potential) gems
Northwestern-UCLA: Sun Bowl features the worst and seventh-worst defenses in the land. First team that has to punt loses.
Wisconsin-Auburn: Will be tough for the Badgers to send coach Barry Alvarez out a winner in the Capital One Bowl. Auburn has two losses – and one came in overtime against LSU.
Iowa-Florida: Hot-shot coaches Kirk Ferentz and Urban Meyer try to start 2006 undefeated with a victory in the Outback Bowl.