[Cactus Jack]

Any matchups that you are excited about?  

The feast will obviously be the first-ever 12 team playoff, but the bowl slate otherwise is pretty underwhelming. Think it was bound to happen given the circumstances and contractual affiliations, but there's still not many (or even any) traditional bowl games that are going to be appointment tv. 

Some games I guess I'll be trying to watch if I'm able: 


12/18 - Western Kentucky vs. James Madison (Boca Raton Bowl): the local connection.

12/23 - Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA (Myrtle Beach Bowl): Coastal Carolina has had some epic bowl games recently.

12/27 - Oklahoma vs. Navy (Armed Services Bowl): fun to see the service academies on a big stage, you won't see their players opting out. 

12/27 - Vanderbilt vs. Georgia Tech (Birmingham Bowl): nothing says "this is an amazing bowl season" like academic powers in the 'Ham making the list.

12/27 - Texas Tech vs. Arkansas (Liberty Bowl): could be a fun one... Both schools should travel well, especially with the proximity of Fayetteville and Memphis; if nothing else, you might catch fans fist-fighting in the stands. 

12/28 - BYU vs. Coloardo (Alamo Bowl): Usually high scoring late game on a fast indoor track... big history of comebacks & awkward match-ups. Going back through history, you can usually expect at least one team to lose a starter to an arrest on the Riverwalk in the days before the game, but with BYU in town the odds are lowered. This won't be a 2022 foreshadowing of next year's playoff teams (Texas & Washington), but hopefully it isn't a 2018 Texas blowout of Utah either.

12/31 - Alabama vs. Michigan (Reliaquest/Tampa): not really interested but it's two traditional powers and Michigan is at least coming off of the win against Ohio State. The noon start time really dampens this one. 

12/31 - Louisville vs. Washington (Sun Bowl): low-key could be a really fun one to watch. Both teams are probably better than they get credit fot nationally. Huskies' terrible loss to Iowa (and Indiana) aside, they could probably field the talent to make this interesting

12/31 - Baylor vs. LSU (Texas Bowl/Houston): this one is another that could go all kinds of ways. At risk of stating the obvious, both programs have had a reputation for taking flyers on "first round talent, third round grade" players and neither has a "what the hell?" loss. It might be a good thing for the city of Houston that this one has a 2:30 pm kickoff.