Hello everyone. The other day I said I would take a close look at the 2022-23 college football bowl matchups when the time is right, and with it being the Wednesday before the games begin, I think now would be a fitting time. A bit of sad news to kick off the bowl season though, as Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach sadly passed away Tuesday due to complications following a heart attack on Monday. A little bit more on that later on, but let's get to the bowl games in chronological order...
Bahamas Bowl: (Nassau)
Miami (OH) vs. UAB.
MACtion takes on a program that a few years ago disbanded their program, but fortunately brought it back. Fun fact: UAB is currently coached by former Bucs QB Trent Dilfer, who was named to that position a couple of weeks ago by AD Mark Ingram, no, not that Mark Ingram who plays for the Saints or the Mark Ingram that played for the New York Giants years ago. UAB is favored by 11.
Cure Bowl: (Orlando--Exploria)
#25 UTSA vs. #24 Troy.
The champions of Conference USA (yes, it's still around) faces off against the champions of the Sun Belt. Used to be that the winner of the Sun Belt got an automatic bid to the New Orleans Bowl, but apparently that isn't necessarily the case anymore. That said, why didn't Troy get an invite to play in Mobile for the Lending Tree Bowl? Troy is favored by 2.
Fenway Bowl: (Boston)
Cincinnati vs. Louisville.
Our first bowl involving a Power-Five school features two former conference foes as the Bearcats face off against the Cardinals. This is the first installment of the Fenway Bowl; it was scrubbed due to COVID (which is still a thing by the way), costing us a matchup between SMU and Virginia. Louisville is favored by 1.
Las Vegas Bowl: (Las Vegas)
Florida vs. Oregon State.
Would someone please explain to me exactly how Florida lucked their way into this game? I'm a Gators fan, and I don't think they deserve to go to this bowl game. In fact, they'd be better served if they went to St. Pauls (NC) High School for the Ti-D Bowl, but that's just me (no, it doesn't exist). Oregon State meanwhile had a surprisingly good season, culminating with a win over Oregon in the "Civil War." Oregon State is favored by 10 but should win by more than that.
Jimmy Kimmel Bowl: (Inglewood, CA)
Washington State vs. Fresno State
Thank the suits at Disney for creating this bowl game. Fun fact, I've never seen one episode of Jimmy Kimmel in my life. Fresno won the Mountain West Conference this year, so this is a cheap reward for them, although they're favored by 3.
Lending Tree Bowl: (Mobile, AL)
Rice vs. Southern Mississippi.
Rice finished with a losing record, but because there weren't enough eligible teams and ESPN has an insatiable urge to air content for their networks (why do you think there are so many bowl games?), here we are. They face off against a USM squad who were just eligible, finishing middle of the pack in the Sun Belt West. The Golden Eagles are favored by 6.5.
New Mexico Bowl: (Albuquerque)
SMU vs. BYU.
Ah, the alphabet soup matchup of religious institutions; the Methodists battle the Mormons. BYU is playing their last bowl game outside the power five, as they'll join the Big 12 next season. SMU is finally getting to play a bowl game after their bowl game last year (as mentioned earlier) was canceled. SMU is a 5.5-point favorite.
Frisco Bowl: (Frisco, TX)
North Texas vs. Boise State.
Damn my laptop sucks! Anyway, this bowl game was going to canceled due to a lack of bowl eligible teams, but as Daft Punk once sang, television rules the nation, and ESPN had their way with college football (see Lending Tree Bowl). North Texas won't have to travel far to get to Frisco at least, they'll be facing a bitter Boise State squad who lost their conference title game at home, and who are favored by 10.5.
Myrtle Beach Bowl: (Conway, SC)
Marshall vs. Connecticut.
The only bowl game to take place on the 19th (next Monday) features the Thundering Herd and the Huskies. UConn as an independent surprised people this season by going .500 after a few seasons in Siberia. Unfortunately for them, Marshall is favored by ten on the teal turf.
Idaho Potato Bowl: (Boise)
Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State.
From the teal turf to the smurf turf, the Spartans are 3.5-point favorites against the Eagles, not the Emus (although Emus would make for an interesting nickname for the folks from Ypsilanti).
Boca Raton Bowl: (Boca Raton, FL)
Liberty vs. Toledo.
From one Liberty Mutual Insurance slogan to another, as the Libitty Bibitties take on the Holy Toledo Rockets. Liberty (who are actually the Flames) will always have my utter disdain because of Jerry Falwell, who was perhaps the world's biggest hypocrite. Cape Canaveral, meanwhile, is only 177 miles up the coast from Boca, and they're favored by 4.5, so hopefully that synergy from the Cape will hwlp out the Rockets.
New Orleans Bowl: (New Orleans)
Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama.
Way back in the day, these two schools were conference rivals in the Sun Belt, just not in football. U of SA had a great campaign, finishing only behind Troy in the Sun Belt West, while the Hilltoppers (whose mascot looks like a scarlet version of Grimmace from McDonald's) had a respectable showing in C-USA. The Jaguars are favored though, by 4.5.
Armed Forces Bowl: (Fort Worth, TX)
Baylor vs. Air Force.
The only service academy to reach a bowl game happens to be the school that won the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, sweeping both Army and Navy. They get Baylor, who notoriously places awnings over their players in the huddle during timeouts of certain so that the skycam doesn't look in on them. Paranoid much? Besides, wasn't Ken Starr associated with Baylor at one point? He's dead now, so it doesn't really matter. Even though the Bears are favored by six, I'm pulling for my Air Force brethren, as a former Sailor.
That's all I have for now, Part II should be coming sometime tomorrow...
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