ESPN bowl picks

[gioff2323]

It’s not nearly as likely. If you’ve played at UConn for a bunch of years, a chance to win a bowl against a P-4 team would be a big deal and good way to end your career. If you’re at USC and you’re finishing your career playing us, you don’t care enough to risk anything. Your year has already been a huge disappointment.

Just the way it is at the moment.

… at the moment.

 

[businesslawyer]

… at the moment.

At the moment, college sports are nothing if not fluid. Predicting what anything will look like in a few years is nothing more than throwing out wild guesses.

 

[ZooCougar]

There is actually a great argument to be made about moving the bowl games to the beginning of the season so that everyone is there.

 

[noeynox]

There is actually a great argument to be made about moving the bowl games to the beginning of the season so that everyone is there.

What do you use for eligibility? The previous season's record? In that case the everyone might not be there.

 

[ZooCougar]

What do you use for eligibility? The previous season's record? In that case the everyone might not be there.

Yeah you use the last season. But at least you get everyone there that would be there for the current season,

Bowls are a farce and they have been for a while. The highlight last year was nerds like Nicole Auerbach going Gaga over a pop tart.

 

[Palatine]

There is actually a great argument to be made about moving the bowl games to the beginning of the season so that everyone is there.

I would much rather have a bowl season that is an appetizer for the playoffs. Hold all the bowls in December and start the playoff on New Year's Day. It would save the bowls and build excitement for the playoffs.

 

[Alum86]

CBS Sports.
Good lord.

 

[Purple Stein]

CBS Sports.
Good lord.
View attachment 104474

That game is a warm up for Toyota Stadium to make sure it's ready for the FCS championship game on 1/6.

 

[ZooCougar]

CBS Sports.
Good lord.

View attachment 104474

Better than Marshall.

 

[UCFBfan]

The entire bowl game system for every team going forward is shot. P4 team of any talent is fielding more than 75% of their roster for a non-playoff bowl game. It's get in to the transfer portal, take visits and find a new team as a priority.
Everything you have ever known about the bowl game system has forever changed.
Welcome to the revolution.

I believe shutting down the bowl system was part of the SEC/B1G league plan as well as the Rudy plan. They are now glorified scrimmages for high level teams and rewards for G5. However, even G5 teams aren't immune from players sitting out. It's sad because I used to love bowl season.

 

[AllHusky]

There is actually a great argument to be made about moving the bowl games to the beginning of the season so that everyone is there.

Love that idea, similar to the Holiday tournament concept for Hoops. Probably based on previous year and current rankings to see who goes, somewhat arbitrary, but the only way. Everyone is undefeated, Fans enthusiasm is very high, awesome weather sans Hurricanes. Any traction for that concept that you know of?

 

[ZooCougar]

Love that idea, similar to the Holiday tournament concept for Hoops. Probably based on previous year and current rankings to see who goes, somewhat arbitrary, but the only way. Everyone is undefeated, Fans enthusiasm is very high, awesome weather sans Hurricanes. Any traction for that concept that you know of?

Not much. But if the Bowl season gets any less serious it might pick up steam.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Love that idea, similar to the Holiday tournament concept for Hoops. Probably based on previous year and current rankings to see who goes, somewhat arbitrary, but the only way. Everyone is undefeated, Fans enthusiasm is very high, awesome weather sans Hurricanes. Any traction for that concept that you know of?

Not much. But if the Bowl season gets any less serious it might pick up steam.

It's almost like trial balloons have been floated with these marquee non-conference match ups in week 0 and week 1. Seems like the only thing missing is the title sponsor for these games. Which would essentially make these bowl games.

The good news with these big name match ups is the fans have over a year to plan for those trips and many of these games are over Labor Day weekend anyway.

 

[Palatine]

There is actually a great argument to be made about moving the bowl games to the beginning of the season so that everyone is there.

OMG! Can you image how bad the games would be? Two teams with only four weeks of practice? At that point neither will really know who their starters should be for the upcoming season. It's a prescription for a disaster.

 

[gioff2323]

There is actually a great argument to be made about moving the bowl games to the beginning of the season so that everyone is there.

If you’re moving, then consider the NBA model of an in-season playoff. Block a week or 2 in November for bowls.

The real challenge is, as someone said, the bowls began as a reward for teams and their fans to go somewhere nice in early winter. There were no bowls in Boston, Detroit, boise, etc. Another challenge to me would be finding a time when families can travel, other than postseason/holidays.

 

[ZooCougar]

OMG! Can you image how bad the games would be? Two teams with only four weeks of practice? At that point neither will really know who their starters should be for the upcoming season. It's a prescription for a disaster.

Start camp earlier.

 

[ZooCougar]

If you’re moving, then consider the NBA model of an in-season playoff. Block a week or 2 in November for bowls.

The real challenge is, as someone said, the bowls began as a reward for teams and their fans to go somewhere nice in early winter. There were no bowls in Boston, Detroit, boise, etc. Another challenge to me would be finding a time when families can travel, other than postseason/holidays.

Look at the empty stands of these minor bowls. They are made for tv affairs.

I think football coaches would hate a mid season distraction. The top teams now have to build rosters and depth to play up to 17 games a season with conference championships and playoff games. I think that would be a no go.

I am not sold on moving the games. But you could sell it by letting bowl teams get extra practices, having the best possible talent, interesting matchups at the start of the season and fans being able to use the summer to travel.

It would still be a longshot though. Holiday sports programming is built around it. But it could be a boon for basketball. Hmmmmm

 

[phillionaire]

Bowls exist for local business owners to curry favor and for gambling

 

[ZooCougar]

Bowls exist for local business owners to curry favor and for gambling

Someone should promote a bowl game at the Rent. Not even kidding. Boise did it. The Buildsubmarines.com bowl.

 

[freescooter]

OMG! Can you image how bad the games would be? Two teams with only four weeks of practice? At that point neither will really know who their starters should be for the upcoming season. It's a prescription for a disaster.

I agree. I could see the bowl season changing but I doubt this is the form that’s change takes. But I think there will always be a place for a post season for teams ranked 13-50 and conference champs. It might not be the bowls as we know them. Maybe a second tournament. But that would need to insure at least some P4 teams play and that G5 still gets access to the 12 Team playoff. The other thing I could imagine happening is conference championship tournaments expanding, even in the P4. Call it the NFLization of college sports. It would work sort of like the conference tournaments but with fewer teams. Maybe 4 instead of 2. For P4 teams it is playing for seeding or maybe a bid. For G5 you might get a bid or knock someone out or you get the league bid to the Outback Bowl or the Best of the Rest Tournament.

 

[Chin Diesel]

OMG! Can you image how bad the games would be? Two teams with only four weeks of practice? At that point neither will really know who their starters should be for the upcoming season. It's a prescription for a disaster.

Check the box scores and attendance numbers from the first two weeks of the season.
Plenty of P4 v. P4 match ups and fans traveling across the country and to Europe to watch them.