An Alabama Football Fan’s Guide To All 42 Bowl Games

With 35 bowls between now and Alabama’s semifinal matchup against Washington in the Peach Bowl, there is a lot of action to watch til then. Here is a bowl-by-bowl guide on how to watch all 42 bowls.

December 17th

Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl: NC Central vs. Grambling (Noon ET, ABC)

In case Alabama fans forgot what the Georgia Dome looks like, two college teams will be playing in Atlanta before Alabama does. Also, these two teams are from the MEAC and SWAC, both of which are FCS conferences.

Gildan New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico vs. UTSA (2pm ET, ESPN)

This game features two mascots that belong in a Looney Toons cartoon: Lobos vs. Roadrunners. New Mexico is playing on their own home field, which makes you rethink that time when Auburn had a short trip to Birmingham last year.

Las Vegas Bowl presented by Geico: Houston vs. San Diego State (3:30pm ET, ABC)

Oh Houston, how could we forget you? You’re that team that ran that kick six back against Oklahoma in the season opener. Thank goodness there was someone else out there that felt that pain and misery and it doesn’t just happen to us. We thank you, Cougars. (Don’t feel bad. It was just Oklahoma.)

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Toledo (5:30pm ET, ESPN)

Hey, remember that time that Tennessee almost lost the season opener at home to Appalachian State? And that it took overtime to determine the winner of said game? Man, good times.

AutoNation Cure Bowl: UCF vs. Arkansas State (5:30pm ET, CBSSN)

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UCF will be playing a little less than 30 minutes from home, making this a practical home game. Meanwhile Arkansas State is where the Gus Bus originally got started as a head coach. We sure do appreciate keeping him around at Auburn!

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Louisianna-Lafayette (9pm ET, ESPN)

Southern Miss has played in Bryant-Denny Stadium recently and QB Nick Mullens is from the state of Alabama. Meanwhile, LA-LaFayette will be looking for their first non-vacated win in five appearances the NOLA Bowl, after two of their wins in 2011 and 2013 were vacated due to an ineligible player participating.

December 19th

Miami Beach Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Tulsa (2:30pm ET, ESPN)

Alabama fans may want to avoid this one if at all possible. That is, unless you want to critique and agonize on how bad these defenses play.

December 20th

Boca Raton Bowl: Memphis vs. Western Kentucky (7pm ET, ESPN)

See Miami Beach Bowl. But, by a show of hands, who would like to take Memphis in as a 14th member of the SEC and kick out Missouri?

December 21st

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs. Wyoming (9pm ET, ESPN)

It’s the longest-named bowl in the entire 42. Now, if you want to see a good defense, look towards BYU. They have a battle-tested team that has one several low scoring affairs. Expect this one to do so as well.

December 22nd

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Idaho vs. Colorado State (9pm ET, ESPN)

CSU was where former Alabama offensive coordinator and current Florida head coach Jim McElwain was before making the move to the Swamp. Meanwhile the Idaho…Vandals? Really? Vandals? That’s the mascot they chose?

December 23rd

Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. Old Dominion (1pm ET, ESPN)

Two things about Eastern Michigan:

-They have a movie night every Friday.

-They have an annual pancake fly-in (like a drive in, but with planes) at the local airport where the chef cooks and tosses a pancake from 10-30 yards away.

The defense rests it’s case.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Navy (4:30pm ET, ESPN)

I wonder what it’s like to lose your conference championship?

Dollar General Bowl: Ohio vs. Troy (8pm ET, ESPN)

Nice to see a team from the state of Alabama not named Auburn make a bowl this year.

December 24th

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee (8pm ET, ESPN)

You may think the formerly-named Rainbow Warriors would have the edge with the home-field advantage, but don’t count out MTSU. They have played well even with their starting quarterback injured.

December 26th

St. Petersburg Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Mississippi State (11am ET, ESPN)

You have been warned, Miami of Ohio. (Also, bring earplugs. The sound of ringing cowbells is amplified in an indoor stadium.)

Quick Lane Bowl: Maryland vs. Boston College (2:30pm ET, ESPN)

These two average teams will face off in an average bowl in an average city. So, if you’re looking for average, you got it.

Camping World Independence Bowl: NC State vs. Vanderbilt (5:30pm ET, ESPN2)

#AnchorDown is in a bowl this year, but they happen to be facing one of the more talented teams in the ACC as the opponent. Vandy did surprise everyone by pulling out a win vs. Tennessee. Good on you, Vandy.

December 27th

Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl: Army vs. North Texas (12pm ET, ESPN)

Army hasn’t been to a bowl in 6 years. I wonder what that is like? Anyway, Army will be doing something that Alabama fans know well: Playing an opponent you already lost to in the regular season. My money is on Army, for historical sake.

Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman: No. 24 Temple vs. Wake Forest (3:30pm ET, ESPN)

Four words: Deacon on a Motorcycle.

National Funding Holiday Bowl: Minnesota vs. Washington State (7pm ET, ESPN)

Washington State is Washington’s version of Auburn. And if there is one thing both Crimson Tide and Huskie fans can agree on, it’s that we hate Auburn/Wazzu.

Motel 6 Cactus Bowl: Boise State vs. Baylor (10:15pm ET, ESPN)

Hard to believe Baylor was once a Top 10 team at one point. Boise had NY6 hopes, but dropped a few down the stretch as well. Now they are playing in a bowl sponsored by Motel 6. You get what you deserve.

December 28th

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: No. 23 Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern (2pm ET, ESPN)

Pitt has made some big strides this season, even with a kicker who’s last name is Blewitt. Would be nice to have a kicker like that…

Russell Athletic Bowl: No. 16 West Virginia vs. Miami (5:30pm ET, ESPN)

Put simply: This is That-team-who-had-that-coach-that-almost-got-hired-at-Alabama-but-didn’t vs. that-team-we-historically-don’t-like-even-though-we-haven’t-played-them-in-forever.

Foster Farms Bowl: Indiana vs. No. 19 Utah (8pm ET, FOX)

Hey remember that time when Utah went to the Sugar Bowl against Alabama and (redacted)

AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Kansas State (9pm ET, ESPN)

Texas A&M suffered a broken spirit and sprained motivation to play after playing Alabama earlier in the year. Call your doctor and ask if you have been “processed” and see what treatments may be best for you, such as letting go of coordinators or building new facilities to cope with the pain.

December 29th

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida vs. South Carolina (2pm ET, ESPN)

Hey Auburn, remember when…aw never mind. Of course you remember!

Belk Bowl: Arkansas vs. No. 22 Virginia Tech (5:30pm, ESPN)

Seriously, follow this Twitter account. They are tweeting about tickets with pictures of kittens and puppies.

Valero Alamo Bowl: No. 12 Oklahoma State vs. No. 10 Colorado (9pm ET, ESPN)

This is about as Texas as it can get without two teams from the state being in it. Cowboys and Buffaloes playing in San Antonio, Texas in the Alamodome. Just missing Charlie Strong…too soon?

December 30th

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Georgia vs. TCU (12pm ET, ESPN)

This is a very majestic picture of Kirby, don’t you think?

Hyundai Sun Bowl: No. 18 Stanford vs. North Carolina (2pm ET, CBS)

Of interest to Alabama fans: Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson will call this game, who will be the primary SEC pair for next year.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Nebraska vs. No. 21 Tennessee (3:30pm ET, ESPN)

Tennessee got broken by Alabama as well and may need to see the same doctor as Texas A&M.

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: South Alabama vs. Air Force (5:30pm ET, Campus Insiders)

Yet another team from the state of Alabama making a bowl game. Huh it’s like the state is good at football or something…

Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 11 Florida State (8pm ET, ESPN)

Word is that Harbaugh will host a satellite camp in Miami a few days before the game for “recruiting”.

December 31st

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: No. 20 LSU vs. No. 13 Louisville (11am ET, ABC)

I, for one, am ecstatic that Coach O was given the chance to take the helm permanently at LSU. Now, Heisman-for-sure Lamar Jackson and Louisville gets a chance to prove himself against the SEC again, who got outscored by Kentucky at the end of the year.

TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky (11am ET, ESPN)

And then Kentucky gets Georgia Tech. Life is never easy for the #BBN football team.

College Football Playoff semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 4 Washington vs. No. 1 Alabama (3pm ET, ESPN)

No, you don’t.

College Football Playoff semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Clemson (7pm ET, ESPN)

Who would Alabama rather face in the National Championship? The OBVIOUS heir to Saban’s throne who has already lost to Alabama in a National Championship? Or the guy that left Florida after Alabama whooped them in the SEC Championship because of “family”?

January 2nd

Outback Bowl: No. 17 Florida vs. Iowa (1pm ET, ABC)

Mercifully, ESPN decided to move to Outback Bowl to another time so we didn’t have to watch three SEC teams at once on New Year’s Eve. Unmercifully, we have to watch Florida play again.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 15 Western Michigan vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (1pm ET, ESPN)

The last time there was a Big 10 team in the Cotton Bowl…

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual: No. 9 USC vs. No. 5 Penn State (5pm ET, ESPN)

USC seemed to be the only major team Alabama played that didn’t seem to get “processed” but in fact got even stronger. My heart goes out to Coach Franklin and Penn State, who have also turned around after crashing early.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 14 Auburn vs. No. 7 Oklahoma (8:30pm, ESPN)

This one tugs at the heartstrings of every Bama fan. Do you root against the one team in this state that I wish lost every game? Or do you root against the coach that decides to take a dig at the SEC every chance he gets? My take: Hate Auburn. All Day, Every Day.