The Bowl Championship Series was promoted by ABC and the NCAA to “guarantee a true national champion for the first time ever,” but barring a playoff system, fans still may be arguing who’s No. 1.
FIESTA BOWL
Tennessee
(SEC, 12-0)
Florida State
(ACC, 11-1)
LOCATION: Tempe, Ariz.
DATE/TIME: Jan. 4, 7 p.m.
TV: WLS-Ch. 7
PER TEAM PAYOUT: $11-$13 million
The last time Florida State coach Bobby Bowden led his Seminoles into a national title game against a Southeastern Conference school — well, let’s just say the ‘Noles are still chasing the Florida Gators around the New Orleans Superdome.
The good news for FSU is that Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin is no Danny Wuerffel. The bad news for FSU is that Seminole quarterback Marcus Outzen is no Tee Martin. The duel in the desert figures to be decided by the defenses.
SUGAR BOWL
Texas A&M
(Big 12, 11-2)
Ohio State
(Big Ten, 10-1)
LOCATION: New Orleans
DATE/TIME: Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m.
TV: WLS-Ch. 7
PER TEAM PAYOUT: $11-$13 million
Buckeye fans believe their team is still the best in the country. Here’s a chance to prove it against a scrappy Aggie team.
Ohio State will be motivated by the fact that A&M lost to Florida State by only nine points at a neutral site in August. The Buckeyes may try to pour it on to prove they’re mightier than the Seminoles.
ROSE BOWL
UCLA
(Pac-10, 10-1)
Wisconsin
(Big Ten, 10-1)
LOCATION: Pasadena, Calif.
DATE/TIME: Jan. 1, 4 p.m.
TV: WLS-Ch. 7
PER TEAM PAYOUT: $11-$13 million
After watching their Fiesta Bowl hopes perish in the final minute of Saturday’s game at Miami, the Bruins have to be thrilled to be spending the holidays on campus. Simply thrilled.
The Badgers have a chance to prove they aren’t the worst 10-1 team in the country. Is it too early to start thumping the drum for the 1999 version of tailback Ron Dayne’s annual Heisman Trophy campaign?
ORANGE BOWL
Florida
(SEC, 9-2)
Syracuse
(Big East, 8-3)
LOCATION: Miami
DATE/TIME: Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m.
TV: WLS-Ch. 7
PER TEAM PAYOUT: $11-$13 million
There’s a certain amount of symmetry in having the Orangemen play in the Orange Bowl. It’s hard to come up with any other reason, beyond color-coding, for Syracuse’s presence in a major bowl.
Syracuse doesn’t belong in a big-time bowl, but quarterback Donovan McNabb does. The multi-threat ace from Mt. Carmel High School will be tested by the fleet, hard-hitting Gator defense.
… AND ALL THE OTHER BOWLS
BOWL
LAS VEGAS
LOCATION
Las Vegas
DATE/TIME
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Dec. 19, 5:30 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$800,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
San Diego State (WAC, 7-4) vs. North Carolina (ACC, 6-5)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
The Tar Heels bounced back from an 0-3 start, including a loss to Miami (Ohio).
BOWL
MOTOR CITY
LOCATION
Pontiac, Mich.
DATE/TIME
Dec. 23, 7 p.m.
TV
ESPN2
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$750,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Marshall (MAC, 11-1) vs. Louisville (Conf. USA, 7-4)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
The Thundering Herd is still potent a year after Randy Moss’ departure.
BOWL
ALOHA
LOCATION
Honolulu
DATE/TIME
Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m.
TV
WLS-Ch. 7
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$750,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Oregon (Pac-10, 8-3) vs. Colorado (Big 12, 7-4)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
The Duck-Buff matchup is a preview of two up-and-comers.
BOWL
OAHU
LOCATION
Honolulu
DATE/TIME
Dec. 25, 7:30 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$750,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Washington (Pac-10, 6-5) vs. Air Force (WAC, 11-1)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Air Force could score a huge blow for the crumbling WAC with a win.
BOWL
HERITAGE
LOCATION
Atlanta
DATE/TIME
Dec. 26, 11:30 a.m.
TV
WMAQ-Ch. 5
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
N/A
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Southern (SWAC, 8-3) vs. Beth.-Cookman (Mid-Eastern, 8-2)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
The Wildcats had a .337 winning percentage in the 1990s entering this year.
BOWL
INSIGHT.COM
LOCATION
Tucson, Ariz.
DATE/TIME
Dec. 26, 7 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$750,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
West Virginia (Big East, 8-3) vs. Missouri (Big 12, 7-4)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Tigers led every game at halftime. They should lead this one after four quarters.
BOWL
MUSIC CITY
LOCATION
Nashville
DATE/TIME
Dec. 29, 4 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$750,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Alabama (SEC, 7-4) vs. Virginia Tech (Big East, 8-3)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Crimson Tide’s losses: Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
BOWL
MICRON PC
LOCATION
Miami
DATE/TIME
Dec. 29, 6:30 p.m.
TV
TBS
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$750,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
N.C. State (ACC, 7-4) vs. Miami (Fla.) (Big East, 8-3)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Which Wolfpack will show up? Hurricanes are coming off their biggest win of 1998.
BOWL
ALAMO
LOCATION
San Antonio, Tex.
DATE/TIME
Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1.1 million
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TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Purdue (Big Ten, 8-4) vs. Kansas State (Big 12, 11-1)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Boilermaker quarterback Drew Brees goes back home to the Lone Star State.
BOWL
HUMANITARIAN
LOCATION
Boise, Idaho
DATE/TIME
Dec. 30, 2 p.m.
TV
ESPN2
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$750,000
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Idaho (Big West, 8-3) vs. Southern Miss. (Conf. USA, 7-4)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Too bad Oregon wasn’t invited. This could have been the Ore-Ida Hashbrown Classic.
BOWL
HOLIDAY
LOCATION
San Diego
DATE/TIME
Dec. 30, 7 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1.4 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Nebraska (Big 12, 8-3) vs. Arizona (Pac-10, 10-1)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
San Diego’s a lovely destination, but the Wildcats deserve a far better bowl fate.
BOWL
LIBERTY
LOCATION
Memphis
DATE/TIME
Dec. 31, 12:30 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1.1 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Brigham Young (WAC, 9-3) vs. Tulane (Conf. USA, 11-0)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Whoever said `Give me liberty or give me death’ could not have foreseen this matchup.
BOWL
SUN
LOCATION
El Paso, Tex.
DATE/TIME
Dec. 31, 1 p.m.
TV
WBBM-Ch. 2
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
So. California (Pac-10, 8-4) vs. Texas Christian (WAC, 6-5)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
USC and TCU are so-so scrabble letters. They won’t make a much better bowl pairing.
BOWL
PEACH
LOCATION
Atlanta
DATE/TIME
Dec. 31, 4 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1.5 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Virginia (ACC, 9-2) vs. Georgia (SEC, 8-3)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
This is considered a neutral site. But which is closer to Atlanta?
BOWL
INDEPENDENCE
LOCATION
Shreveport, La.
DATE/TIME
Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Mississippi (SEC, 6-5) vs. Texas Tech (Big 12, 7-4)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
New Year’s Eve in Shreveport, La. It doesn’t get much better than this.
BOWL
OUTBACK
LOCATION
Tampa
DATE/TIME
Jan. 1, 10 a.m.
TV
ESPN
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1.8 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Penn State (Big Ten, 8-3) vs. Kentucky (SEC, 7-4)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Nittany Lions were a bust this year. But Joe Paterno has NCAA-record 18 bowl wins.
BOWL
GATOR
LOCATION
Jacksonville, Fla.
DATE/TIME
Jan. 1, 11:30 a.m.
TV
WMAQ-Ch. 5
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$1.4 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Georgia Tech (ACC, 9-2) vs. Notre Dame (9-2)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Irish may revert to single-wing against the Yellow Jackets.
BOWL
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FLORIDA CITRUS
LOCATION
Orlando
DATE/TIME
Jan. 1, Noon
TV
WLS-Ch. 7
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$3.75 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Michigan (Big Ten, 9-3) vs. Arkansas (SEC, 9-2)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
Take heart, Wolverine fans: Michigan is on pace to win the national title in 2046.
BOWL
COTTON BOWL
LOCATION
Dallas
DATE/TIME
Jan. 1, 12:30 p.m.
TV
WFLD-Ch. 32
PER-TEAM PAYOUT
$2.5 million
TEAMS/CONFERENCE/RECORDS
Texas (Big 12, 8-3) vs. Mississippi St. (SEC, 8-4)
ANDREW BAGNATO’S COMMENT
They wanted Longhorns vs. Hogs in an old SWC rematch. But Bulldogs pulled rank.