10 Most Worthless Bowl Games of 2014-15

By Jerry Landry

10 Most Worthless Bowl Games of 2014-15

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Michigan v Kansas State — Many of us will be paying attention to about six or seven bowls this season, but did you know that there will be a grand total of 39 games played? From the intriguing to the embarrassing, the college football powers that be invited 76 teams to match up in bowl games this year, and as expected, there are a few “showdowns” that show money laughably means more than pride.

10. San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl - San Diego State vs. Navy

San Diego State Football one-handed catch

10. San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl - San Diego State vs. Navy

San Diego State Football one-handed catch — If your bowl game takes seven or more words to describe, then you really shouldn’t describe yourself as a bowl game. I am a proud credit union member, which means I hope to God that my credit union never pays a sponsorship fee for a bowl game (since I’d be paying part of that fee too). Sorry San Diego State, but you’re playing Navy in a home game, and even if it’s backed by your county credit union, it’s still a worthless bowl.

9. Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl - Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech

Illinois Fighting Illini Football

9. Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl - Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech

Illinois Fighting Illini Football — What kind of swag will the Illinois Fighting Illini and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs get for this one? Wet naps? Illinois finished fifth — in the Big 10 West — and now they get to find out if they’ll have a winning season or not against the winners of Conference USA. I’d rather spend three hours eating celery than watching this one.

8. Raycom Media Camellia Bowl - South Alabama vs. Bowling Green

South Alabama Jaguars Football Quarterback

8. Raycom Media Camellia Bowl - South Alabama vs. Bowling Green

South Alabama Jaguars Football Quarterback — Just because the name of this bowl game rhymes doesn’t mean they’re will be any poetry in motion on the field. The South Alabama Jaguars (6-6) and the Bowling Green Falcons (7-6) are both mediocre teams from mediocre conferences, and this is only South Alabama’s third year in the FBS. Thankfully the committee gets this one out of the way early with a Dec. 20 kickoff.

7. GoDaddy Bowl - Toledo vs. Arkansas State

Toledo Rockets Football Quarterback

7. GoDaddy Bowl - Toledo vs. Arkansas State

Toledo Rockets Football Quarterback — You’ll probably end up registering a URL after the 30th GoDaddy spot aired during this matchup of the Toledo Rockets against the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Toledo finished 8-4 and nearly won the MAC West, while Arkansas State boasts a logo that may be a direct representation of Satan. Besides that, there is nothing else worth wondering about the GoDaddy Bowl.

6. TicketCity Cactus Bowl - Washington vs. Oklahoma State

Washington Huskies Football Wide Receiver Drops

6. TicketCity Cactus Bowl - Washington vs. Oklahoma State

Washington Huskies Football Wide Receiver Drops — Another relatively unknown sponsor, and another matchup with a 6-6 barely bowl eligible team (Oklahoma State Cowboys) makes this another worthless bowl game to skip if you don’t have an allegiance to the Cowboys or Washington Huskies. Although there could be some scenic shots of cacti in the desert following commercial breaks — if you’re into that sort of thing.

5. Popeyes Bahamas Bowl - Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Mascot

5. Popeyes Bahamas Bowl - Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Mascot — Somehow the 7-5 Central Michigan Chippewas and the 7-5 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers were awarded with a trip to the Bahamas. Maybe if they put more effort on the field than into the A/V room for bowl bid videos, this matchup of directional programs would be worth watching.

4. Gildan New Mexico Bowl - Utah State vs. UTEP

UTEP Miners Football

4. Gildan New Mexico Bowl - Utah State vs. UTEP

UTEP Miners Football — Gildan does make a comfortable cotton blend, but they attach their name to one of the most annually uninteresting bowls in existence. The Utah State Aggies and the UTEP Miners duke it out over to see whose nickname can be the least memorable. I’ll take Utah State to win and the nickname "Miners" to remain forgotten.

3. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Western Michigan vs. Air Force

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

3. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Western Michigan vs. Air Force

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl — Wow! What a well-marketed lead-in for a bowl name. When I think Idaho, I think two things: potatoes and football. Actually, I rarely think of Idaho at all, and when I do, I’m thinking of Napoleon Dynamite. Both the Western Michigan Broncos and Air Force Falcons deserve a bowl game, but neither deserve to have to play it in Idaho.

2. Quick Lane Bowl - North Carolina vs. Rutgers

North Carolina Tar Heels Football Head Coach

2. Quick Lane Bowl - North Carolina vs. Rutgers

North Carolina Tar Heels Football Head Coach — The downtown Detroit revival continues with the invitation of the 6-6 North Carolina Tar Heels and the 7-5 Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Unfortunately, these records are deceiving, and Rutgers will get flattened at Ford Field in such un-entertaining fashion that Detroit will have to find yet another sponsor for next year’s bowl game.

1. Hawaii Bowl - Fresno State vs. Rice

Fresno State Bulldogs Football

1. Hawaii Bowl - Fresno State vs. Rice

Fresno State Bulldogs Football — This one is worthless because it’s funny — the Hawaii Warriors didn’t qualify for their own bowl. Instead the Hawaii Bowl pits a team with a losing record (Fresno State Bulldogs 6-7) against the marginally-eligible Rice Owls (7-5) in what should be a bland game against a beautiful backdrop.

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