Reasons for a Miami Hurricanes fan to watch all 41 bowl games in 2017

December 12, 2017

| Filed in: 2017 season, 2018 season, Football, Matt Porter

[Berrios to Senior Bowl]

[Lingard wins prestigious award]

[Donaldson a freshman All-American]

[Hoops: Miami up to No. 6]

[Recruiting: WR Britt to Miami | Rankings rising under Richt]

Now, we’re not saying you should watch all these games. Spending time with loved ones is important, as is doing chores around the house, etc. But maybe you’re looking for a compelling reason to put a game on in the background (or, something to interest you aside from gambling purposes). That in mind, we present a South Florida viewer’s guide to Bowl Season 2017.

Note: Some Miami connections tenuous at best

Dec. 16 

noon (ABC), Celebration Bowl

It’s the first bowl game of the season! Grambling plays North Carolina A&T in Atlanta, and the only South Florida connection I could find is in the person of Tard McCoy, a fifth-year senior cornerback for NC A&T who played at Boca High. This’ll be his last college game. Shoutout to Tard McCoy.

1 p.m. (ESPN), New Orleans Bowl 

Troy vs. North Texas. UNT, where former Hurricane Kevin Patrick coached before taking his current job at North Carolina State, was pounded by FAU in the C-USA title game but has a fun offense. Troy beat LSU, so that counts for something.

2:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network), Cure Bowl 

Western Kentucky-Georgia State in Orlando. Fun for the whole family: watch for camera shots of Big Red, WKU’s sweet, lovable, Grimace-like mascot.

3:30 p.m. (ABC), Las Vegas Bowl

The Fighting Cristobals of Oregon take on Boise State in Sin City. Lot of Taggart-Cristobal talk here.

4:30 p.m. (ESPN), New Mexico Bowl 

Colorado State vs. Marshall, whose leading receiver is Miami transfer/former South Dade High standout Tyre Brady (56 catches, 777 yards, seven touchdowns). Another ex-Cane, linebacker Juwon Young, has 38 tackles this season. On the other side, former Mark Richt protege Mike Bobo is 21-17 at Colorado State and looking for his first bowl win.

8 p.m. (ESPN) Camellia Bowl 

The Hurricanes were unbeaten through Thanksgiving, but that’s probably because they didn’t have to deal with mighty Arkansas State (some in Jonesboro may still believe Miami conjured up Hurricane Irma just to get out a date with the Red Wolves; recall that Scout.com affiliate AStateNation actually published, then removed, an editorial calling UM’s cancellation of the game “a lowbrow scam”).  Anyway, that program plays Middle Tennessee in this game. If you’re bored, have at it.

Dec. 19

7 p.m. (ESPN), Boca Raton Bowl 

Akron-FAU. It’s the only bowl game on this day, Lane Kiffin is involved, and it’s sponsored by Cheribundi Tart Cherry juice. Why not?

Dec. 20 

8 p.m. (ESPN), Frisco Bowl

Louisiana Tech-SMU. Two Canes connections for La. Tech: Manny Diaz the defensive coordinator in 2014, and the Bulldogs basketball coach is former Jim Larranaga assistant Eric Konkol. SMU has a fun receiver (6-4, 215-pound Courtland Sutton, who may be a first-round pick). Every game ain’t a winner.

Dec. 21 

8 p.m. (ESPN), Gasparilla Bowl

Take the 20th off, but definitely watch Temple-FIU. Miami actually plays one of these teams (FIU, of course) next season, and that team is coached by Butch Davis. UM plays Temple three years from now. The bowl is sponsored by Bad Boy Mowers, which as best I can tell is not the lawn care division of Sean Combs’ recording empire.

Dec. 22 

12:30 p.m. (ESPN), Bahamas Bowl 

UAB-Ohio in Nassau. Try to guess how many fans will be in attendance! UAB, which shuttered its program for two years, is back, and in a bowl. Fun fact: The Blazers have never played a postseason game in the continental U.S. Their only other bowl appearance was a loss to Hawaii in the 2004 Hawaii Bowl.

4 p.m. (ESPN), Potato Bowl

It’s Central Michigan, which Miami hosts in 2019, against Wyoming, who has top quarterback prospect Josh Allen (who may or may not play).

Dec. 23

noon (ESPN), Birmingham Bowl 

Texas Tech-South Florida. USF has a bunch of players UM had interest in on the recruiting trail (receiver Darnell Salomon, quarterback Quinton Flowers, defensive back Nick Roberts, running back Jordan Cronkrite, receiver Kevaughn Dingle) and familiar names on the coaching staff, like head man Charlie Strong (formerly of UF and Louisville and one-time favorite to land at UM) and offensive line coach Damon Cogdell (a longtime South Florida preps fixture). Texas Tech is 30-32 under Kliff Kingsbury and I’m surprised the boosters haven’t moved on.

3:30 p.m. (ESPN), Armed Forces Bowl 

San Diego State-Army. SDSU running back Rashaad Penny was fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. That’s about all I’ve got.

7 p.m. (ESPN), Dollar General Bowl 

Appalachian State-Toledo, in a battle of teams Miami has played and will play recently (visited App State 2016, hosting 2021; hosted Toledo 2017, visiting 2018). Toledo will be replacing quarterback Logan Woodside, who graduates before Miami visits the Glass Bowl next year.

Dec. 24 

8:30 p.m. (ESPN), Hawaii Bowl

Houston defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio tries to stifle Fresno State. ‘Nuff said.

Dec. 26

1:30 p.m. (ESPN), Heart of Dallas Bowl

Utah-West Virginia. WVU, which Miami beat in last year’s Russell Athletic Bowl, has two former Hurricanes (quarterback Jack Allison and tight end Jovani Haskins, both of whom are sitting out as transfers), six players from South Florida and a kicker (senior Mike Molina) from Hurricane, West Virginia. But Utah has just as much of a South Florida connection: three Hallandale High grads (running back Zack Moss, a former UM commit, receiver Demari Simpkins and quarterback Tyler Huntley), two St. Thomas Aquinas alums (defensive end Chris Hart, running back Devonta’e Henry-Cole) and a Miami Central grad (linebacker Donavan Thompson).

5:15 p.m. (ESPN), Quick Lane Bowl 

Duke-Northern Illinois. Miami, which beat Duke 31-6 on Sept. 29, is not going to Detroit this bowl season. It’s at this point we should pour one out for North Carolina, Pitt, Georgia Tech and Syracuse, the UM ACC foes who did not qualify for bowls.

9 p.m. (ESPN), Cactus Bowl 

Kansas State-UCLA. Likely former UM offensive coordinator Jeff Fisch’s last game as UCLA’s play-caller, with new boss Chip Kelly in town.

Dec. 27

1:30 p.m. (ESPN), Independence Bowl 

Florida State extends its bowl streak by playing Southern Miss in Shreveport. Game is sponsored by Walk-On’s, a local bar and grill which, because it is located in Louisiana, calls itself a “bistreaux.” If the Neauxls don’t win, they’ll finish belueax .500.

5:15 p.m. (ESPN), Pinstripe Bowl 

In recent years, this was an appealing bowl destination for UM. No longer. This edition is Iowa-Boston College, and if you’re looking to advance-scout,  Miami visits BC in ACC crossover play next fall.

8:30 p.m. (FOX), Foster Farms Bowl 

Arizona-Purdue. The super-exciting Khalil Tate and Arizona vs. Jeff Brohm’s Purdue (not your grandfather’s Purdue, your dad’s Purdue, or even your older brother’s Purdue). For purely football reasons, this is a fun one.

9 p.m. (ESPN), Texas Bowl 

Texas-Missouri. Mizzou, despite no longer employing Craig Kuligowski, finished 2017 on a good run. Notes on three Texas players: cornerback Davante Davis (of Miami-Booker T. Washington), wideout Lil’Jordan Humphrey (amazing name) and wideout Jordan Pouncey (like Davis, considered UM as a recruit, cousin of the NFL’s Pouncey twins, and according to his school bio, “a very good drummer”).

Dec. 28

1:30 p.m. (ESPN), Military Bowl 

Watch Virginia, one of UM’s Coastal Division foes, take on Navy in a game that’s sure to include a lot of pageantry and Kurt Benkert going 18-for-19 (wait, he only does that against Miami?)

5:15 p.m. (ESPN), Camping World Bowl 

The former Russell Athletic Bowl is a matchup of ranked teams: No. 22 Virginia Tech vs. No. 19 Oklahoma State. Very watchable game.

9 p.m. (ESPN), Alamo Bowl 

Another fun matchup: Heisman finalist Bryce Love and No. 13 Stanford vs. No. 15 TCU.

9 p.m. (FOX), Holiday Bowl 

No. 18 Washington State, 2015 UM bowl opponent, against No. 16 Michigan State (which UM plays in 2021, for what it’s worth). Any Wazzu game comes with a Mike Leach Antics Advisory.

Dec. 29 

1 p.m. (ESPN), Belk Bowl 

Wake Forest-Texas A&M. Wake quarterback John Wolford is the ACC’s 2017 winner of the Hey Wait, He’s Actually Pretty Good Award, given to the player no one was talking up before the season began. Sour Patch Wolford led the league in passer rating.

3 p.m. (CBS), Sun Bowl 

No. 24 North Carolina State vs. Arizona State. State’s D-line is coached by former Hurricane Kevin Patrick, who once fought The Rock. Hopefully it snows, and the locals are feeling creative.

4:30 p.m. (ESPN), Music City Bowl 

Kentucky against No. 21 Northwestern. UM commit Gilbert Frierson visited Lexington and wore a big, blue coat. Other than that …

5:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network), Arizona Bowl 

Utah State-New Mexico State. Worth checking out because it is NMSU’s first bowl appearance since 1960.

8:30 p.m. (ESPN), Cotton Bowl 

No. 8 USC vs. No. 5 Ohio State. Should be a good one. This is the best game of the day.

Dec. 30 

noon (ESPN), TaxSlayer Bowl

Louisville vs. No. 23 Mississippi State. You know you want to watch Lamar’s last college game, especially if you forgot about him this year because Louisville was otherwise hard to watch.  Cards visit Miami in 2019, by the way.

12:30 p.m (ABC), Liberty Bowl 

Iowa State vs. No. 20 Memphis. The Tigers, who lost 62-55 to UCF in the AAC championship, can Put Up Points. Iowa State beat Oklahoma on the road — one of the more surprising results of 2017 — and took down TCU. But this is Lamar’s time slot.

4 p.m. (ESPN), Fiesta Bowl 

Get your Penn State hate on, as the ninth-ranked Nittany Lions face 11th-ranked Washington. Maybe this is on in the background as you prep for the main event.

8 p.m. (ESPN), Orange Bowl 

The main event. No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Wisconsin at Hard Rock. Canes look to finish with at least 11 wins for the first time since 2003 and 12th time in program history.

Jan. 1

noon (ESPN2), Outback Bowl 

Michigan-South Carolina is a decent matchup, but this is mostly worth watching for the third quarter, when SB Nation writer and Tampa native Ryan Nanni, after a successful Twitter campaign, gets to perform as the Bloomin’ Onion mascot.

12:30 p.m. (ESPN), Peach Bowl 

No. 12 UCF vs. No. 7 Auburn in the final game of the Scott Frost Era. Should be fun.

1 p.m. (ABC), Citrus Bowl

It’s a smorgasbord of New Year’s goodness. Flip over and watch a team the Hurricanes beat handily (No. 14 Notre Dame) in 2017 play the team Miami faces to open 2018 (No. 17 LSU). Canes will face LSU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sept. 1.

5 p.m. (ESPN), Rose Bowl 

Playoff time. No. 3 Georgia and its stifling defense against Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and No. 2 Oklahoma. I can’t wait to watch this game. Mark Richt probably feels the same.

8:45 p.m. (ESPN), Sugar Bowl

The second 2017 semifinal includes No. 1 Clemson, which Canes fans hope to meet in next year’s ACC title game, against No. 4 Alabama.

Jan. 8

8 p.m. (ESPN)
National title game in Atlanta. Watch and dream of Miami making it to Santa Clara, California, in 2019.