I'm thrilled with the Citrus Bowl, but I'm sure some are annoyed at Bama's matchup

[18IsTheMan]

It was very surprising to most that the Citrus dispensed with convention of picking the highest ranked possibility and bypassed Alabama to pick us. However, we are the more exciting team right now, no doubt. From other posts on here, I know some our fans are disappointed (or at least pretending to be disappointed) at our matchup with Illinois since it's not powerhouse name (news flash: neither are we!)

I wonder if those fans are more annoyed when seeing that even though they were bypassed, Bama got a marquee name to play against in the ReliaQuest bowl: Michigan. We got the better bowl, but the perceived less interesting matchup. Bama got the inferior bowl but a matchup against a fellow blue blood.

Doesn't bother me at all. Bama and Michigan are both damaged brands right now and I don't think fan enthusiasm for either team is particularly high, especially for Bama who had visions of contending for the title this year.

 

[Piscis]

Michigan is 7-5 and unranked. Bama went from being in the playoff to a noon kickoff on New Year's Eve against an unranked opponent. When the Bama privilege was taken away it was really taken away.

 

[will110]

It was very surprising to most that the Citrus dispensed with convention of picking the highest ranked possibility and bypassed Alabama to pick us. However, we are the more exciting team right now, no doubt. From other posts on here, I know some our fans are disappointed (or at least pretending to be disappointed) at our matchup with Illinois since it's not powerhouse name (news flash: neither are we!)

I wonder if those fans are more annoyed when seeing that even though they were bypassed, Bama got a marquee name to play against in the ReliaQuest bowl: Michigan. We got the better bowl, but the perceived less interesting matchup. Bama got the inferior bowl but a matchup against a fellow blue blood.

Doesn't bother me at all. Bama and Michigan are both damaged brands right now and I don't think fan enthusiasm for either team is particularly high, especially for Bama who had visions of contending for the title this year.

Illinois is ranked. They're a solid team, a program Carolina's never played before.

A bad Michigan team is not a more interesting opponent by any stretch this year. All Michigan has is the name, and with the season they've had that doesn't make for a good game.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Illinois is ranked. They're a solid team, a program Carolina's never played before.

A bad Michigan team is not a more interesting opponent by any stretch this year. All Michigan has is the name, and with the season they've had that doesn't make for a good game.

Fully concur. I suspect once folks put on their thinking caps about the Illinois game, they'll see the positives.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Looking at SEC bowl matchups, I'd say we came out pretty good.

Florida faces Tulane
Oklahoma vs Navy.
Mizzou vs Iowa.
Ole Miss vs Duke (that has to be HUGELY disappointing for them)
LSU vs Baylor
A&M vs SoCal (has name power but SoCal is a shell of itself)
Vandy vs GaTech
Arkansas vs Texas Tech

Outside of our game, the other team I'll be rooting for the hardest is Duke.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

It was very surprising to most that the Citrus dispensed with convention of picking the highest ranked possibility and bypassed Alabama to pick us. However, we are the more exciting team right now, no doubt. From other posts on here, I know some our fans are disappointed (or at least pretending to be disappointed) at our matchup with Illinois since it's not powerhouse name (news flash: neither are we!)

I wonder if those fans are more annoyed when seeing that even though they were bypassed, Bama got a marquee name to play against in the ReliaQuest bowl: Michigan. We got the better bowl, but the perceived less interesting matchup. Bama got the inferior bowl but a matchup against a fellow blue blood.

Doesn't bother me at all. Bama and Michigan are both damaged brands right now and I don't think fan enthusiasm for either team is particularly high, especially for Bama who had visions of contending for the title this year.

It's impossible to follow up on ''The Hit Bowl'' so Bama getting Michigan is fine with me.

 

[gamecock stock]

Vandy V GT is a good matchup.

 

[RUMMENIGGE]

 

[18IsTheMan]

Vandy V GT is a good matchup.

I think Tech will win that one fairly decently. Just a hunch.

 

[Uscg1984]

Looking at SEC bowl matchups, I'd say we came out pretty good.

Florida faces Tulane
Oklahoma vs Navy.
Mizzou vs Iowa.
Ole Miss vs Duke (that has to be HUGELY disappointing for them)
LSU vs Baylor
A&M vs SoCal (has name power but SoCal is a shell of itself)
Vandy vs GaTech
Arkansas vs Texas Tech

Outside of our game, the other team I'll be rooting for the hardest is Duke.

I'm happy for the Citrus Bowl and Illinois is certainly "the best of the rest" in the Big Ten.

But I don't think the SEC has ever had a year with a less remarkable group of opponents, overall, in bowl games. That is not a knock against the quality of these opponents, but aside from Michigan and SoCal, none of these opponents bring a big "name" to their bowl game. Of course, this is the inevitable result of an expanded playoff - after the top 12 teams, nothing is left for the bowls except 2nd tier programs and below.

I predict matchups like these will only accelerate the death of the bowl system.

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Looking at SEC bowl matchups, I'd say we came out pretty good.

Florida faces Tulane
Oklahoma vs Navy.
Mizzou vs Iowa.
Ole Miss vs Duke (that has to be HUGELY disappointing for them)
LSU vs Baylor
A&M vs SoCal (has name power but SoCal is a shell of itself)
Vandy vs GaTech
Arkansas vs Texas Tech

Outside of our game, the other team I'll be rooting for the hardest is Duke.

Aside from Vandy - GT, there is nothing on this list that I would make plans to watch. I might happen upon one as a curiosity but that is about it.