There are actually 29 non-BCS bowl games. Some of them feature intriguing matchups, some have semi-interesting teams, and some are bad enough that the only way I will watch is if I fall asleep in front of the TV and absorb the game into my dreams. Here they are:

Games I Am Too Biased to Judge:

Insight.com Bowl
Kansas vs. Minnesota, Dec 31

Image Credit: FHKE

For many across the country, this is a so-so game between two 7-5 teams coming off very different years. Minnesota struggled mightily in 2007, while Kansas won the Orange Bowl. Now, they meet in the middle at 7-5. As a KU fan, this is the most important bowl game of the year. It starts in the afternoon, and will set the tone for the New Year’s Eve celebrations for everyone (by which I mean me, a few deranged fans, and no one else).

Alamo Bowl
Missouri vs. Northwestern, Dec 29

Other than combining two teams with the least imaginative nicknames in the country, the game does feature two 9-win teams, with the explosive Big 12 offense of Missouri facing off against the solid Big 10 defense of Northwestern.

As a KU fan, I will root against Missouri any time, anywhere and in any sport. If the Tigers were playing Satan in ping pong, I would be yelling GO BIG RED! For me, this is the other must-see bowl game, and while it pains me to cheer for a purple-clad team with a wildcat mascot, I will just keep reminding myself it’s Northwestern and not Kansas State, who will be facing . . . oh, wait. Kansas State didn’t go to a bowl game this year. That’s too bad.

Games to Watch:

Poinsettia Bowl
Boise State vs. TCU, Dec 23

While normally not a top bowl destination, this year’s game does feature two very good teams. Boise State is 12-0, and TCU is 10-2, with losses only to Oklahoma and Utah. This is a great chance to watch two teams with something to prove. It’s also a chance to dream about how much fun a playoff that included teams like these would be.

Capitol One Bowl
Georgia vs. Michigan St., Jan 1

Two 9-3 teams with dangerous running backs in Knowshon Moreno for the Bulldogs and Javon Ringer for the Spartans. It should be a nice morning appetizer before the Rose Bowl.

Holiday Bowl
Oklahoma State. vs. Oregon, Dec 30

There’s one thing for sure I can tell you about this game: these teams will both score a lot of points. Oklahoma State had the misfortune to be stuck in the Big 12 South with Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech, but they are a dangerous team. If you like offense, you should love this game. If you like defense, you will probably cry.

Cotton Bowl
Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, Jan 2

Texas Tech missed out on a BCS bowl, despite being 11-1. Ole Miss is the only team to beat Florida, and only lost by 4 to Alabama. Texas Tech will score points, but Ole Miss has played well against some top teams, and could pull the upset if the Red Raiders think too much about missing the BCS.

Chick-fil-a Bowl
LSU vs. Georgia Tech, Dec 31

Georgia Tech runs the flexbone offense, a modern derivative of the wishbone. I love to watch their offense, which features one of the scariest running attacks in the country. I will tune in for the second half (after KU beats Minnesota).

Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii vs. Notre Dame, Dec 24

The dictionary defines ‘schadenfreude’ as ‘satisfaction or pleasure felt at another’s misfortune’. Watching a 6-6 Notre Dame team lose to Hawaii on Christmas Eve definitely qualifies.

Games to Have On in the Background:

GMAC Bowl
Tulsa vs. Ball State, Jan 6

It’s played after January 1, so it must be important, right? These are not big name teams, but Ball State is 12-1, and Tulsa is 10-3, and there should be a lot of points, and maybe even a close game. A wild finish would be nice. I almost put this in the Watch category.

Outback Bowl
Iowa vs. South Carolina, Jan 1

I have a friend who’s a big Iowa fan. If I move this game any lower he will kill me.

Meineke Car Care Bowl
West Virginia vs. North Carolina, Dec 27

I will tune in just to watch Pat White run the spread option one last time.

Sun Bowl
Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh, Dec 31

This game seems like it should be higher. Both teams have exciting running backs in Jacquizz Rogers for OSU and LeSean McCoy for Pitt, but I just can’t see rushing home to see this one. I watched Oregon State blow a chance to clinch a Rose Bowl berth by electing not to tackle any Oregon player and losing 65-38. So I just can’t summon the energy to watch this team again.

Emerald Bowl
Miami vs. California, Dec 27

I used to be a Miami fan when I was a little kid. I liked the smoke they used to run through when they left the tunnel. There must be some residual attraction that prevents me from dumping this game in the bottom section, because the more I look at it, the more I think it probably belongs there.

Armed Forces Bowl
Air Force vs. Houston, Dec 31

At least there is some contrast in styles here. Air Force runs the flexbone, which I love to watch, and Houston was one of the first teams to run the spread, starting way back with David Klingler in the 90s. The teams aren’t terribly exciting, but at least there will be some strange formations to try out the next day on the Playstation.

Music City Bowl
Boston College vs. Vanderbilt, Dec 31

No one on Vanderbilt’s team was alive the last time they went to a bowl (1982). Root for the underdog.

New Mexico Bowl
Colorado State vs. Fresno State, Dec 20

I will watch this because it’s first, and I can’t go very long without football. That is pretty much the only reason I will watch.

Is this really a Bowl Game?

Gator Bowl
Nebraska vs. Clemson, Jan 1

These teams are supposed to be good, but they are both mediocre at best. Just because the schools have big names does not mean they have good teams.

Champs Sports Bowl
Wisconsin vs. Florida St, Dec 27

See ‘Gator Bowl’ above.

Las Vegas Bowl
BYU vs. Arizona, Dec 20

BYU already played Pac 10 teams Washington and UCLA and won, and now we have to watch them play another one? Not if I have the remote.

Papa John’s Bowl
North Carolina State vs. Rutgers, Dec 29

If I somehow end up watching this game, I’m going to order Pizza Hut out of spite.

Humanitarian Bowl
Maryland vs. Nevada, Dec 30

How can they call watching these two teams play on blue turf in Boise, Idaho ‘humanitarian’? It’s downright cruel.

Eagle Bank Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Navy, Dec 20

They played already. Navy won 24-17.

Liberty Bowl
Kentucky vs. East Carolina, Jan 2

East Carolina started the season hot, with wins over Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Then they faded. I haven’t paid attention since, and I’m not about to start now (although I did watch them beat Tulsa in the Conference USA title game, but I was jonesing for football really bad).

International Bowl
Buffalo vs. Connecticut, Jan 3

Sounds like a hockey game. It’s in Toronto, so maybe it is a hockey game.

Texas Bowl
Rice vs. Western Michigan, Dec 30

I don’t know what these teams’ records are. Frankly, I don’t want to know.

Independence Bowl
Northern Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech, Dec 28

This is supposed to be a Big 12-SEC game, but they didn’t have enough bowl eligible teams. Thanks a lot.

Magic Jack St. Petersburg Bowl
Memphis vs. South Florida, Dec 20

This game missed out on being first by two hours, so I will not watch. Nor will I ask what a ‘magic jack’ is, because I do not care.

Motor City Bowl
Florida Atlantic vs. Central Michigan, Dec 26

This might be the best thing happening in Detroit right now. Still not watching.

New Orleans Bowl
Southern Mississippi vs. Troy, Dec 21

There’s a New Orleans Bowl? Why? Isn’t the Sugar Bowl enough?

Well, there you have it. Out of 29 non-BCS games, I’m planning on watching 8, and that includes two games with my favorite teams (KU and whoever’s playing Missouri). There are 8 more games I will watch if I’m sitting around with nothing to do. That leaves 13 games that are not even worth the effort to press a button on the remote.

Unless it’s the OFF button.

Is it time for a playoff yet?