Bowl game season starts today and so of course, does my mascot article. You know the drill- I pit the mascots of the two competing teams against each other and decide who is going to win based on that. With this unusual season, things are sure to change and Covid spikes could definitely affect which teams actually get to play in these bowl games, but this is the list as of right now. Now, let's sit back, relax, and watch some football.
Myrtle Beach Bowl- Appalachian State vs. North Texas
https://twitter.com/appstatesports/status/1338228911705108481/photo/4
The Matchup: Mountaineers vs. Mean Green
Winner: Appalachian State (couldn't find a good picture)
Am I supposed to be scared of a color?
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl- Nevada vs. Tulane
https://twitter.com/NevadaFootball/status/1337619413315452933/photo/4
The Matchup: Wolfpack vs. Green Wave
Winner: Nevada (couldn't find a good picture)
Green wave? Is it slime from the Kids' Choice Awards?
Boca Raton Bowl- UCF vs. BYU
https://twitter.com/BYU/status/1245469766736740352/photo/1
The Matchup: Knights vs. Cougars
Winner: BYU
Not only would BYU's mascot win in a classic fight, they'd also win in a dance battle.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl- Georgia Southern vs. Louisiana Tech
https://twitter.com/GeorgiaSouthern/status/1142064594262921216/photo/1
The Matchup: Eagles vs. Bulldogs
Winner: Georgia Southern
We have two of the most boring and overused mascots on the planet here, but I give the slight edge to the one that can fly.
Montgomery Bowl- Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis
https://twitter.com/joeysulipeck/status/1210969123955589122/photo/1
The Matchup: Owls vs. Tigers
Winner: Memphis
Hey, both these animals are in Winnie the Pooh- how weird.
New Mexico Bowl- Hawaii vs. Houston
https://twitter.com/UHCougars/status/1063174806592466944/photo/1
The Matchup: Rainbow Warriors vs. Cougars
Winner: Houston
I would give the dub to Hawaii, but I don't know for sure if the mascot is tied to Native Hawaiian culture and therefore would be deemed offensive, so I'm going to have to go for the ferocious felines.
Camellia Bowl- Buffalo vs. Marshall
https://twitter.com/wchs8fox11/status/585071728839286784/photo/1
The Matchup: Bulls vs. Thundering Herd
Winner: Marshall
I was expecting this to be a buffalo vs. bison matchup, but oddly enough Buffalo's mascot is actually the bull.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl- South Carolina vs. UAB
https://twitter.com/UABNews/status/1081933162098364417/photo/1
The Matchup: Gamecocks vs. Blazers
Winner: UAB
UAB is going to smoke their competition... see what I did there?
Cure Bowl- Coastal Carolina vs. Liberty
https://twitter.com/LibertyFootball/status/1335280144764833792/photo/4
The Matchup: Chanticleers vs. Flames/Eagles
Winner: Liberty (couldn't find a good picture)
Sometimes the team you like better just doesn't win- this seems like a metaphor for life or something.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl- UTSA vs. Louisiana
https://twitter.com/RaginCajunsFB/status/1338181970346520577/photo/4
The Matchup: Roadrunners vs. Ragin' Cajuns
Winner: Louisiana (couldn't find a good picture)
As a Trumble Park elementary Roadrunner I'd love to give UTSA the win, but unfortunately I'm not judging these matchups on sentimental value.
LendingTree Bowl- Georgia State vs. Western Kentucky
https://twitter.com/GeorgiaStateU/status/1218982138260926464/photo/1
The Matchup: Panthers vs. Hilltoppers
Winner: Georgia State
Can someone explain to me what a Hilltopper is?
Cheez-It Bowl- Miami vs. Oklahoma State
https://twitter.com/UM_Sebastian/status/1303359249205080065/photo/1
The Matchup: Hurricanes vs. Cowboys
Winner: Miami
They might use an Ibis on the field (and yes, that's what this type of bird is), but their real mascot is known to be pretty unstoppable.
Valero Alamo Bowl- Texas vs. Colorado
https://twitter.com/CUBuffs/status/1247239913973493760/photo/1
The Matchup: Longhorns vs. Buffaloes
Winner: Colorado
In the battle of cow vs. non-domesticated cow, I'm going to have to give it to the more wild of the two.
Duke's Mayo Bowl- Wake Forest vs. Wisconsin
https://twitter.com/DemonDeacons/status/1261642558188462081
The Matchup: Demon Deacons vs. Badgers
Winner: Wake Forest
This man has God on his side.
TransPerfect Music City Bowl- Mizzou vs. Iowa
https://twitter.com/Mizzou/status/1216866778934059009/photo/1
The Matchup: Tigers vs. Hawkeyes
Winner: Mizzou
Haha, you lose, Iowa.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic- Oklahoma vs. Florida
https://twitter.com/NYDNSports/status/855083299819204610/photo/1
The Matchup: Sooners vs. Gators
Winner: Florida
Alexa, play "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John (I know it's not the same thing, but you get the picture).
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl- Mississippi State vs. Tulsa
https://twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/1167406615059824645/photo/1
The Matchup: Bulldogs vs. Golden Hurricane
Winner: Tulsa
Ignore whatever this man is above and focus on the fact that their mascot sounds like the fancier version of Miami's.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl- Tennessee vs. West Virginia
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/651928928932732928/photo/1
The Matchup: Volunteers vs. Mountaineers
Winner: West Virginia
I'm sensing a theme with the suffixes of these two mascots.
Arizona Bowl- Ball State vs. San Jose State
https://twitter.com/SanJoseStateFB/status/1340470416305844225/photo/2
The Matchup: Cardinals vs. Spartans
Winner: San Jose State (couldn't find a good picture)
Can't win if your mascot isn't even real, Ball State. #Birdsaren'treal
Texas Bowl- Arkansas vs. TCU
https://twitter.com/RazorbackFB/status/1337759611135332358/photo/1
The Matchup: Razorbacks vs. Horned Frogs
Winner: Arkansas (couldn't find a good picture)
Oink, oink, oink, we have a winner.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl- Cincinnati vs. Georgia
https://twitter.com/Enquirer/status/1035886515488882689/photo/1
The Matchup: Bearcats vs. Bulldogs
Winner: Cincinnati
Bears, & cats, & bulldogs, oh my!
Vrbo Citrus Bowl- Northwestern vs. Auburn
https://twitter.com/NUFBFamily/status/1340387252741021696/photo/1
The Matchup: Wildcats vs. Tigers
Winner: Northwestern (couldn't find a good picture)
When the matchup is this close, I've got to just pick the team I like best, so... <3 Northwestern.
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl- NC State vs. Kentucky
https://twitter.com/WFMY/status/898918786593640448/photo/1
The Matchup: Wolfpack vs. Wildcats
Winner: NC State
Being thrown to the wolves isn't a saying for nothing.
Outback Bowl- Indiana vs. Ole Miss
https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/916357969775857664/photo/1
The Matchup: Hoosiers vs. Rebels/Landsharks
Winner: Ole Miss (couldn't find a good picture of the actual mascot, but this is close enough)
No matter how much this one pains me (and it truly does), I have to give it to TSUN.
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl- Oregon vs. Iowa State
https://twitter.com/kevinjairaj/status/887353325754122243/photo/1
The Matchup: Ducks vs. Cyclones
Winner: Iowa State
What is with schools with natural disaster mascots using birds on the field? That is one weird coincidence.
Capital One Orange Bowl- North Carolina vs. Texas A&M
https://twitter.com/aadelsonESPN/status/673297769415643136/photo/1
The Matchup: Tarheels/Rams vs. Aggies
Winner: North Carolina
I expect a PowerPoint from Jimbo Fisher himself explaining to me what exactly an aggie is, and then we'll talk.
Allstate Sugar Bowl- Clemson vs. Ohio State
https://twitter.com/TayStern/status/1216941443052462080/photo/1
The Matchup: Tigers vs. Buckeyes
Winner: Clemson
This is a pretty lopsided matchup.
Rose Bowl- Alabama vs. Notre Dame
https://twitter.com/UofAlabama/status/1079565330899521540/photo/1
The Matchup: Crimson Tide/Elephants vs. The Fighting Irish
Winner: Alabama
I don't think Notre Dame has the luck of the Irish on this one.
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T- Clemson vs. Alabama
https://twitter.com/TayStern/status/1216941443052462080/photo/1
The Matchup: Tigers vs. Crimson Tide/Elephants
Winner: Clemson
I hate to make my favorite animal lose but some things just have to happen, I guess.
A Girl And Her Pen
'Tis The Season! How To Thrive on Green Beer Day
Exploring The Expectations
