Here at the Sickos Committee, we wanted to do something interesting for our bowl game previews. We wanted to give a brief history of the game and then wanted to rate the Sickos nature of each Bowl Game in a way we hope is unique to Bowl Season. We rated certain aspects of each Bowl from 1 to 5 (1 meaning the lowest rating and 5 meaning the highest rating). 

The aspects the Sickos Committee wished to rate were as follows:

Logo History: We wanted to see where they started with their Bowl logo.

Current Logo: We wanted to see where they are currently at with their Bowl logo. 

Location: Self explanatory - Where is the game being played. 

First Bowl Played: We just wanted to let you know how old the bowl game was.

Match-up: Team vs Team. 

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: What Conference vs What Conference normally or if it had to change this year. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: What glorious company decided to sponsor this Bowl. 

Sicko-ness of Game: We attempt to explain how Sicko this game is or how Sicko this game could potentially be. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: Some Bowls dump interesting things on the game winning coach. We rate those here. 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Most Bowls will just dump Gatorade like normal games. This is a Bowl Game, there should be something unique to dump on the game-winning coach, we explore options for the Bowl Game to change what they dump. Did we just say dump in three straight sentences? (make it 4) You’re damn right we did. 

Bowl Trophy: We rate the Bowl Trophy for the winning team based on how cool the trophy would be to have in your trophy case. Honestly, who cares about the prestige of the game itself, we want some cool hardware with our Bowl win. 

Do we base this criteria on anything factual or do we make it up as we go? You can be the judge.

Will these ratings be anything you can base the Sicko-ness of a game? Maybe. 

The Committee hopes you enjoy Part 2 of our Bowl Previews!

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Logo History: Has had the same logo for all 3 years of its existence

Current Logo: 

Location: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC. Coastal Carolina’s Teal Turf - 4.25 out of 5.

First Bowl Played: 2020 - App St 56, North Texas 28

Match-up: UConn (6-6) vs Marshall (8-4)

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: UConn takes a slot from typical tie-ins MAC or CUSA. Three points for abnormal tie-in, one for bowl eligible UConn. 4 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: No title sponsor officially listed so let’s assume the City of Myrtle Beach. It’s no Elk Grove Village, Illinois, but deserves credit for being an interesting city and not sponsored by an obvious grift. 3.5 out of 5.

Sicko-ness of Game:  Bowl eligible UConn against a Sun Belt team that beat Notre Dame and lost to Bowling Green in consecutive weeks this season. 5 out of 5.

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: IDK, Gatorade? 1 out of 5.

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: It’s Myrtle Beach. Sand if you’re feeling vanilla, strip mall daiquiris if you want to spice it up. Just make sure it’s teal colored. 3 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy: 

The silver football from the Super Bowl Trophy on top of an pedestal from the back aisles of IKEA is the most low effort “ESPN told us we need to give something out after the game” trophy possible. Should be a jet-ski or custom airbrushed t-shirts of the winning team’s mascot. 0.5 out of 5

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo:  

It’s the only bowl with chives in its logo. 

Location: Albertsons Stadium in Boise. Idaho. Cold weather bowl game on blue turf. 5 out of 5.

First Bowl Played: 1997

Match-up: San Jose State vs Eastern Michigan. 

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: Mountain West vs MAC - 5 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: It’s sponsored by Potatoes. A Bowl Game sponsored by Potatoes. There is a Potato mascot named Spuddy Buddy. People have been seen in the stands eating raw potatoes. What is not to like about this game? Do you hate potatoes? 5 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness of Game: Rematch of the 1987 California Bowl. The only bowl game win in Eastern Michigan’s history which was allegedly very controversial and has two different broadcasts of the game on YouTube complete with commercials. San Jose State fans are apparently still mad about that game. Who doesn’t love bitter rivals you’ve only played once? 5 out of 5. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: A Gatorade Container of French Fries. 7 out of 5. 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach:  Dumping fries on the winning coach is amazing and who are we to change perfection? However, maybe they can change the  type of potatoes they dump. Maybe one year its hash browns and then next year they change it up to tater tots. Then the year after that they can change it to julienne potatoes. 

Bowl Trophy:

It’s literally a Potato Bowl. A bowl holding potatoes on a trophy stand. Everything is potatoes and this trophy has potatoes. Also, it has a little Potato Bowl Logo trophy for the MVP of the game. This trophy is no nonsense straight to the point and the point is potatoes. 5 out of 5 potato rating. 

Boca Raton Bowl 

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location: 3/5 - It’s a bowl game at a college stadium in Florida! No not that one, or that one, or that one, or that other one, or the sequel of the other one. 

First Bowl Played: 2014

Matchup: Liberty vs Toledo

Sicko-ness of the Matchup: 2/5 Independent vs MAC

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: 5/5 Roofclaim.com is definitely not an insurance scam. Nope. But you definitely have some damage from that last storm. Probably should file a claim.

Sicko-ness of Game: 3.75/5 Liberty is decent, but they are missing their coach. Toledo are the MAC Champions. It’s the Boca Raton of bowl matchups.

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: 1/5 Gatorade

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: 1/5 They could dump insurance claim forms on them? 

Bowl Trophy:

1/5. This is boring but it’s not making me angry like the Fenway Bowl trophy so it is automatically better than that. Honestly I’m still angry about that one. So this is a one because at least it makes sense. 

The New Orleans Bowl

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location:  The Louisiana Superdome, in New Orleans, LA. (Don’t care about the real sponsor of the dome, it is the Louisiana Superdome to me at all times.) 7 out of 5 for location.  

First Bowl Played: 2001

Matchup: South Alabama vs Western Kentucky

Sicko-ness of the Matchup:  Sun Belt vs C-USA. 5 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: When you think about New Orleans, you always think about Trucking Logistics. R&L Carriers will drive this home with a classic ad from something around 2004 that they have always played for the history of the bowl game. We really hope they never change their ad for this game. Can I find that particular ad on YouTube? No it’s that old. It is very soothing and comforting that this trucking company has been woven into the fabric of this game and I look forward to this ad every single year. Does the sponsor make sense? No. That on Sicko-ness alone gets it a 4 out of 5.  

Sicko-ness of Game:  BIG RED ON BOURBON STREET!! 10 out of 5. BIG RED ON THE SIDELINES!!! 10 out of 5. The actual game 10-2 South Alabama and 8-5 Western Kentucky potential for fireworks here and an actual legit fun game. 4.5 out of 5 for the actual game. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach:  Gatorade 1 out of 5. 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach:  It is New Orleans. You could dump a big container of Hurricanes from Pat O’Briens, you could dump hand grenades from Tropical Isle, you could dump daiquiris from all the drive thru daiquiri shops, you could dump a Crawfish Boil or maybe fake plastic crawfish boil items. Maybe dump beignets from Cafe Du Monde. I don’t know… MAYBE A BUCKET OF MARDI GRAS BEADS AND DOUBLOONS?? Plenty of opportunities here. 10 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:  

Ok, this one is a weirdly unique styled one. The trophy used to just be the base with a model of the Louisiana Superdome. Now, they’ve built a double decker trophy with columns of frosted glass with various etchings of the city of New Orleans on this glass. Then they added a standard silver football on top of the etched glass columns. I feel like they need some lights here with the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold behind the glass for a perfect 5 out of 5. However, right now, it's an awkward carry but it is interesting enough for a 4.5 out of 5. 

ARMED FORCES BOWL

Logo History:

Current Logo: 

Location: Fort Worth, TX - Amon G. Carter Stadium, TCU’s stadium. Good solid standard Bowl location. Nice Facilities and on TCU’s campus. 3.5 out of 5. 

First Bowl Played: 2003

Matchup: Air Force vs Baylor

Sicko-ness of the Matchup: Mountain West vs Big XII - Solid bowl fun 3.5 out of 5.  

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating:  This is Lockheed Martin a defense and arms manufacturer. Fits the bowl name and as Air Force in the game. 5 out of 5. Please don’t hurt me Lockheed. 

Sicko-ness of Game:  Air Force is great and really not too Sicko of a team and they did win the Commander in Chief trophy this year. HOWEVER, Let’s talk about how SICKO this is for Baylor. They are forcing the Bears to go play in a Bowl Game in TCU’s stadium after TCU beat them in a walk-off fire drill field goal in Baylor’s stadium earlier this year. This is incredibly SICKO to make Baylor do this and I bet all TCU fans are loving this and all Baylor fans are happy with a bowl but are just doing anything to wish the game was somewhere besides TCU’s stadium. 8 out of 5. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: 1 out 5 Gatorade. 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Uhhhhh, I am not going to suggest anything else here. Gatorade is fine. 0 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy: 

This is like the stealth bomber became a Bowl Game trophy. 5 out of 5.

Independence Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo: 

Location: The Majestic city and the spiritual home of the Sickos Committee, Shreveport, Louisiana. 1,000,000,000 out of 5.

First Bowl Played: 1976 - On the Bicentennial, VERY FITTING. 

Match-up: An extremely weird rotation of tie-ins. The planned match-up this year was Army vs the American Conference, however, Army didn’t qualify so it is now Sun Belt vs American. 5 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: The Ragin Cajuns vs Houston in Shreveport. 5 out of 5. Love that they make I-10 dwelling cities travel north to I-20.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Radiance Technologies apparently is involved something called Directed Energy, including both high energy lasers and high power microwave. We hope they don’t bring any of these things to Shreveport, as Coach Dana Holgorsen could wind up becoming a supervillain like Hank Scorpio from the The Simpsons if he got his hands on one of these. Also, Radiance, we’re sorry, but this is and will ALWAYS be the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl. Also, remember the one year of the Duck Dynasty people sponsoring a bowl game? 5 out of 5 automatically because of the association with the Poulan Weed Eater.

Sicko-ness of Game: We have no clue what to expect from Houston in any game this year and we don’t know the next turn on the Cougar Coaster. Also, we do know that their coach may be in the various casinos in Shreveport or Bossier City. It should be attended pretty well we think since both schools are within reasonable driving distance. The Cajuns are having a down year but normally play well in bowl games. 4.25 out 5. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach:  1 out of 5 Gatorade. 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: How do you dump independence on someone? No idea. Maybe some red, white and blue confetti on the coach? 3 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:

Look at this trophy. An insanely large Double-Decker trophy with a giant eagle on top clutching its claws with an original American flag. Seeing this trophy makes me want to belt out Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” at the top of my lungs. Even Steve Spurrier is giving this trophy a thumbs up. You could not define Independence better in trophy form. 1776 out of 5.

The Gasparilla Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location: Tampa, FL in Raymond James Stadium. Fittingly it has a Pirate Ship in the stadium for this one too. It originally took place in the Tropicana Dome which was incredibly Sickos. This feels like a slight downgrade so let’s say 4 out of 5. 

First Bowl Played: 2008

Matchup: Missouri vs Wake Forest 

Sicko-ness of the Matchup: This bowl has the most complicated set of tie-ins. As of the 2020 football season, it could feature teams from eight different conferences as well as two independent, ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, AAC, C-USA, MAC, MWC, Army and BYU. The only conferences without tie-ins to this bowl are the Big Ten and the Sun Belt. The ultimate wild card game. 5 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Union Home Mortgage. When you think of Pirates, you immediately think of those predatory lenders who caused the financial collapse of 2007-2008, so in a way this fits. The Former sponsors of Beef O’Bradys, Magic Jack, Bitcoin and Bad Boy Mowers really used to make this Sicko game shine brighter. 4 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness of Game: We got a 6-6 SEC team vs a 7-5 ACC team. This is pretty Sicko when you think about the barely qualifying teams from the SEC and ACC. The two teams present a clash of styles. Wake tends to score a good bit but Mizzou will just drag you down into a fight. A fight actually happened in this bowl game between Marshall and FIU in 2011. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: 1 out of 5 - Gatorade.  

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach:  Gasparilla is basically a boat parade Mardi Gras, so fake gold coins and fake pirate treasure could be an option here (see trophy below). 3.5 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:

IT’S A TREASURE CHEST!! THE MVP GETS A SMALLER TREASURE CHEST!! 7 out of 5. 

The Hawaii Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo: 

Location:  Clarence T. C. Ching Athletics Complex, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Honolulu, Hawaii.  Hawaii for a Bowl Game? I mean automatic 5 out of 5.  

First Bowl Played: 2002 - Don’t get it confused with many other variations of bowl games played in Hawaii. *really fast end of commercial voice*

The Hawaii Bowl is not affiliated with other bowl games previously staged in Hawaii: the Poi Bowl (1936–1939), Pineapple Bowl (1940–1941, 1947–1952), Aloha Bowl (1982–2000), and Oahu Bowl (1998–2000), or the Hula Bowl all-star game (1960–2008, and resuming in 2020). While the Aloha Bowl tried to move to San Francisco, California, and was decertified by the NCAA, the Oahu Bowl was moved to Seattle, Washington, and was held for two years as the Seattle Bowl before losing certification in 2002.

Matchup: MTSU vs. San Diego State

Sicko-ness of the Matchup: MWC vs AAC (Hawaii if bowl-eligible and not in CFP bowl) It is basically Hawaii vs the American. However, this year they had to do the Mountain West vs C-USA.  4.25 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: We’re giving Easypost a 5 out of 5 just based on last year’s performance of live tweeting a canceled game. 

Sicko-ness of Game: 7-5 vs 7-5. Solid Bowl game. San Diego State, one of the worst offenses in FBS but a fantastic defense. MTSU has a good offense (scores 29 ppg) but not too great of a defense (allows 28 ppg). Should be fun Christmas Eve Bowl Game action. 4.25 out of 5. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: Gatorade 1 out of 5. 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach:  You could dump Hawaiian Punch but that would likely just look like Gatorade and it would be tough to tell by the untrained eye. Some could think it was Delaware Punch too. Maybe dump some poy or hawaiian sauce? Or maybe dump a container of leis? Or how about this you dump pineapple juice on the winning coach, you replace their lei and then you hand them a Mai Tai? We got some room here. 4.5 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:

It’s a bronzed Football Pineapple on what looks to be a green marble base for the trophy with a finely sculpted glass backdrop surrounding the football. This feels incredibly Hawaiian and ties to the bowl game perfectly. Also, that football pineapple looks delicious. Maybe I just need to eat lunch instead of continuing to type these bowl game previews. 5 out of 5.