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 game 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 3 of our Bowl Preview!

Quick Lane Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location: Ford Field Detroit, Michigan - If it's good enough for the MAC Championship, it’s good enough for a Bowl Game - 5 out of 5. 

First Bowl Played: 2014. We know there have been bowl games in Detroit, at the Lions stadium every year since 1997, but they wanted a newer fancier bowl with better bowl tie-ins than the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl was getting so they made a new one.

Match-up: New Mexico State vs Bowling Green. 

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: 4/5. They ended the old one which was Big Ten vs MAC in order to create a Big Ten vs ACC game and throw the MAC out of this game. However the Big Ten and the ACC rarely had enough teams to fill the match-up so MAC teams usually got selected to fill the slot. And now it’s officially a Big Ten vs MAC match-up again, but again the Big Ten couldn’t fill the spot so we got an Independent New Mexico State in the game. In the history of this Big Ten/ACC game we only got 3 Big Ten/ACC match-ups. The MAC will have played in this game more times than the Big Ten after this game. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Quick Lane is a Ford owned Auto Center so depending on your opinion of Ford Motors your opinion on how Sicko this is could change. I’m giving it a 4/5.

Sicko-ness of Game: Two teams 6-6. New Mexico State started 1-5 and then they finished 5-1. This was after the Commissioner visited Las Cruces, we won’t talk about the game that happened when the Commissioner was there though. Bowling Green made a Bowl game for the first time since 2015. They should both be excited to be here which should make it a good game. 5/5.

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: 3/5. Motor Oil is not the easiest thing to clean up so I understand why the stadium or coach might not want that. We know the Lions rarely use the stadium into January (forgive us Lions fans, we love you) but we really don’t need an oil spill in Ford Field. Maybe they could dump a Gatorade container of those tree shaped air fresheners on the winning coach, do they make a Football Coach Scent?

Bowl Trophy:

4.75 out of 5. Quick Lane is offering the well known Buy 3 Tires Get 1 Tire Free deal with this trophy, but in reverse. Win this game and you get 3 tires, but you’ll have to buy the 4th for the trophy case. Who wouldn’t love this stack of fake tires as a trophy?? Although, we deducted .25 from the score since we have to buy the 4th tire. 

Camellia Bowl

Logo History:

 Current Logo:

Location: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL.

First Bowl Played: 2014

Match-up: Georgia Southern (6-6) vs Buffalo (6-6)

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: Nominally, Sun Belt vs. MAC. Actually, Sun Belt vs. MAC. No unusual tie-ins this year, but historically a very competitive bowl game.  Georgia State’s blowout of Ball State in 2021 was the first time this game wasn’t decided by one score. 2 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Another bowl game sponsored by tax preparation software, in this case TaxAct, which also sponsors the Texas Bowl. Noteworthy only for not putting the sponsor name in the title or logo of the bowl game. 1 out of 5.

Sicko-ness of Game: A brand new match-up, as these teams have never played before. Both teams needed wins in the final week of their season to become eligible, with Southern winning a shootout over App State on rivalry weekend in double OT, and Buffalo squeaking by Akron in a rescheduled game on conference championship weekend. 

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: Reportedly camellia flower petals, but I can’t find any photo proof. Original, photogenic, and makes your Coach smell good for the trophy presentation, in theory. 5 out of 5, pending proof of dumping.

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Flower petals if rumors are not true. Otherwise, minimal room for improvement while staying within the theme of the bowl. 1 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:

Another silver football on a pedestal, but points for heft, I guess. Not a fan of the metallic shape on the front face. We’d like an actual bowl with some engraved camellia flowers because I mean it is the namesake of the Bowl game. 1.5 out of 5.

SERVPRO F1RST RESPONDER BOWL

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location:  Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Not former president Gerald Ford) on SMU’s Campus, University Park, TX. Nice new stadium - 3.75 out of 5. 

First Bowl Played: 2011 

Match-up:  Memphis vs Utah State

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: The normal bowl tie-ins are typically from the AAC, ACC, Big 12, C-USA. However this year, we got a Mountain West team. 4 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating:  This game used to be called the Ticket City Bowl, then the Heart of Dallas Bowl, now it’s called the F1RST Responder Bowl. The sponsor SERVPRO is a fire and water cleanup and restoration franchise in the United States and Canada. As well as large-scale disaster recovery. Basically, a company who comes and cleans up messes. We actually like messy football, but I guess someone cleaning up after natural disasters isn’t all that bad for a bowl sponsor. 3 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness of Game: 6-6 Utah State and 6-6 Memphis. Utah State has a few opt outs for the bowl game and they are down their starting QB. Memphis has been wild this year and we really never know what to expect from them. I have no clue how this game will go. 4 out of 5. 

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Really no clue what they could dump on the coach to associate with being a first responder. Mini Ambulance hot wheels? That’d hurt the coach and they’d likely then need an ambulance. Maybe just have the Fire Department come out in full fire gear and dump Gatorade on the coach? 1 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:

This looks like they welded two or three saws into a triangle and kept the saw handles to keep the trophy extremely carry-able. Then they place an alarm light on top of the trophy, which is absolutely amazing and it works!! You can turn the light off and on! This trophy seems like a break glass in case of a natural disaster Swiss army knife thing you could actually use in an emergency. Oh no we have a fire in our trophy room at our school, quick get the F1RST Responder Bowl trophy and it’ll help us escape and save others! 4.75 out of 5.

TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham Alabama. 3/5 It’s a nice stadium.

First Bowl Played: 2006

Match-up: Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: This match-up is supposed to be AAC vs SEC this year. That’s a 4/5. What we get is Sun Belt vs AAC, which is less fun. 3/5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: I had never been to TicketSmarter’s website since I usually use other sites for tickets, so in the name of research I decided to go and poke around. This website feels like it’s going to give me 1,000 viruses if I click on anything. It does feature the B1G, Pac12 and Bally Sports logos on the front page, which does not make me feel any better. 4/5.

Sicko-ness of Game: ECU is fun. You never know what they can do. Nearly beat NC State, but also lost to Navy. Coastal lost their coach and QB, so we don’t know what they’re bringing to Birmingham. 3/5.

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: I don’t want molten iron to be poured on anyone, but if we can get Orange Gatorade poured by the statue of Vulcan somehow that would be cool. 2/5.

Bowl Trophy:

Yes this is the trophy. Does this trophy have a back side? It most certainly does have a back side. 5/5. This trophy is awesome.

Oh. My. God. Sickos. Just look at that butt.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ. Home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Oh yeah, football on a baseball field. 5 out of 5. (Also the home of THAT Iconic Cheez-It Bowl)

First Bowl Played:  1989

Match-up: Oklahoma State vs Wisconsin

Sicko-ness of the Match-up:  Big XII vs Big Ten. Standard Conference match-up but its the barely bowl eligible teams from those conferences. 4 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: A Mortgage company headquartered out of Chicago. This feels like the sponsor wanted a vacation and yeah, we’d want to leave Chicago in the winter too. 3 out of 5.

Sicko-ness of Game: 6-6 Wisconsin and 7-5 Oklahoma State that feels like they are 6-6. The slumping Cowboys are down their starting QB as he entered the transfer portal and Wisconsin has an interim coach. All of this to take place in a baseball field in Arizona. 5 out of 5. Can’t wait to see what happens here. 

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: The Bowl logo has a cactus on it. Dumping cacti doesn’t seem like a good idea, although the thought of Mike Gundy getting cacti dumped on him would be kind of funny, it’d likely hurt. Maybe that could get some of those Arizona tea drinks into a Gatorade container or Cactus juice? Maybe they could dump all the adjustable rate mortgage documents on the winning coach? Really struggling here. 1.5 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:

Don’t mind the disembodied hands here. It’s a Cactus Shaped Field Goal Post on a simple pedestal. It doesn't try to do too much and executes a simple yet elegant theme of Arizona for the trophy. 4 out of 5.

Military Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location: Annapolis, Maryland. Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Military Bowl literally right next to Navy’s campus. You really can’t get more Military than this. 

First Bowl Played: 2008

Match-up: Duke vs UCF

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: The Conference Tie-ins are the ACC and the American conference. Since Navy is in the American Conference, it is almost like this bowl was made just for Navy to play in a home bowl game. Pretty standard bowl match-up but it is Power 5 vs G5 but the American likes to consider it Power 6. 

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Peratron is on the logo but they take second fiddle here by using the presented by Peratron. The company’s areas of service include space, intelligence, cybersecurity, defense, homeland security, and health. I mean it fits the theme but is really not too Sicko. 1 out of 5. 

Sicko-ness of Game: Making UCF leave Florida and go north to Annapolis is pretty Sicko. I’m sure many Duke grads already work in Washington DC may go to Annapolis to attend and Durham is about 4 ½ Hours away on a drive. Both teams are pretty good. Should be fun. However, Florida school in colder weather gets this one a 3.75 out of 5.  

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: How would you dump Military on someone? I’m not going to explore this one further. 0 out of 5. 

Bowl Trophy:

This trophy reminds me a little bit of the Land Grant Trophy. It’s like the Silver football is propped up in a little mini bookcase with some fancy painting on the outside of it. Seems like it’s got a little bit of weight to it. Solid trophy and nothing flashy. 3 out of 5. 

Liberty Bowl

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location: Philadelphia from 1959-1963, Atlantic City in 1964 and Memphis since 1965.

First Bowl Played:  1959

Match-up: Kansas vs Arkansas

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: Big 12 #4 Pick vs SEC Pool Pick or an alternate from the American. It seems pretty Sicko that Kansas is the 4th Pick in the Big XII?? Overall this game is pretty solid and fun but this year we got some Sicko elements. 3.75 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Give me Liberty or Give me Auto Zone. I think that would sound better with Give me Liberty or Give me Ooo Ooo Ooo O'Reillyyyyyy. Autozone is headquartered Memphis and sure it is a great sponsor but we really want this game to be sponsored by the Bass Pro Shop Pryamid. 3.75 out of 5.  

Sicko-ness of Game:  6-6 Kansas vs 6-6 Arkansas. This is extremely Sicko. Kansas in their first bowl game since 2008. Also, they are playing someone with Kansas in their name. Arkansas lost their defensive coordinator to UNLV. So maybe we get some pointsy shootout in Memphis? 5 out of 5.

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach:  We could go Walking in Memphis and get some BBQ Sauce to dump on the winning coach. We think Sam Pittman would likely enjoy the BBQ Sauce dump. Or maybe the Memphis staple of BBQ Spaghetti. That’d be hilarious to see a coach with BBQ spaghetti on their head. If you’re looking for Auto Zone related products, maybe some RainX or Tire Wet? Then you try to dump Gatorade on your Shiny Waterproof Coach. 4.5 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy: 

Let’s go direct from the website here: “An authentic, one-quarter-sized replica of the bell that rang in Independence Hall to announce the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It has the same nicked edges, foundry marks, misspelled inscription and even the famous crack—all crafted to maintain the integrity of the Bell in every detail.” They kept the Liberty Bowl name and trophy even though this is played in Memphis, TN. This reminds us of the other great sporting things that make no sense but kept the name even after they moved. It conjures up elements of the Minneapolis Lakers moving to Los Angeles, a land with no lakes. Or the New Orleans Jazz moving to Utah, where they don’t have any tradition of Jazz music. So in a sense, this makes sense. Also, it looks a little heavy. 5 out of 5.

Stay Tuned for Bowl Preview Part 4.