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 5 of our Bowl Preview!

GATOR BOWL

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL. Duvaaaallllll.

First Bowl Played:  1946

Match-up: Notre Dame (8-4) vs South Carolina (8-4)

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: The Gator Bowl has tie-ins with the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC, and was scheduled to be an ACC-SEC match-up this year. Notre Dame takes the ACC slot after going undefeated in ACC play this year. More importantly, Notre Dame fans now get to experience Jacksonville after already going to Las Vegas earlier this season. 4 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: It’s an online tax filing service. Some credit must be given for returning to the Gator Bowl name after being simply the Tax Slayer Bowl from 2014-2017. 1.5 out of 5

Sicko-ness of Game: Two teams that took the scenic route to 8-4. South Carolina scored 16 combined points in losses to Missouri and Florida, but finished the season by blowing the doors off of Tennessee and winning a close one against Clemson.  Notre Dame opened the season with back to back losses to Ohio State on the road and Marshall at home.  The game in which they gave up more points is not the one you’d expect. They also lost to Stanford, but beat both ACC title game participants over the course of the season. This game could be anything, doubly so given the history of the Gator Bowl. 5 out of 5.  

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: Gatorade, probably. Somewhat appropriate given the name of the bowl, although the name predates the drink. 2 out of 5 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Dunk him in the pool on the upper deck of the stadium. 4 out of 5

Bowl Trophy: It’s a polished silver football on a silver stand.

Somehow used to look even more like the Super Bowl trophy than the current edition. 2 out of 5. 

ARIZONA BOWL

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ 

First Bowl Played: 2015

Match-up: Wyoming (7-5) vs Ohio (9-4)

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

Sicko-ness of the Sponsor:  We’re really not sure how to rate the sponsor here. There are a few reasons but namely they are the sponsor and the broadcasting media for the game. 

Sicko-ness of Game: Ohio only needed one season to find their footing after Frank Solich’s retirement before roaring back to a 9-4 record and winning the MAC East. Wyoming also had a strong season, remaining in contention to win the MW West until a late season loss to Boise. Wyoming and Ohio have played two games in their history, a home-and-home in 2007 and 2008. Both games were one point Wyoming wins. Two strong teams coming off good seasons with a history of close games, should be a great one. 4 out of 5.

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach:  Furniture? Sawdust? Cacti? We don’t know. 1 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy: Made by a local Tucson artist, a blown glass football shape on a short pedestal with the bowl logo hovering above it on a hidden pillar. The color and opacity of the glass has varied over the years due to the handmade nature of the trophy. I honestly love this trophy. 5 out of 5. Here was the version that was supposed to be handed out last year before the game’s cancellation.

ORANGE BOWL

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location: Miami Gardens, Florida - Hard Rock Cafe Stadium.

First Bowl Played: 1935

Match-up: Clemson vs Tennessee

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: ACC (1999–present) vs SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame. Really not too Sickos here. Only when we really get a weird ACC Champion does this get a little Sickos. 1 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Capital One. A Credit Card company. I mean really not Sicko here but they will repeat the same commercials over and over which could make you go a little mad during the game. 2 out of 5.

Sicko-ness of Game:  The Orange Bowl is a classic New Years Six bowl and really not Sickos here. But this is a chance for the Orangest Orange Bowl ever. Clemson and Tennessee need to go ORANGE vs ORANGE and just blind everyone trying to watch the game. If they play it normal, 1 out of 5. ORANGE vs ORANGE?? 100 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 go with Orange Juice. Or how about this, you have the coach sit under large juicer and each player gets to toss an Orange from the Orange Bowl trophy into the juicer which then dumps on the coach. 4 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy:

A classic trophy for a classic game. A Giant Bowl filled with Oranges. Nothing crazy here. 3.5 out of 5.

MUSIC CITY BOWL

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

First Bowl Played: 1998

Match-up: Kentucky (7-5) vs Iowa (7-5)

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: Big Ten vs SEC. Nothing inherently Sicko here about the bowl tie-ins, which is the last time we’ll be saying that about this game. 2 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: TransPerfect is a New York City based translation and language services company that sponsors a bowl game in Nashville. Points for uniqueness and cultural exchange. 4 out of 5.

Sicko-ness of Game: It’s wire-to-wire Sickos #1 team Iowa,  starting a quarterback that has never thrown a pass in college, backed up by a true freshman who has also never thrown a pass. Kentucky also struggled offensively down the stretch of the season, leading to this game opening at an over/under of 32.5, even before Iowa backup (and likely starter for the bowl) Alex Padilla entered the transfer portal and Will Levis opted out. The banner Sickos game of this bowl season has only gotten more so with each new development. 10 out of 5. 

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Bottomless mimosas from Broadway? Nothing especially inspired. 2 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy:

The music note worked into the football shape in the cap is a good touch. The base and main body of the trophy are granite patterned, but likely only laminate given how easily solo players have been able to lift and celebrate with the trophy in the past. Would love a solid rock trophy, but overall a well above average effort. 3.75 out of 5.

SUGAR BOWL

Bowl Name: Sugar Bowl

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location:  New Orleans, LA

First Bowl Played:  1935

Match-up: Alabama vs. Kansas State

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: Sometimes a playoff, but usually SEC vs. Big 12, which is always a great game. 4/5

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Allstate is insurance, but not even the fun potentially fraudulent kind. 0/5

Sicko-ness of Game: We get to watch Alabama try to get excited to play for a non-national title while Kansas State is coming in high off of beating the Frogs in Dallas. 4/5

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: Gatorade.

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Molten sugar aka Caramel. Maybe actual sugar? How about just a Gatorade container of all the sugar packets you’ve been stealing from the restaurants every time you go out to eat? You don’t think we didn’t see you stuff those in your pockets or your purse? We all saw. 3.75 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy:

A fancy teapot or sugar pot on top of an outline of the Superdome. Is it weird that the New Orleans Bowl and the Sugar Bowl both have miniature models of the Superdome in each one of their trophies? Anyway, a classic trophy you can show off to your Blue Blood college football pals. 4.25 out of 5.

FIESTA BOWL (SEMIFINAL)

Logo History:

Current Logo:

Location: Glendale, AZ

First Bowl Played: 1971

Match-up: TCU vs. Michigan

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: Sometimes a playoff game, otherwise no tie in besides NY6. 0/5

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: How is Vrbo different then AirBnB besides missing more vowels? 2/5

Sicko-ness of Game: This should be an absolute banger. TCU with only one loss, Michigan with no losses. Not sickos at all, 0/5.

What is Dumped on the winning Coach: Gatorade now, but it used to be Tostitos when this thing had a real sponsor 0/5 

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach: Sand, from the desert, because it’s rough and coarse and gets everywhere. 3 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy:

Going to be honest here, the only thing I remember about this trophy was the fancy gold football. OH MY DRINK THIS TROPHY IN. You got a square base with 4 Silver football players holding up a smaller square base, then you got 4 bronzed football players looking like they are about to tackle you surrounding this bronzed glass rotunda looking thing which is ultimately holding up the fancy gold football. This trophy is amazing and looks like it could weigh a lot. (UPDATE IT WEIGHS 285 LBS) We give it an 8 out of 5 just based on the total number of football players alone and then add in the gold football two point conversion for a solid 10 out of 5 rating.

PEACH BOWL (SEMIFINAL)

Logo History: 

Current Logo: 

Location:  Mercedes Benz Stadium - Atlanta, GA.

First Bowl Played:  1968

Match-up: Ohio State vs Georgia

Sicko-ness of the Match-up: It’s typically ACC vs SEC when it is not a playoff like this year. Not inherently Sicko. 0.5 out of 5.

Sicko-ness Sponsor Rating: Chik Fil-A. A Chicken fast food restaurant. I don’t think they have anything peach on their menu. Maybe some weird summertime Peach shake I guess.

Sicko-ness of Game: It’s a playoff game. Not Sickos. 0 our of 5.

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

Opportunity to Dump Something Different on the Coach:  Maybe dump some sweet tea from Chik Fil-A? How about you open a bunch of canned peaches and dump them into a Gatorade container then dump all those peaches on the coach. 4 out of 5.

Bowl Trophy:

One giant sloped column holding a metallic silver football. The Football is detachable. Just a classic fancy trophy to show off to your Blue Blood college football friends. 4.25 out of 5.