2015-2016 NCAA Football Bowl Odds Watchability Ranks

Clemson, Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma finished the regular season as the top-4 best teams in the nation, respectively, meaning we will be seeing the #1 Tigers take on the #4 Sooners in a College Football Playoff semifinal in the Capital One Orange Bowl, while the #2 Crimson Tide will face the #3 Michigan State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. Both NCAA football matchups are set to take place on December 31st, with college football betting enthusiasts waiting with bated breath to see which two teams will make it to the NCAAF Playoff Final. But what about the bowl games for the also-ran teams? Which games will be most watchable or least watchable? Here’s a rundown of how to tune in to the 40 college football bowl games, considering essential elements like quality, importance of game, rivalry of opponents and competitiveness, among other reasons.

Reviewing the 2015-2016 NCAA Football Bowl Odds Watchability Ranks

Complete bowl matchups: all 40 bowls, including 3 5-7 teams & an all MWC Arizona Bowl. Enjoy https://t.co/apvWi2eOpu

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) December 6, 2015

Best of the Best

1. Oklahoma vs. Clemson, ORANGE BOWL

2. Michigan State vs. Alabama, COTTON BOWL

Given that these games will decide the eventual finalists of this year’s national trophy and the team that will win it all, it is unquestionable that these will be the most watchable bowl games.

Best of the Rest

3. Notre Dame vs. Ohio State, FIESTA BOWL

Overrated or not, the bottom line is that the Bucks are still a good team, which should make for an interesting game against the Fighting Irish team that narrowly missed out on the playoffs after a solid run on the year (albeit hiccups due to key injuries).

4. Oregon vs. TCU, ALAMO BOWL

You are looking for an explosive offensive game that is highly likely to litter the scoreboard with mega scores and high-tempo plays, this is the matchup to watch.

5. Iowa vs. Stanford, ROSE BOWL

The Hawkeyes have been one of the most interestingly successful stories and balanced teams of the year, but it remains to be seen if they will have answers for Stanford’s defensive-minded and run-oriented attacking unit. Added to the glamour, beauty and tradition that comes with the Rose Bowl, your new year couldn’t be spent any better than watching this 5:00 PM thriller.

6. North Carolina vs. Baylor, RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL

Despite the injuries of some key players on both ends of the field, this game presents two impressive offensive teams in NC and Baylor, who are the two national leaders in yards per play, thus still promising a lot of fun on the field.

7. Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss, SUGAR BOWL

Ole Miss has made it to the New Year Six bowl for a consecutive time and most fans will be feeling it’s a big honor, given the Rebels started strongly but finished the season with three regular season losses like last year. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, can be considered as overachievers, as most people never pegged them to finish as one of the best teams in the Big 12. Don’t expect an explosive or highly entertaining encounter from the two teams, but the contrasting styles of play for the Cowboys and Rebels should be good enough to satisfy your football appetite on the night of January 1st.

8. Michigan vs. Florida, CITRUS BOWL

Two rookie SEC head coaches, Jim McElwain and Jim Harbaugh, will be squaring it off clashing in a mouthwatering encounter that will pit two of the best SEC defenses and two football programs that are hungry to finish the season on a high note. Had it not been for the fact that this Michigan vs. Florida matchup is not slated at the same time on New Year’s Day like the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game, this compelling confrontation could have ranked higher on this list.

9. Houston vs. Florida State, PEACH BOWL

Watching Jimbo Fisher of Florida State square it off against Tom Herman of Houston is guaranteed to be a cracker of a game, especially with both teams playing it out on a Thursday Noon game, as we await the playoff semifinals.

10. Utah vs. BYU, LAS VEGAS BOWL

Who would not want to watch Utah and BYU renew their recently discontinued rivalry on a Saturday afternoon? Definitely not me, and am guessing you feel the same way too.

Decently Watchable

11. Northwestern vs. Tennessee, OUTBACK BOWL 12. Nebraska vs. UCLA, FOSTER FARMS BOWL 13. USC vs. Wisconsin, HOLIDAY BOWL 14. Duke vs. Indiana, PINSTRIPE BOWL 15. Pittsburgh vs. Navy, MILITARY BOWL 16. Boise State vs. Northern Illinois, POINSETTIA BOWL 17. Texas Tech vs. LSU, TEXAS BOWL 18. Texas A&M vs. Louisville, MUSIC CITY BOWL 19. Miami vs. Washington State, SUN BOWL 20. West Virginia vs. Arizona State, CACTUS BOWL 21. Kansas State vs. Arkansas, LIBERTY BOWL 22. Arizona vs. New Mexico, NEW MEXICO BOWL 23. Air Force vs. California, ARMED FORCES BOWL 24. Toledo vs. Temple, BOCA RATON BOWL 25. Penn State vs. Georgia, TAXSLAYER BOWL 26. San Diego State vs. Cincinnati, HAWAII BOWL 27. Mississippi State vs. North Carolina State, BELK BOWL 28. Memphis vs. Auburn, BIRMINGHAM BOWL 29. Tulsa vs. Virginia Tech, INDEPENDENCE BOWL 30. Louisiana Tech vs. Arkansas State, NEW ORLEANS BOWL

Watch ONLY If You Must!

31. Bowling Green vs. Georgia Southern, GODADDY BOWL 32. Southern Mississippi vs. Washington, HEART OF DALLAS BOWL 33. South Florida vs. Western Kentucky, MIAMI BEACH BOWL 34. Ohio vs. Appalachian State, CAMELLIA BOWL 35. Connecticut vs. Marshall, ST. PETERSBURG BOWL 36. Middle Tennessee vs. Western Michigan, BAHAMAS BOWL: 37. Central Michigan vs. Minnesota, QUICK LANE BOWL 38. Utah State vs. Akron, POTATO BOWL 39. Colorado State vs. Nevada, ARIZONA BOWL 40. Georgia State vs. San Jose State, CURE BOWL