Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Ranking the 5 most watchable college football bowl games of 2019

By Oliver Hodgkinson

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 30: Tyler Rudolph #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with teammates after recovering a kick against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of the game at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 30: Tyler Rudolph #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with teammates after recovering a kick against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of the game at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

2. Cotton Bowl: Memphis vs. Penn State

There have only been five one score games in the Cotton Bowl Classic since the turn of the century. The two teams are hideously mismatched in terms of the number of bowl appearances, bowl record, and all-time record. Memphis have lost the head coach that guided them to this point.

I appreciate that hasn’t really sold this game too well in the introduction, so allow me to explain why it’s one of the best college football bowl games of the 39.

Firstly, with over 40 points and 480 yards per game, this Memphis offense is legitimately one of the best in college football. In fact, they’re the 10th ranked total offense in the nation.

Brady White has over 3,500 yards and 33 passing touchdowns. Kenny Gainwell has over 1,400 rushing yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns. Damonte Coxie is a top 20 wide receiver.

They have playmakers all over the field.

The Nittany Lions are not short on offensive talent either.

Trace McSorley left big shoes to fill when he left Penn State. Sean Clifford has filled them admirably. It helps when you have the likes of K.J. Hamler and Pat Freiermuth as go to receiving threats.

It’s the defensive talent for Penn State that makes this matchup a must watch game.

Unlike a number of players heading to the NFL Draft, the Nittany Lions star pass rusher, Yetur Gross-Matos, is committed to playing in the Cotton Bowl. The defensive end is an NFL star in the making, and an absolute game wrecker. It will be thrilling to watch him go after Brady White.

They have the fifth-ranked rushing defense in the nation which will provide a fascinating matchup against Gainwell.

Finally, pride is at stake unlike any other bowl game. Memphis are doing it for the rest of the group of five teams. They want to prove they belong. They lost their coach to a “bigger program”.

In the Cotton Bowl, they can prove they belong with those bigger programs.

Home/College Football News