# Middle CFB Bowls -- Which "favored" team(s) will LOSE? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 12, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172 "2013-12-12T17:31:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/1 "2013-12-12T17:31:03Z")
Please refer to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=709234) (especially [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16915123&postcount=41) and [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16915466&postcount=42)) for the reasoning behind this poll. Also refer to these links for background: Links # [2013-14 college football bowl schedule - Yahoo Sports](http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--2013-14-college-football-bowl-schedule-015528935.html) [College Football Ratings Page](http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm) [http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/jerry-palm/24043695/bowl-eligible-teams](http://www.cbssports.com/general/writer/jerry-palm/24043695/bowl-eligible-teams) > **[2013–14 NCAA football bowl games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_NCAA_football_bowl_games)** > > The 2013–14 NCAA football bowl games were a series of college football bowl games. They concluded the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season and included 35 team-competitive games and three all-star games (down from four as the Texas vs the Nation game was cancelled for this season). The games began on Saturday, December 21, 2013, and, aside from the all-star games, ended with the 2014 BCS National Championship at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena that was played on January 6, 2014. > The total of 35... > **[College Football Poll.com](https://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl-schedule/2025-bowl-schedule/)** > > College football rankings and accurate weekly picks. Exclusive content, features, and analysis. ================================================= \<\<\< “Favored” teams are underscored ======= ```auto ===================================== Middle Games (8) Pinstripe Bowl Bronx, N.Y. - 12 p.m. ET, Dec. 28 Notre Dame vs. Rutgers ========== Belk Bowl Charlotte, N.C. - 3:20 p.m. ET, Dec. 28 North Carolina vs. Cincinnati ============== Russell Athletic Bowl Orlando, Fla. - 6:45 p.m. ET, Dec. 28 Miami vs. Louisville ========== Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Tempe, Ariz. - 10:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 28 Kansas State vs. Michigan ============ Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas - 11:45 a.m. ET, Dec. 30 Navy vs. Middle Tennessee State ==== Music City Bowl Nashville, Tenn. - 3:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 30 Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech ============ Alamo Bowl San Antonio, Texas - 6:45 p.m. ET, Dec. 30 Texas vs. Oregon ====== Holiday Bowl San Diego, Calif. - 10:15 p.m. ET, Dec. 30 Arizona State vs. Texas Tech ============= ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/2 "2013-12-12T17:37:25Z")
It may assist your decision-making to see the Sagarin rankings on the teams. These are simply the ranking position numbers (1 is FSU for instance) and the smaller number is the higher ranking. ```auto ===================================== Middle Games (8) Pinstripe Bowl Notre Dame vs. Rutgers 25 vs 103 == Belk Bowl North Carolina vs. Cincinnati 48 vs 60 == Russell Athletic Bowl Miami vs. Louisville 40 vs 24 == Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl Kansas State vs. Michigan 28 vs 38 == Armed Forces Bowl Navy vs. Middle Tennessee State 61 vs 99 == Music City Bowl Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech 34 vs 33 == Alamo Bowl Texas vs. Oregon 35 vs 4 = Holiday Bowl Arizona State vs. Texas Tech 8 vs 50 = ===================================== ``` You can see that the highest ranked of the group is Oregon at 4 and the lowest is Rutgers at 103. Check out the Music City Bowl’s numbers! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/3 "2013-12-13T18:30:57Z")
First array: ```auto ================================================= NotrDame NorthCar Louvlle KanState Navy GaTech Oregon ArizState None ============================================================================ armedmonkey 2 NorthCar GaTech Frosted Glass 1 NotrDame Munch 3 NorthCar KanState GaTech Zeldar 5 NorthCar Louvlle KanState Navy GaTech ======================== ============================================================================ 4 11 1 3 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 /11 ================================================= ``` ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/4 "2013-12-13T20:13:39Z")
Voted “for” NC just because I’m a Cincinnati alum. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/5 "2013-12-13T20:39:29Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Voted “for” NC just because I’m a Cincinnati alum. You have company. Almost unanimous. Others may have other reasons, but I’m pulling for Tubby. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/6 "2013-12-13T21:36:07Z")
I have no strong opinions, but I voted for Notre Dame and Oregon to lose. The weather at the Pinstripe Bowl is likely to be miserable, which increases the chances of a sloppy, low-scoring game that could easily come down to a fluky turnover here or there. That gives Rutgers a decent shot at winning outright, not just beating the spread. As for Oregon, I repeat my longstanding theorem: in bowl games, always bet against the team that thinks it should be playing somewhere better. Of all the teams on this slate, Oregon is the one that thought, just a few weeks ago, that they had a strong chance of playing in the BCS title game. Now, they’re stuck in the lousy Alamo Bowl. They don’t want to be there, and will NOT be psyched up to play, whereas the Alamo Bowl is very likely to be Mack Brown’s last game with the Longhorns. I say it will be an emotional game for the Horns, who’ll be playing what amounts to a home game, and will want to send off their coach on a high note. So, I say Texas beats the much stronger Ducks. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/7 "2013-12-14T00:58:45Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I have no strong opinions, but I voted for Notre Dame and Oregon to lose. Just to be clear, **astorian** , you have yet to vote in this poll. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/8 "2013-12-14T06:50:12Z")
Updating. Thanks, **astorian**. ```auto ================================================= NotrDame NorthCar Louvlle KanState Navy GaTech Oregon ArizState None ============================================================================ armedmonkey 2 NorthCar GaTech astorian 2 NotrDame Oregon Frosted Glass 1 NotrDame Labrador Deceiver 2 NorthCar GaTech LawMonkey 1 NorthCar Munch 3 NorthCar KanState GaTech Nauplius 2 NorthCar GaTech sunstone 3 NotrDame Louvlle Navy Zeldar 5 NorthCar Louvlle KanState Navy GaTech ======================== ============================================================================ 9 21 3 6 2 2 2 5 1 0 0 /21 ================================================= ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2013, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/9 "2013-12-28T06:13:35Z")
Final Array with no-votes removed: ```auto ================================================= NotrDame NorthCar Louvlle KanState Navy GaTech Oregon =========================================================== armedmonkey 2 NorthCar GaTech astorian 2 NotrDame Oregon Frosted Glass 1 NotrDame Labrador Deceiver 2 NorthCar GaTech LawMonkey 1 NorthCar Munch 3 NorthCar KanState GaTech Nauplius 2 NorthCar GaTech sunstone 3 NotrDame Louvlle Navy Zeldar 5 NorthCar Louvlle KanState Navy GaTech ======================== =============================================================== 9 21 3 6 2 2 2 5 1 /21 ================================================= ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/10 "2013-12-30T21:48:54Z")
At halftime Ole Miss is ahead by 6 and if they can hold on some of us will be happier than we are at this moment: ```auto ================================================= RESULT Notre Dame 29, Rutgers 16 NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL North Carolina 39, Cincinnati 17 BELK BOWL No. 18 Louisville 36, Miami (FL) 9 RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL Kansas State 31, Michigan 14 BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL Navy 24, Middle Tennessee 6 BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL ================================================= ``` ```auto ================================================= GaTech Oregon ============== armedmonkey 2 GaTech astorian 2 Oregon Frosted Glass 0/1 Labrador Deceiver 2 GaTech LawMonkey 0/1 Munch 3 GaTech Nauplius 2 GaTech sunstone 0/3 Zeldar 5 GaTech ======================== =================== 9 21 5 1 /21 ================================================= ``` ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/11 "2013-12-30T23:19:39Z")
Curiously, the turf accountants were handicapping GATech by 2.5~3 pts (favoring Ole Miss to win) at close. Did the line cross over or something? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/12 "2013-12-30T23:28:57Z")
> [@For You](#): > > Curiously, the turf accountants were handicapping GATech by 2.5~3 pts (favoring Ole Miss to win) at close. Did the line cross over or something? In this poll you pick LOSERS. All is well. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/middle-cfb-bowls-which-favored-team-s-will-lose/676172/13 "2013-12-31T03:16:04Z")
Even though the Holiday Bowl has some play left, nobody voted for Arizona State to lose, so it’s not relevant to the outcome of our poll. Here are the finals: ```auto ================================================= RESULT Notre Dame 29, Rutgers 16 NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL North Carolina 39, Cincinnati 17 BELK BOWL No. 18 Louisville 36, Miami (FL) 9 RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL Kansas State 31, Michigan 14 BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL Navy 24, Middle Tennessee 6 BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL Ole Miss 25, Georgia Tech 17 FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL No. 10 Oregon 30, Texas 7 VALERO ALAMO BOWL ================================================= ``` ```auto ================================================= GaTech ====== armedmonkey 1/2 GaTech Labrador Deceiver 1/2 GaTech Nauplius 1/2 GaTech Munch 1/3 GaTech Zeldar 1/5 GaTech Frosted Glass 0/1 LawMonkey 0/1 astorian 0/2 sunstone 0/3 ======================== ========== 9 5/21 5 /21 ================================================= ```