BOWL PROSPECTS

MIZZOU'S BOWL PROSPECTS

If you are a Tiger fan that wants to go bowling, you might want to start planning a trip to Houston for a New Year's Eve date at the Texas Bowl.

It seems likely, once again, that Missouri football will get screwed for the third consecutive year when it comes to a bowl invitation.

After nearly reaching the pinnacle of national prominence with a No. 2 ranking after defeating Kansas to end the 2007 regular season, the Tigers were snubbed for a BCS game with Kansas getting the Orange Bowl bid. Mizzou clobbered Arkansas in the 2008 Cotton Bowl and finished fifth in the final poll, ahead of KU, which defeated Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma, losers to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Despite a second consecutive North Division title last year, Missouri was relegated to San Antonio's Alamo Bowl, where they beat Northwestern in an overtime thriller to finish at 10-4 and ranked 19^th in the final poll.

In the Big XII bowl pecking order, the Tigers, at 8-4 on the season, are eligible for the sixth spot, which falls to the Insight Bowl, hosting a New Year's Eve bowl game in Tempe. There is considerable speculation the Insight Bowl committee is seriously considering a .500 team in Iowa State (6-6 and losers to MU) for a matchup against either Minnesota or Michigan State.

This is about what beleaguered Tiger fans have come to expect. Remember: We are MU.

Where would you rather be for New Year's Eve? The sprawling metropolis of Houston or the sunny climes of Tempe? I personally would prefer the desert, with plenty of accessible golf courses, an outdoor venue and a mid-tier (read "beatable") Big X foe.

On the other hand, Houston has something Tempe doesn't: ESPN. The Insight Bowl will be broadcast on the NFL Network, and I don't happen to get that channel on Mediacom (or little else for that matter). Navy has already accepted an invitation to the Texas Bowl and would provide an interesting matchup for MU.

Since there is virtually no chance I will be going to a bowl game, I think the Texas Bowl and the Midshipmen appeal to me. First, I can watch the game at home and stay off the streets on Amateur Night. Second, I can stay off the streets and watch the game at home. Another exciting day in the life of a Missouri fan!

Now that I have stated my preference, you can be sure we'll end up in Tempe.

The Real Don Steele

12/4/09