2025 Bowl Projection Tracker

Donate To GopherHole
MGGopher said:
I agree that the games themselves aren’t that different, but I strongly disagree that it doesn’t matter. In terms of TV exposure, “brand” and quality of the opponent, and likelihood of fans traveling, Phoenix is FAR worse than Vegas or Nashville. Playing on 12/30 or NYE against Utah, LSU, or Tennessee would draw a ton more eyeballs and traveling fans than 12/26 against Cincinnati. Who knows if it makes any difference at all in the long run, but I don’t think anyone can argue that Vegas and Nashville are far, far desirable locations.

EDIT to say I’m starting to think PJ and Coyle either don’t care or they actively lobby to end up in these lower bowls against worse opponents for a better chance to win the games. I think they’re the only 8-4 teams in history to play in the Rate and Pinstripe?
Click to expand...

I've also had a suspicion that Fleck may not care much because a lower ranked bowl means a better chance to win and extend the bowl streak. Otherwise.....you'd think that him and Coyle would be able to lobby the conference for support on a better game/opponent every once in a while.....seeing as how we've ended up at the Rate Bowl and Pinstripe with 8-4 records despite the fact that no other Big Ten team has ever been placed in either of those bowls with an eight win season.
 







BigSchmidty17 said:
100% agree on that. I would honestly rather have us play like a Wyoming in Boise. Switch it up play new teams, new venues and new fans to chat with. That's just us (friends and I)
Click to expand...
Nah, don't want to play in what I call the "punishment bowl" Cold, rainy, snow...no thank you. Somewhere warm please and thank you.
 





Already bought my bowl game tickets directly from the Rate Bowl website for the Rate Bowl and reserved a hotel room 👍

50 yard line on the BigTen side (bleachers).

Just got a gut feeling that our Gophers will be heading that way.
 

Yah-E said:
Already bought my bowl game tickets directly from the Rate Bowl website for the Rate Bowl and reserved a hotel room 👍

50 yard line on the BigTen side (bleachers).

Just got a gut feeling that our Gophers will be heading that way.
Click to expand...
It may be meaningless in the grand scheme, but i always buy my visitor tickets and bowl game tickets from the U directly to ensure we're getting as much credit as possible for our traveling fans since this seems to matter in selection.
 


Anything official on Rate Bowl yet? Seems inevitable.
 



Zeppelin Gopher said:
I had fun at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl last time around (despite the poor game and field conditions).

WVU fans were fun to party with, AZ is a nice place to go in late December, etc.

Really wish the game was at Sun Devil Stadium instead of the D-Backs ballpark though.
Click to expand...
Guessing far cheaper to rent out since it's not in use, unlike the NFL stadium. And it's right in downtown, which is right by the airport. Could probably get by fairly well without even renting a car.

21 miles from rental car center to State Farm Stadium, on the other hand. Not much out there other than old Coyotes arena and some commercial development around there. (It's probably fine if you stay at a hotel out there.)

EDIT: apologies I misread, you said Sun Devil not State Farm
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
Illinois in Music City
Nebraska in Vegas.
Lame. Huskers will get destroyed by Utah
Click to expand...
Makes sense, as much as we hate it, and even though we beat Neb head to head.

Like I've said, we have a lot of alumni in PHX/AZ and that's the bowl we want to be at, of the rest.

We weren't there yesterday either, it was four years ago.
 
Last edited:

GopherGrit said:
Guessing far cheaper to rent out since it's not in use, unlike the NFL stadium. And it's right in downtown, which is right by the airport. Could probably get by fairly well without even renting a car.

21 miles from rental car center to State Farm Stadium, on the other hand. Not much out there other than old Coyotes arena and some commercial development around there. (It's probably fine if you stay at a hotel out there.)
Click to expand...
Sun Devil Stadium is not the NFL stadium. The game was originally at Sun Devil Stadium when it was the Insight Bowl and it was a much better venue
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
Sun Devil Stadium is not the NFL stadium. The game was originally at Sun Devil Stadium when it was the Insight Bowl and it was a much better venue
Click to expand...
Whoops! Misread.

You are correct and agree with the original poster, Sun Devil would be better.


Guessing city of Phoenix gave them a deal, hoping to get people to stay and eat in/near downtown.
 



I heard Coyle on the radio last week before the Wisc game saying he was going to fight for us and try to convince the bowl game owners that the "Gophers don't travel well" thing is a myth.

Guess it didn't go over
 

GopherGrit said:
I heard Coyle on the radio last week before the Wisc game saying he was going to fight for us and try to convince the bowl game owners that the "Gophers don't travel well" thing is a myth.

Guess it didn't go over
Click to expand...
We got the game we deserve.
 

USAF said:
We got the game we deserve.
Click to expand...
Gophers finished 5-4 in Big Ten and Nebraska finished 4-5, both at 7-5 overall.

Arguments could be made. Alas, it really doesn't matter with these made for TV exhibitions.

Similar things happened in 2021 and 2022 with the Music City Bowl. They've done everything in their power to avoid having to take the Gophers in Nashville.
 

GopherGrit said:
Gophers finished 5-4 in Big Ten and Nebraska finished 4-5, both at 7-5 overall.

Arguments could be made. Alas, it really doesn't matter with these made for TV exhibitions.

Similar things happened in 2021 and 2022 with the Music City Bowl. They've done everything in their power to avoid having to take the Gophers in Nashville.
Click to expand...
Gophers were in Nashville a couple times.

No one is keeping the gophers out of Nashville. They just like other teams more or the Big Ten decided that other teams were a better fit.
 

gopherbadgerman said:
Gophers were in Nashville a couple times.

No one is keeping the gophers out of Nashville. They just like other teams more or the Big Ten decided that other teams were a better fit.
Click to expand...
Lmao. It's been around 20 years. Most of the roster probably in their father's scrotum last time Gophers were in Nashville
 

pharmacygopher said:
Lmao. It's been around 20 years. Most of the roster probably in their father's scrotum last time Gophers were in Nashville
Click to expand...
Agreed. It's not the most egregious snub in the world but Gophers did get snubbed. It's ok to acknowledge it
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom