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Because their hopes and dreams were not dashed in their previous game.  Why is this so hard to understand?
2018 teams eligible to not play motivated:
Michigan
Georgia




These teams were going to be in the NCCG or CFP, but lost their last game of the season, rendering their big goals moot.  Only two of them won in such a case.  This isn't some convoluted BS, based on Bama losing to Utah in 2008, it's a real, live thing.  It doesn't guarantee a loss in their bowl game, but it does guarantee these 21 year old kids have less to play for than they did the game before, and often times, this affects their play.  Period.

2 for 2 on it this year.  Small sample, ongoing, but piling up the evidence (outcomes).

Damn. SVP peeling the onions tonight. Gave a Tyler Trent a farewell; after Purdue beat OSU he promised Tyler a seat on his show, and ended tonight with an empty seat next to a Boiler helmet.

dang man.... that kid was a testament to 'living' when you know the end is near, and begs the question why we don't 'live' ALL the time.  He inspired many with his pure spirit.  

Minnie, UW, NU and Iowa were all underdogs, and all got wins. Purdue and MSU were dogs too. PSU, OSU and UM were favored. Overall a terrible performance by the East this year.

PSU losing, still just boogles my brain. I didn't see the game and am assuming props need to be given to Kentucky.
A lot of feel good going to OSU right now, but I wonder if historians will bring up OSU didn't cover the spread.

Settle down bevo

Probably not a good idea to put a yappy little dog right in front of him, dressed up in a red sweater no less...
I really enjoyed that game.  Georgia mounted a heck of a comeback when they could have packed it in.  Their running back is extremely talented.
Sam Ehlinger had a heck of a game, but I sure don't want to see him doing that with any regularity during the regular season next year.  

2 for 2 on it this year.  Small sample, ongoing, but piling up the evidence (outcomes).

Good predictions. 
OSU demoralized Michigan with that beatdown in Columbus and then like 5 starters for Michigan just said man f this bowl I’m sitting out. 
Georgia had Bama beat, an SEC title in its hands and a trip to the playoff and then they crapped the bed and let the backup QB come in and lead the comeback win. Gotta be tough to turn around and get motivated to play a young hungry Texas team looking to prove itself by knocking off an SEC power. 
Give Georgia credit though, they didn’t quit like Michigan. They were asleep for 95% of the game but they didn’t just quit like Michigan did.

Sometimes the matchup just isn't favorable. And sometimes the breaks don't go your way. And sometimes the ball starts rolling down the wrong hill and there's no stopping it. Blowouts happen. Ohio State is way better than Purdue--no one disputes that, right? Michigan is way better than the way it played against Florida.

(Says the Notre Dame fan trying to console himself...)

Me either. I agree with @Orange Afro Man . UCF played one decent opponent this year and lost.

I agree with this statement, but......
with the back up QB, they were not outclassed and run out of the stadium.  They had some game.
and they showed up to play.  Not all bowl teams did.