Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Some fun football product in there.

My "theory" is betting the dog in every bowl game will almost pay out, it usually won't beat the vig.

Outside of the top few bowl games that involved MNC contenders, the bowl games have always been meaningless exhibitions.  Many coaches have long approached them as a "reward" for the team.  Mack Brown specifically didn't give even one half of one shit about the bowl games unless they had NC implications-- he used the additional December practices working on next year's team  Lots of coaches do that.

I agree, they look meaningless to "us", but they are good for most programs.  The number of players sitting out will get interesting.  I bet many of "us" here watch at least some of the Puhlan Weedeater Bowl because we're addicted to CFB and nothing else is on.

For some programs, making a bowl game is a thing for them, a nice trip, some swag, some parties, practicing, etc.  Take the Citrus Bowl, USCe vs Illinois, two programs not always in the mix for a bowl, both did better than expected this year.  USCe had one bad loss to Ole Miss and two very close losses.  

Del Boca Vista Bowl:  Western Kentucky vs James Madison

Loser has to move to Phase III and cannot run for Condo President. 

I'll have to snoop around on that one ...

Weird how kids started opting out.

I don't think it's all that weird, just the next phase of a long and probably inevitable transition.

A couple of decades ago, even though the games didn't matter, the players still wanted to be part of the team, get the free trip, get the swag.  It wasn't really "acceptable" to opt out, you were viewed as not being a team player, and it was a concern that this was something that could potentially hurt your draft stock.

Then, a handful of players did it, and the NFL didn't view it as a negative thing, and then more kids did it, and now it's become common, with no stigma attached to those who opt out as being "me first" guys.  Seems like a pretty reasonable and predictable evolution to me.