Hunting Big Game
You won’t need a weapon to hunt this type of game - Gators, Buckeyes, Wolverines, Tigers oh my! So, put away your gun and take out your credit card (and foam finger) because we’re hunting cheap fares to the season’s biggest and best Bowl games. As usual, the BCS is causing controversy (which gives washed-up football players something to debate on TV). Rather than joining the debate take in the party in person by attending one or all of these bowl games.
In fact, we love college bowl season so much that we’re sending one lucky Kayaker and a friend to one of the bowl games listed below. More.
The Tostitos National Championship (January 8, 6:30 p.m. MST) features the undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes and the one-loss Florida Gators who leapfrogged over Michigan in the 11th hour of voting. While we can argue about the true #2 team until the BCS gives us something different to argue about next year, there is no disputing that Phoenix, Arizona offers ideal tailgating weather. Don’t miss: Phoenix is the golf capital of the world so don’t leave without playing at least one round.
There are a number of names being tossed around for this year’s Rose Bowl (January 1, 2 p.m. PST): Consolation Bowl, Choke Bowl, Snubbed Bowl, etc. Regardless of the name, we’re looking forward to the game which pits USC’s Trojans against the Michigan Wolverines. This granddaddy of all bowls is a trip every college football fan should make during their lifetime and host city Pasadena offers plenty of entertainment for the non-fan as well. Don’t miss: The 118th Rose parade on Monday, January 1 at 8:00 a.m. PST.
While the Sugar Bowl (January 3, 7 p.m. CST) is not deciding the national champion and doesn’t have its own parade (officially), no one city hosts a better party than New Orleans. The game won’t be bad either. The Fighting Irish will meet local favorites LSU Tigers. Finally, two teams that are happy to be in their assigned bowl (more or less) meet in a city overjoyed to be back in business and back to hosting a bowl game (last year’s Sugar Bowl was held in Atlanta). Don’t miss: The post-game celebration on Bourbon Street is more fun than Mardi Gras.
- Flights to New Orleans
- New Orleans hotels
- Talk to other Kayakers about New Orleans
Although not a BCS bowl, the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (December 24, 3 p.m. HST) featuring the Arizona State Sun Devils against the Hawaii Warriors, combines our two loves of beaches and football. Before you write off this bowl, it should be a high scoring game since there is little defense to speak of from either side and Warrior’s quarterback Colt Brennan is only one touchdown pass from tying the national record of 54 set in 1990. Don’t miss: Dah, it’s Hawaii!
Get the Fare Buzz for these bowl games from your home airport.
In it for the cheerleaders,
Steve (Go Longhorns) and Paul (Build Beavers Build), Kayak.com co-founders