{"id":267172,"date":"2016-12-14T10:13:42","date_gmt":"2016-12-14T16:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wnsp.com\/wordpress\/?p=267172"},"modified":"2017-02-08T08:57:44","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T14:57:44","slug":"bowl-success-for-state-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wnsp.com\/wordpress\/bowl-success-for-state-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Bowl success for state teams (updated)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"nutsbolts12-12\"
\nThe only time the state of Alabama has sent four teams to bowl games was 2004. Both UAB and Troy played in their first-ever bowl games that year (UAB in the Hawaii Bowl and Troy in the Silicon Valley Classic), while Alabama wrapped up its season in the Music City Bowl and Auburn completed an undefeated season in the Sugar Bowl.<\/p>\n

The four teams combined for a 1-3 record, with only Auburn’s three-point win over Virginia Tech serving to avoid a sweep.<\/p>\n

This year the state has again produced four bowl teams. But is there any reason to believe the results will be any different from 2004?<\/p>\n

If you go by the Vegas odds yes \u2026 but only slightly.<\/p>\n

Alabama is the only team to be favored by more than two touchdowns this postseason. But that’s offset by South Alabama being a 13-point underdog against Air Force.<\/p>\n

Troy is a field goal-favorite against Ohio in Mobile’s Dollar General Bowl, but Auburn is about a 5-point underdog in the Sugar Bowl against a high-scoring Oklahoma team.<\/p>\n

In 2004, there were only four Division I teams in the state eligible for a bowl, since South Alabama had not yet reached that level.<\/p>\n

Maybe next season the state can go a perfect 5-for-5, hopefully with better results the 2004 record-setting year.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:\u00a0<\/strong>Alabama teams went 2-4 in bowl games this year, beating the 2004 record by one game.<\/p>\n