A Guide to Bowl Parties, Volume 2

Here is Part Two of my guide to holding an entertaining bowl party. As you might have guessed from yesterday, it's a scientific balance of the corporate sponsor, the name of the bowl, the teams playing, the locale of the bowl, etc. Today's ideas concern the bowl games that will be held in January:

Outback Bowl; Wisconsin vs. Tennessee; held in Tampa on Jan. 1
What to serve: Have Outback cater! Or, I guess if you’re REALLY into Wisconsin, cheese.
How to decorate: Put up pictures of the outback. Put signs on your bathroom doors for “Sheilas” and “Mates” or however Outback does it.
What to say: “The dingo stole my touchdown!”

AT&T Cotton Bowl; Missouri vs. Arkansas; held in Dallas on Jan. 1
What to say: “You’re not wearing cotton. You have to leave.”
Fun halftime activity: Make long-distance phone calls

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl; Texas Tech vs. Virginia; held in Jacksonville on Jan. 1
What to serve: Gator meat
Fun halftime activity: take pictures of people
What to say: “Go buddy go buddy go buddy go buddy go buddy…yeah!” (that is what my dad says when he watches Virginia games)

Capital One Bowl; Michigan vs. Florida; held in Orlando on Jan. 1
What to say: “What’s in your wallet, Florida?” (Just say it randomly and with different inflections, so that people can’t necessarily tell whether it’s supportive or derogatory)

Rose Bowl presented by Citi; Illinois vs. USC; held in Pasadena on Jan. 1
What to serve: I hear this bowl is pretty prestigious, so I think have some like filet mignon and champagne or something. Maybe surf-n-turf.
How to decorate: With tulips

Allstate Sugar Bowl; Hawaii vs. Georgia; held in New Orleans on Jan. 1
What to serve: Candy
What to drink: Sweet, fruity cocktails (bonus points if they are red)
Fun party favor: Leis
Fun prank to freak out Georgia fans: Tell them you’re frying up a bulldog in the backyard.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl; Oklahoma vs. West Virginia; held in Glendale on Jan. 2
What to serve: Tostitos. Set up a buffet with dips including salsa, cheese, guacamole, bean dip, etc.
What to drink: Margaritas
Fun halftime activity: Go work in a coal mine.

FedEx Orange Bowl; Virginia Tech vs. Kansas; held in Miami on Jan. 3
What to serve: Orange foods such as cheetos, cheeses, sherbet, carrots, popsicles, etc.
What to drink: Screwdrivers, mimosas
What to say: “Let’s go Hokies!”

International Bowl; Rutgers vs. Ball State; held in Toronto on Jan. 5
What to serve: Have a buffet with foods from around the world
What to say: Things in different languages
What to drink: Alcohol from around the world

GMAC Bowl; Bowling Green vs. Tulsa; held in Mobile on Jan. 6
Fun halftime activity: Bowling
Things to talk about: financial planning

Allstate BCS Championship Game; LSU vs. Ohio State; held in New Orleans on Jan. 7
What to serve/drink: I think you should probably repeat the New Orleans menu from the Dec. 21 bowl game. Because I am totally out of ideas.