If you don’t like ratings, money or fans, pick IOWA
The last Iowa appearance in a BCS bowl? A mediocre 9.7 rating in 2003 against USC.
Penn State’s 2 appearances in the BCS? A 12.3 rating in the 2006 Orange Bowl (against FSU) and 11.7 rating in the 2009 Rose Bowl (against USC)
Penn State draws the 6th largest television audiences for their bowl games. Averaging a 3.3% larger crowd than average. http://bit.ly/60qnVg
Penn State |
Iowa |
|||||
| 2009 | Rose Bowl (Southern Cal) | 11.70 | 93,293 | Outback Bowl (South Carolina) | 3.10 | 55,117 |
| 2008 | Alamo Bowl (Texas A&M) | 2.67** | 66,166 | Did not qualify | ||
| 2007 | Outback Bowl (Tennessee) | 4.36 | 65,601 | Alamo Bowl (Texas) | 5.99 | 65,875 |
| 2006 | Orange Bowl (Florida State) | 12.3 | 77,773 | Outback Bowl (Florida) | 2.38 | 65,881 |
** Played at the exact same time as the Patriots-Giants final regular season game during their run at perfection.
Head to Head
| Penn State | Iowa | Penn State | Iowa | |||
| Orange Bowl | 12.3 | 9.7 | PSU | 77,773 | 75,971 | PSU |
| Outback Bowl | 4.36 | 2.38 | PSU | 65,601 | 65,881 | Iowa |
| Alamo Bowl | 2.67** | 5.99 | Iowa | 66,166 | 65,881 | PSU |
** Played at the exact same time as the Patriots-Giants final regular season game during their run at perfection.
Is there even a question as to which team is the safer pick? Forget head to head match ups. Missouri and Kansas went through the same thing and Kansas ended up with the BCS spot despite a head to head matchup loss to Missouri. Penn State beat Northwestern, Iowa did not.
The Virginia Tech / Cincinnati Orange Bowl game set a record low for BCS television ratings last year. For an ACC/Big East matchup, that’s understandable. But the Iowa / South Carolina game, a Big Ten / SEC matchup that very same year earned an even worse rating than that game at 3.1. Penn State? Oh, a 11.7 ratings haul for the Rose Bowl.
Penn State racked up 512 yards of total offense as they demolished the top ranked offense in the Big Ten in their finale against Michigan State. Iowa has lost 2 of their last 3 and only earned 171 yards of offense against Minnesota. Minnesota actually outgained the Hawkeyes 201 to 171 in a losing effort.
On one hand, you have a team that is firing on all cylinders coached by a Hall of Fame coach, a national audience and a frenzied fan base. On the other hand you have a team limping out of the season losing 2 of its final 3, an injured starting quarterback and an offense that has been anemic all season to compliment their great defense. It doesn’t take a genius to predict a ratings disaster should the Fiesta Bowl or Orange Bowl end up with a Hawkeyes / mid major matchup. Choose wisely! Nittany Nation is watching!
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Kevin 