College football TV schedule and open thread: Bowl games kickoff

Bowl season starts today, with some games of perhaps mild interest to most college football fans, but some football is probably better than nothing? I guess?

I won’t be doing in-depth bowl previews of these games, but noting the match-ups and what swag the player participants in each bowl receive.

With only five options on deck today, I’m simply going to give you the slate, rather than pick certain selections out.

Autonation Cure Bowl

Tulane vs. Louisiana (1:30 p.m., CBSSN): Bowl season begins in Orlando with two teams from Louisiana.

Bowl gifts: Holloway Force jacket, sunglasses with carry case. Energizer powerbank., duffle bag, Pebble Beach slides, dopp kit, Sportek long-sleeve contender T-shirt. and cap.

New Mexico Bowl presented by Progressive

Utah State vs. North Texas (2:00 p.m., ESPN): The ten-win Aggies, sans head coach Matt Wells who left to take the Texas Tech job, meet the Mean Green in Albuquerque.

Bowl gifts: A gift suite. Oakley Jupiter Squared sunglasses. Oakley 5 Speed backpack, bluetooth speaker. water bottle, beanie, Montgomery pen, and Pacific Headwear trucker’s cap.

Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl

Arizona State vs. Fresno State (3:30 p.m., ABC): The Las Vegas Bowl features the only ranked team of the day, with the Mountain West Champion No. 21 Bulldogs taking on the Sun Devils in new head coach Herm Edwards’ first year.

Bowl gifts: A gift suite (value: $300), Las Vegas Bowl hat and beanie, and branded fanny pack.

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan (5:30 p.m., ESPN): Today marks the third Division I bowl game in Eastern Michigan school history and the second postseason trip in the last three seasons for the Eagles.

Bowl gifts: A gift suite, a Fossil watch. a Samsonite rolling duffle bag. a beanie. and a Big Game football.

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State (9:00 p.m, ESPN): The Sun Belt Champion Mountaineers are another successful mid-major team whose coach decamped for a bigger program (Scott Satterfield left App State to take over at Louisville). In New Orleans, they will meet the Conference USA runner-up Blue Raiders.

Bowl gifts: A gift suite and a Fossil watch.

And here’s your schedule table.