I know a lot of less knowledgeable fans will be voicing their displeasure now that it has been officially announced that Penn State will not be playing in a BCS Bowl game this season.  They will be matched up with the Louisiana State University in the Capital One Bowl, January 1st, 2010 in Florida. However, I contend that this is a good thing for the Nittany Lions.

1. The matchup will have higher ratings than the Orange Bowl.

PSU – LSU is a better matchup than Iowa – Georgia Tech (Orange) and the ratings will show.  This can be used for future leverage if ever Penn State finds itself in this situation again.  If you look at the ratings the Orange Bowl has received since Penn State met Florida State in the unforgettable Triple Overtime thriller that is now the final meeting between the two greatest college football coaches of all time, Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden, they have been pathetic.

2009 Virginia Tech – Cincinnati 5.4 rating.

2008 Kansas – Va Tech 7.4 rating.

2007 Louisville – Wake Forest 6.98 rating.

2006 Penn State – Florida State 12.3 rating.

Basically it took the Orange Bowl two years to meet what Penn State brought them in the 2006 edition.

2. It will be one of the best bowl games.

When the Big Ten number 2 and the ACC Champions meet, the fans don’t watch and those who do fall asleep.  Just look at the ratings from the last few Orange Bowl’s…numbers don’t lie.  Also, Texas showed the nation that they are not as good as we thought by sneaking by Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game.  Whereas Alabama flexed against Florida, making them the definite number 1 team in the land.  Look for a dominating National Championship Game with Alabama laughing past Texas.  This leaves Ohio State – Oregon (Rose), Cincinnati – Florida (Sugar), TCU – Boise State (Fiesta), Florida State – West Virginia (Gator, solely because it is Bowden’s final game), and PSU – LSU (Capitol One) as the best five bowls.  I would place PSU – LSU as second or third on that list.

3. We get one of the best broadcasting crews with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, and Erin Andrews

Need I say more?

4. Penn State finished 3rd in the Big Ten. It’s what we deserve when you look at how the season played out.

In the early 2000s, we would have been pumped about going to the Capital One Bowl. Enjoy it people!