The phrase "bowl teams" refers to college football teams that have earned the opportunity to play in a postseason game called a bowl game. Full definition
This is the guy you build a super bowl team around. (sbnation.com)
Its been speculated for a while now that barring absolute mayhem in the final weeks of the season the conference will not have enough bowl teams to fill its bowl tie - ins. (underdogdynasty.com)
Auburn played the toughest schedule in the nation in 1983 against eight eventual bowl teams. (collegeandmagnolia.com)