Tuesday's Bowl Previews
BY Associated Press
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
1/01/13 at 4:00 AM
GATOR BOWL
No. 21 Northwestern (9-3) vs. Mississippi State (8-4)
11 a.m.
At EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: ESPN2-26
Line: Northwestern by 1
Series record: First meeting
What's at stake
Bowl streaks. Northwestern has lost an NCAA-record-tying nine consecutive bowl games, including four in the last four years. The Wildcats' last bowl win came in the 1949 Rose Bowl. Mississippi State has won its last five bowl games dating to 1999.
OUTBACK BOWL
No. 11 South Carolina (10-2) vs. No. 19 Michigan (8-4)
Noon
At Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
TV: ESPN-25
Line: South Carolina by 5
Series record: Tied 1-1
Key matchup
South Carolina QBs Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson against the Michigan defense, which ranks second in the nation against the pass.
Players to watch
South Carolina: Shaw has thrown for 1,732 yards and 15 TDs, while backup Thompson has thrown for 910 yards and eight TDs.
Michigan: Denard Robinson was replaced at QB by WR Devin Gardner late in the season after injuring his right elbow but has continued to contribute by running the ball and catching passes.
CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Georgia (11-2) vs. Nebraska (10-3)
Noon
At Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
TV: KTUL-8
Line: Georgia by 9
Series record: Nebraska leads 1-0
What's at stake
The Bulldogs came up just a few yards short of capturing the SEC crown and a trip the BCS national championship game, when they fell to defending BCS champion Alabama, 32-28. The Cornhuskers are looking to erase the memories of their lopsided 70-31 loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.
Key matchup
Georgia thrived this season offensively behind Tampa, Fla., native Aaron Murray. He led the nation in yards per passing attempt (7.8), while throwing for 31 touchdowns. He will be opposite a Nebraska defense that allowed 148.2 yards passing per game this season, ranking No. 1 in the nation.
ROSE BOWL
No. 8 Stanford (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (8-5)
4 p.m.
At Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
TV: ESPN-25
Line: Stanford by 5
Series record: Wisconsin leads 4-0-1
Key matchup
Wisconsin RB Montee Ball vs. Stanford LB Shayne Skov. Ball has scored more touchdowns than any player in FBS history as the senior leader of the Badgers' deliberate, ground-oriented offense. Skov is the leading tackler on the nation's third-stingiest rushing defense, allowing just 87.7 yards per game.
ORANGE BOWL
No. 13 Florida State (11-2) vs. No. 16 Northern Illinois (12-1)
7:30 p.m.
At Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
TV: ESPN-25
Line: Florida State by 14
Series record: First meeting
What's at stake
Northern Illinois seeks to validate its bowl bid after becoming the first Mid-American Conference team to reach the Bowl Championship Series. Florida State is looking for its fifth consecutive bowl win, but is trying to break a streak of four consecutive losses in BCS bowls. The Seminoles' EJ Manuel seeks to become only the second quarterback to go 4-0 in bowl games.
Key matchup
Junior QB Jordan Lynch will face a Florida State defense that ranks second in yards allowed at 253.8 per game. Lynch led the nation with 1,771 yards rushing, a record for quarterbacks.
