Florida
(9-2 record; Steve Spurrier, 9th year) |
Syracuse
(8-3 record; Paul Pasqualoni, 7th year) |
School's Bowl Record: 12-13
Coach's Bowl Record: 4-4
Last Bowl Appearance: January 1, 1998 (Beat Penn State 21-6 in Florida Citrus Bowl)
Record in Orange Bowl: 1-0 (Beat Georgia Tech 27-12 in 1967) |
School's Bowl Record: 10-7-1
Coach's Bowl Record: 4-1
Last Bowl Appearance: December 31, 1997 (Lost to Kansas State 35-18 in Fiesta Bowl)
Record in Orange Bowl: 0-2 (Lost to Oklahoma 21-6 in 1959) |
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Offensive Stud |
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Travis McGriff, WR, Sr. (70 catches, 1,357 yards, 10 TDs): Tiny (5' 8", 189 pounds) speedster doesn't look like much -- until he's past you on his way to the end zone. Returns punts and has also thrown two TD passes.
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Donovan McNabb, QB, Sr. (157-251, 2,134 yards, 22 TDs, 5 INTs passing; 135 carries, 438 yards, 8 TDS rushing): Run-pass threat leads one of the most explosive offenses in the country. |
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Defensive Stud |
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Jevon Kearse, LB, Jr. (54 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 13.5 TFLs): The Freak is an anomalous combination of size (6'5", 254 pounds) and speed, and probably will make some NFL team very happy come April.
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Keith Bulluck, LB, Jr. (104 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 TFLs): Former safety gets better every year, maintaining secondary speed to run down ballcarriers.
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Player to Watch |
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Mike Peterson, LB, Sr. (127 tackles, 5 sacks, 12 TFLs): Least known of Gators linebacking trio benefited from anonymity to lead team in tackles and finish second to Kearse in sacks, TFLs.
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Kevin Johnson, WR, Sr. (60 catches, 894 yards, 9 TDs): McNabb's primary target is also third nationally in kickoff returns (30.0 average, 2 TDs).
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Key Stats |
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No. 5 nationally in passing offense (346.1 ypg); outscored opponents 229-76 in first half. Defensive coordinator Bob Stoops took the Oklahoma job; assistant offensive coordinator Carl Franks moved to Duke.
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No. 3 nationally in scoring (42.5 ppg) |
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Surprise Stat |
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And you thought Florida was just an offensive school -- No. 5 nationally in rushing defense (90.7 ypg); No. 7 in pass-efficiency defense (100.5 opp. rating); No. 9 in total defense (286.6 ypg); No. 8 in scoring defense (14.1).
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Though only No. 21 nationally in total offense (430.0 ypg).
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1998 Turning Point |
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September 19 -- Tennessee finally breaks the Gators jinx and wins 20-17 in overtime en route to a perfect regular season. If not for this, Florida might be going to Tempe.
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November 28 -- Capped an up-and-down season by blitzing Miami 66-13 to win Big East title and earn berth in a BCS bowl.
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Key to Victory |
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Penetrating the backfield and hitting Donovan McNabb early and often.
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The right Orange team -- the one that blitzed Michigan and Miami, and nearly beat Tennessee -- needs to show up.
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Outlook |
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Gators are in BCS only because Orange Bowl wanted a Florida school, but they also get benefit of weakest opponent. The two teams the Gators lost to -- Tennessee and Florida State -- both have great defenses, which Syracuse does not; and, lest we forget, they are playing for the national championship. |
Orange have the offense to stay with Florida, but Gators defense is far and away superior, which should prove the deciding factor.
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