Outback Bowl

No. 17 Florida vs. No. 13 Iowa

TIME: 10 a.m.

TV: ESPN.

RECORDS: Florida 8-4, Iowa 9-3.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: It’s the first game of the day, which should count for something–assuming you actually can find the TV.

ABOUT FLORIDA: The Gators started 3-3, and there was much doom and gloom around the program. But a five-game winning streak — including a victory at LSU — re-energized the team. True freshman QB Chris Leak doesn’t have the best stats (180.1 ypg, 14 TDs, 10 picks), but he exhibits a calm beyond his years and played especially well the last half of the season. UF uses a tailback-by-committee approach, but rushing yards could be tough to come by today. Sophomore TB Ciatrick Fason is the big-play guy in the backfield. Senior TE Ben Troupe (39 catches, 16.4 ypc, five TDs) is the leading receiver; look for UF to try to get the ball to him as often as possible. The Gators have been shaky against the run (151.9 ypg, 57th nationally), and that has to be a cause for concern today. Other than true freshman Channing Crowder (98 tackles), the linebackers aren’t much. An all-senior starting secondary has been solid all season, with CB Keiwan Ratliff (second in the nation with nine picks) and FS Daryl Dixon (New Smyrna Beach) playing at the highest level. UF needs its special-teams units–which generally break down once a game — to play well today.

ABOUT IOWA: The Hawkeyes lost a ton of standouts off last season’s team, then played much better than expected this season. Senior TB Fred Russell (100.4 ypg) makes the offense go. He’s small (5 feet 8/192), but tough enough to run between the tackles and speedy enough to take it the distance. He runs behind a big, physical line headed by T Robert Gallery, the Outland Trophy winner as the nation’s best interior lineman. Senior QB Nathan Chandler (6-7/259) is limited and immobile. But he still can be dangerous if he has time to throw. Iowa lacks elite receivers, with Ramon Ochoa the leader with just 33 catches. Defense has carried Iowa, which is allowing 313.7 yards per game (15th in the nation). A strong front seven has been especially good against the run (95.7 ypg, 10th nationally). LBs Abdul Hodge (from Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson) and Chad Greenway have combined for 261 tackles, and Es Matt Roth (11 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss) and Howard Hodges (10 sacks, 12 tackles for loss) are solid pass rushers. The secondary is nondescript, but 5-8 SS Bob Sanders is a big hitter. Starting CB Antwan Allen is from Armwood High in the Tampa suburb of Seffner. K Nate Kaeding is one of the nation’s best.

THE KEY: It’s Iowa’s running game. The Hawkeyes won’t be able to score enough points if Russell is held in check. Iowa’s pass rush also bears watching. UF OTs Max Starks (Lake Highland Prep) and Randy Hand need to keep Roth and Hodges out of Leak’s face.

THE BUZZ: Florida lost to Michigan in this bowl last season.

THE RANKING: Of the 28 bowls, we rank this 12th.

THE LINE: Florida by 3 1/2.

THE PICK: Florida, 23-20.

Gator Bowl

No. 23 Maryland vs. No. 20 West Virginia

TIME: 11:30 a.m.

TV: NBC.

RECORDS: Maryland 9-3, West Virginia 8-4.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: The teams have combined to win 11 games in a row, and the potential exists for a close one.

ABOUT MARYLAND: The Terps have no real gamebreakers on offense, yet still average 413.3 ypg. QB Scott McBrien (190.9 ypg, 16 TDs, six picks) — who began his career at West Virginia–doesn’t have great physical tools, but he is cerebral, understands the offense and doesn’t make many mistakes. When healthy, TB Bruce Perry (646 yards) is one of the best in the ACC. Josh Allen led the team in rushing with 894 yards. The defense has been solid, with T Randy Starks (72 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks) a future NFL standout. LB D’Qwell Jackson (a sophomore from St. Pete Seminole with 124 tackles) always is around the ball. There’s a solid secondary, but those guys need to be worried about run support today.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA: The Mountaineers bring a seven-game winning streak into this one; they’ve averaged 33 points per game during the streak. WVU has a strong rushing attack (217.2 ypg, 12th in nation) led by senior TB Quincy Wilson (121.0 ypg, 11th in nation). There’s not much of a falloff when WVU goes to backup TB Kay-Jay Harris (a junior from Tampa Bay Tech). QB Rasheed Marshall completes less than 50 percent of his passes but can be dangerous when he runs. WR Chris Henry has 38 catches, and 10 have gone for touchdowns. The defense is nothing special (380.4 ypg, 62nd in nation). WVU comes in having allowed at least 23 points in four consecutive games, but LB Grant Wiley (158 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two picks, seven forced fumbles) is one of the best in the nation.

THE KEY: WVU must run effectively to win. Everybody knows it, but few have been able to stop the Mountaineers.

THE BUZZ: This is one of two bowl rematches from the regular season (the other is the Orange). Maryland crushed WVU, 34-7, Sept. 20, outgaining the Mountaineers, 498-156.

THE RANKING: Of the 28 bowls, we rank this 20th. (We don’t like rematches.)

THE LINE: Maryland by 3 1/2.

THE PICK: Maryland, 30-24.

Capital One Bowl

No. 11 Georgia vs. No. 12 Purdue

TIME: noon.

TV: ABC.

RECORDS: Georgia 10-3, Purdue 9-3.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Two evenly matched teams, with the winner likely to finish in the top 10.

ABOUT GEORGIA: The Bulldogs have been excellent on defense, giving up just 275.9 yards per game (fourth nationally). The defense is young but aggressive. E David Pollack is a force (85 tackles) despite facing a ton of double-teams. LB Odell Thurman (130 tackles), FS Thomas Davis (111) and SS Sean Jones (111) are the leading tacklers. The Bulldogs will use three tailbacks today, but none really stands out. Junior QB David Greene gets a lot of publicity, but his production hasn’t matched the hype this season: 229.2 ypg, 10 TDs and 11 interceptions. There are some talented wide receivers (Fred Gibson, Reggie Brown), but injuries and drops have plagued the Bulldogs’ passing attack. Georgia has given up more than 285 total yards just four times–but it gave up more than 400 in each of its past two games.

ABOUT PURDUE: Like the Bulldogs, the Boilermakers have won with defense; they have allowed 291.1 yards per game overall (11th nationally) and 95.6 on the ground (ninth nationally). E Shaun Phillips (52 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks), LB Niko Koutouvides (90 tackles) and Gilbert Gardner (72 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss) and SS Stuart Schweigert (78 tackles, four picks) are the guys to watch. The offense is OK. TB Jerod Void is a tough between-the-tackles guy who lacks breakaway speed. QB Kyle Orton has been solid but has just 14 TD passes. The Boilermakers lack speed at receiver, but in Taylor Stubblefield and John Standeford, they have a duo that has combined for 148 catches, 1,784 yards and seven TDs.

THE KEY: Neither team is going to have a lot of success moving the ball. And turnovers aren’t likely to be a problem, as these teams are tied for 11th nationally in turnover margin at plus-0.92. One or two big plays in the passing game likely determine the outcome.

THE BUZZ: Of these teams’ six combined losses, four came by a total of 14 points. Each also was blown out once (Georgia by LSU, Purdue by Michigan).

THE RANKING: Of the 28 bowls, we rank this sixth.

THE LINE: Georgia by 3.

THE PICK: Purdue, 20-17.

Orange Bowl

No. 9 Florida State vs. No. 10 Miami

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

TV: ABC.

RECORDS: FSU 10-2, Miami 10-2.

WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: This is one of the best rivalries in college football.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE: The Seminoles started 5-0 and looked like national-title contenders. Then they lost to Miami and fell out of the picture. QB Chris Rix has all the physical tools, but he is prone to bonehead mistakes. The ‘Noles use three players at tailback, with sophomore Leon Washington emerging as the most productive of late. Senior TB Greg Jones still is feeling the effects of knee surgery from late in 2002, but perhaps the past month off will have a positive effect. The ‘Noles will be without their best deep threat, Craphonso Thorpe (51 catches, 11 TDs), so they need Chris Davis or Dominic Robinson to step up. The defense has been steady all season. T Darnell Dockett (52 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, but just 1.5 sacks) has played at a high level. The linebacking corps of Kendyll Pope, Michael Boulware and Allen Augustin is experienced, but hasn’t made many big plays (232 tackles, 14 tackles for loss). The secondary has played well, and if FSU can get consistent pressure on UM QB Brock Berlin, there will be some picks in the offing.

ABOUT MIAMI: The offense has been a big disappointment. TB Jarrett Payton is willing, but he lacks top-end speed and scares no one. Berlin has struggled big-time (12 TDs, 15 interceptions) and even lost his starting job for a week. TE Kellen Winslow has had a nice season, but doesn’t really have the stats (55 catches, 10.1 ypc, one TD–which came in the opener against Louisiana Tech) befitting someone with his talent. UM lacks a true go-to receiver, but red-shirt freshman Ryan Moore (from Dr. Phillips) has some skills. UM has made its hay on defense, ranking third nationally by giving up just 261.8 ypg. T Vince Wilfork (57 tackles, six sacks), LB Jonathan Vilma (118 tackles, 11 tackles for loss) and FS Sean Taylor (73 tackles, nine interceptions, 13 pass breakups) — to us, the nation’s best defensive player–had All-American seasons. The ‘Canes allowed more than 20 points just twice, and held foes to 14 or under nine times.

THE KEY: FSU must get a good effort from its tailbacks. If Rix is forced to the air, this will get ugly–and not just because UM’s offense could struggle.

THE BUZZ: These teams met in Tallahassee Oct. 11, a 22-14 Miami win that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. They meet again in Miami on Labor Day weekend to open the 2004 season. They meet tonight. Hey, three games in 11 months is too much of a good thing.

THE RANKING: Of the 28 bowls, we rank this 17th. (We don’t like rematches.)

THE LINE: FSU by 1 1/2.

THE PICK: Miami, 21-16.