ATLANTA — There isn't a lot of intrigue for tonight's BCS announcement but there is some mystery concerning which bowl game will be hosting the Florida Gators.
Despite a 7-5 record and losing five of its last eight games, Florida could end up being the third choice out of the SEC after the BCS bowls are filled.
While the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville appeared to be a lock for UF with a matchup against Penn State (7-5) a week ago, the Outback Bowl in Tampa may be poised to “steal the Gator Bowl’s game” according to a source, when the bowls are announced today and tonight.
The reason? Florida and Penn State offer a brand that schools such as South Carolina and Mississippi State can’t compete with, and “it’s all about TV ratings," according to the source.
The Outback could select South Carolina to match up iconic coaches Steve Spurrier and Joe Paterno, who met after the 1997 season in the Citrus Bowl. If that happens, the Gator would almost certainly choose
Florida and match it up with Michigan (7-5), a rematch of the Capital One Bowl after the 2007 season.
If Florida goes to the Outback on Jan. 1, Tennessee is likely to be the Gator Bowl's choice. South Carolina would be headed back to the Georgia Dome for the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Mississippi State would fall to the Music City Bowl.
LSU is expected to go to the Cotton and Alabama to the Capital One Bowl. Georgia is headed to the Liberty and Kentucky to the Compass Bowl.
The final BCS Standings will be released today. The BCS bowl pairings will be announced at 8:15 tonight on ESPN.
While the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville appeared to be a lock for UF with a matchup against Penn State (7-5) a week ago, the Outback Bowl in Tampa may be poised to “steal the Gator Bowl’s game” according to a source, when the bowls are announced today and tonight.
The reason? Florida and Penn State offer a brand that schools such as South Carolina and Mississippi State can’t compete with, and “it’s all about TV ratings," according to the source.
The Outback could select South Carolina to match up iconic coaches Steve Spurrier and Joe Paterno, who met after the 1997 season in the Citrus Bowl. If that happens, the Gator would almost certainly choose
Florida and match it up with Michigan (7-5), a rematch of the Capital One Bowl after the 2007 season.
If Florida goes to the Outback on Jan. 1, Tennessee is likely to be the Gator Bowl's choice. South Carolina would be headed back to the Georgia Dome for the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Mississippi State would fall to the Music City Bowl.
LSU is expected to go to the Cotton and Alabama to the Capital One Bowl. Georgia is headed to the Liberty and Kentucky to the Compass Bowl.
The final BCS Standings will be released today. The BCS bowl pairings will be announced at 8:15 tonight on ESPN.
