GATOR BOWL PREVIEW

23. GATOR BOWL (Jacksonville)

Jan. 1/1 p.m. CBS

 

Florida State Seminoles (Tallahassee) (6-6) (ACC Record: 4-4)

Head Coach: Bobby Bowden

Key Players: EJ Manuel, QB

Comments: 2-6 v bowl teams; back-to-back-to-back losses mid-season ignored with bowl invite, homage to Bowden in his swan song; Manuel has been less than effective after replacing injured starter Christian Ponder; and the offense hasn't scored 30 points in his starts. Bowden, who was head coach at WVU for five years prior to going to FSU 34 years ago, is 20-9-1 in bowl games and put the 'Noles in the AP Top 5 for 14 consecutive years.

 

(18)
West Virginia Mountaineers (Morgantown) (9-3) (Big East Record: 5-2)

Head Coach: Bill Stewart

Key Players: Noel Devine, RB; Jarrett Brown, QB;

Comments: 5-3 v bowl teams; offense is methodical and struggling of late; will be villain in Bowden's finale in friendly Florida; WVa has won four straight bowl games, the last loss against FSU in the Gator Bowl in 2003. Looked good in beating Pitt and only lost to Cincinnati by 3 points.

Line: WVU: -3

My Pick: WEST VIRGINIA sends Bowden off into the sunset with a loss. The Mountaineers are too tough for an emotional Seminole team that looked disinterested down the stretch.