Buckeye Blogger NetworkKirk Herbstreit’s favorite BCS matchup.
The History: The Orange Bowl has been played annually since 1935, making it the second-oldest bowl game, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sun Bowl, behind the Rose Bowl. Played in Miami, Fla., the Orange Bowl has been sponsored by Discover since 2010 after FedEx sponsored the game for 21 years before that.
Northern Illinois Scouting Report: The Huskies squeaked their way into the BCS party by finishing in the top 16 of the BCS standings after their 44-37 double overtime win against Kent State in the MAC Championship Game. Quarterback Jordan Lynch has thrown for 2,962 yards and 24 touchdowns this season and rushed for 1,771 yards and 19 touchdowns. To put it mildly, he’s decent.
Florida State Scouting Report: The Seminoles come into the Orange Bowl with two losses on the year–one to NC State and the other to rival Florida. Florida State’s defense is again one of the best in the country and quarterback E.J. Manuel leads the offense as he has thrown for 3,101 yards and 22 touchdowns on the year.
tBBC “Expert Selections:
My Selection: As you can see, all of us here at tBBC are not giving Northern Illinois a chance in this ballgame. A lot of people felt the Huskies didn’t deserve to be in this game so it will be their job to prove all of the naysayers incorrect. However, I just think the Seminoles have too much firepower, especially defensively. This one could get ugly quick and I see FSU winning 38-14.
Discover... oversized citrus
History: Like all bowl games, this one started as an attempt to get tourists from the north to head south for the holidays and to bring their money with them. Initially called the “Palm Festival Game”, the second matchup saw ‘Da U lose to Duquense. In 1935, once the game became rebranded under the current name, Miami continued their hospitality by falling to Bucknell. The 1964 Orange Bowl game between Texas and Alabama was the first college bowl game to be televised in prime time. Oh, and it’s being played in Land Shark stadium. Good times.
The game is most known for being a home game for Miami, and has hosted some classic matchups between the Big 8 and Florida schools, including the string of clashes between Miami and Nebraska which often determined the national title. Ohio State has been to Miami on only one occasion, beating Colorado in the 1977 game.
Like it’s partner in Pasadena, this game was also known for a parade highlighting outrageous floats and festivities (outrageous. in Miami. I know.). Unusual in that it was held at night, the event was a part of the new year’s landscape for 62 years until it lost it’s television contract in 1997, which led to it finally being ended in 2002. This event was extremely formative for me- because of my mom’s insistence that we always watch it, I developed a highly passionate hatred of parades, particularly those that involve copious amounts of lip-syncing. Thanks mom.
