2011 Bowl Projections: Looking Ahead To Potential Participants In Region's

One of the many rewards of having warm weather year round is the ability to host sporting events like the Super Bowl or college football bowl games. The state of Florida has enjoyed those games and the tourist money they bring in for many years now, and even more so lately with the increased number of bowl games scheduled. This year, the state of Florida will host six bowl games, including, of course, the Orange Bowl on December 4th. Let's take a look at all six games and who is projected to participate in each of them now that the 2011 college football season is entering its home stretch.

Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg

• Date: December 20th, 8 pm EST
• Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
• Network: ESPN
  
• Who: Big East vs. C-USA
• Projection (ESPN): Pittsburgh vs. Marshall

Champs Sports

• Date: December 29th, 5:30 pm EST
• Where: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
• Network: ESPN
  
• Who: ACC vs. Big East
• Projection (ESPN): Florida State vs. Notre Dame

Outback Bowl

• Date: January 2nd, 1 pm.
• Where: Raymond Jones Stadium, Tampa, FL
  
• Network: ABC
  
• Who: Big Ten vs. SEC
  
• Projection (ESPN): Michigan vs. South Carolina

Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl

• Date: January 2nd, 1 pm.
• Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, FL
• Network: ESPN2
  
• Who: Big Ten vs. SEC
  
• Projection (ESPN): Penn State vs. Florida

Capital One Bowl

• Date: January 2nd, 1 pm.
• Where: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL
• Network: ESPN
  
• Who: Big Ten vs. SEC
  
• Projection: Wisconsin vs. Arkansas

Orange Bowl

• Date: January 4th, 8:30 pm.
• Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, FL
• Network: ESPN
  
• Who: BCS vs. BCS
  
• Projection (SB Nation): Clemson vs. West Virginia

For more 2011 bowl projections, check out SB Nation's college football hub. For a complete bowl schedule, click here.

2011 Bowl Predictions: Current Projections Place Florida In Chick-fil-A Bowl, Florida State In Champs Sports Bowl

Despite their 23-19 win over in-state foe Miami, the Florida State Seminoles (7-3, 5-2) are still currently projected to play in the Champs Sports Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, just as they were one week ago. Florida State has won five straight games since struggling early in the season, but Clemson's win Saturday night means the Seminoles have no chance to win the Coastal Division of the ACC, meaning no ACC Championship Game and no possibility of a BCS Bowl berth.

The Florida Gators (5-5, 3-5 SEC) fell to the .500 mark on Saturday after a 17-12 loss to South Carolina. Florida is currently slotted to play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but the Gators need to win at least one more game this season to even be bowl eligible.

Here are current bowl projections for Florida and Florida State:

Champs Sports Bowl, December 29, 2011

Notre Dame vs. Florida State

Chick-fil-A, December 31, 2011

Virginia Tech vs. Florida

For more 2011 bowl projections, check out SB Nation's college football hub. For a complete bowl schedule, click here. For more on the Gators, be sure to visit Alligator Army. For all your Florida State news and notes, pop over to Tomahawk Nation.

Florida Vs. South Carolina Final: Gators Fall, 17-12

The Florida Gators dropped their fifth game of the season to the South Carolina Gamecocks because they simply couldn't stop the South Carolina rushing attack. Running back Brandon Wilds ran wild, picking up 120 yards on 29 carriers. Quarterback Connor Shaw picked up another 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns, as Florida struggled to stop the read-option offense.

The Gators offense couldn't get much done when they had the football either. The Gators were held to just 261 total yards as quarterback John Brantley struggled to get 119 passing yards. The Gators didn't help themselves either, turning the ball over twice with fumbles, giving South Carolina great field position. Running back Chris Rainey did have 132 rushing yards, but 47 of that was on a single run. The Gators fall to 5-5 and with a game on the calendar against Florida State still, may struggle to finish about .500.

For further reading, news, discussion and more visit SB Nation's Florida blog Alligator Army and SB Nation's South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack. Here’s the complete Week 11 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

Florida Vs. South Carolina Score Update: Gators Add Another Field Goal, Cut Lead To 14-6

The South Carolina Gamecocks started the second half with the football, once again trying to run all over the Gators defense. Florida wouldn't have it however, as they stuffed South Carolina on third and short, forcing a punt. The Florida offense took over in great field position thanks to a South Carolina penalty put the Gators on the 40-yard line. Running back Chris Rainey put the Gators in South Carolina territory with a 17-yard run, but the Gators drive stalled once they got in the redzone and had to settle for another field goal, still trailing 14-6

The Gators forced South Carolina to another three-and-out, but were pinned deep in their own territory. Florida worked their way out of the tough field position however with a John Brantley pass to Jordan Reed for 13-yards. Florida worked their way down the field and South Carolina had the drive stopped, if it wasn't for a Jadeveon Clowney roughing the passer penalty. The Gators got a fresh set of downs as the third quarter expired.

For further reading, news, discussion and more visit SB Nation's Florida blog Alligator Army and SB Nation's South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack. Here’s the complete Week 11 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

Florida Vs. South Carolina Halftime Update: Dominique Easley Injured, Gamecocks Lead 14-3

South Carolina capped off their long drive at the end of the first quarter with a missed field goal. Florida's offense didn't do much with their next possession however, punting after just five plays to give the ball right back to the Gamecocks. South Carolina took the football and ran it right down the Gators throat.

With the combination of Bruce Ellington, Brandon Wilds, and Connor Shaw running the read-option, Florida's defense was helpless. The Gamecocks ran the ball 10 times, passing just once, and picking up a 4th-and-short to drive for a touchdown. On the touchdown, quarterback Connor Shaw dropped back to pass, looked the Florida safeties over to one side of the field and opened up a huge running lane. Shaw tucked the football and ran 10-yards for the touchdown to go up 7-0.

Florida's next drive went just four plays before the Gators turned it over. Freshman defensive end Jadeveon Clowney forced Jeff Demps to fumble the ball and South Carolina recovered. Once again, the Gamecocks ran the ball right down the field as Florida couldn't stop the read-option. South Carolina ran the ball 10 straight times capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown run by Connor Shaw to put the Gamecocks up over the Gators 14-3 heading into halftime.

For further reading, news, discussion and more visit SB Nation's Florida blog Alligator Army and SB Nation's South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack. Here’s the complete Week 11 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

Florida Vs. South Carolina Score Update: Gators Take Early Lead 3-0

The game started out rough for the Florida Gators when quarterback John Brantley was sacked on the second play of the game, fumbling the ball and turning it over giving South Carolina the ball at the 35-yard line. The Gamecocks however went backwards on the drive and couldn't capitalize, punting the football. For the next few drives, neither offense could move the football, trading punts. The Gators got a nice interception by De'Ante Sanders that put their offense at midfield, and they were able to add some points. The Gators moved down to the goal line on the legs of Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal to go up 3-0.

After the field goal, South Carolina got the football back and began to impose their will on the Gators defense as the first quarter came to a close. The Gamecocks picked up yardage on the ground quarterback Connor Shaw and running back Brandon Wilds. The Gamecocks were knocking the door of the redzone as the first quarter ended.

For further reading, news, discussion and more visit SB Nation's Florida blog Alligator Army and SB Nation's South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack. Here’s the complete Week 11 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

Florida Vs. South Carolina Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Florida Gators (5-4, 3-4 SEC) and South Carolina Gamecocks (7-2, 5-2 SEC) clash early Saturday with a chance at the SEC East title perhaps on the line, but for once, it is the Gamecocks and not the Gators who need to win to have a shot at the division title.

South Carolina, by virtue of its 45-42 win over Georgia on September 10, can still win the SEC East if the Gamecocks win out and the Bulldogs stumble against either Auburn or Kentucky.

John Brantley is expected to be under center for the Gators. Brantley missed the final two series against Vanderbilt last week after temporarily losing feeling in his throwing hand. Florida might also get a boost in the backfield, as it's possible running back Chris Rainey will play for the first time since the Gators loss to Georgia in last October.

Here are all the details you need about this afternoon's Gators vs. Gamecocks matchup:

Game date, time: 12:00 PM ET, November 12

Location: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

TV channel: CBS

Spread: South Carolina favored by 4

Series history: Florida leads 23-5-3

For further reading, news, discussion and more visit SB Nation's Florida blog Alligator Army and SB Nation's South Carolina blog Garnet and Black Attack. Here’s the complete Week 11 college football TV schedule, and stay tuned to SB Nation’s college football news hub for more.

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