2012 Russell Athletic Bowl: Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech game preview, location, history and more

The first college football game may have been played by Rutgers, but a win in the Russell Athletic Bowl could make 2012 the most successful season in school history.

The Scarlet Knights have only won ten games twice in school history, and they're currently sitting at nine. The Russell Athletic Bowl may not be particularly prestigious, but neither have any of the seven games the Scarlet Knights have appeared in thus far in their history. And this year, the team earned a share of a conference title for only the third time in school history and first since joining the Big East in 1991. They won their first seven games, but finished the year with losses to Pittsburgh and Louisville, pushing them out of a BCS game. Rutgers has the fifth best scoring defense in the country, allowing just 14.3 points per game. That said, they had a very weak schedule, not playing a single ranked opponent all year long.

For Virginia Tech, this year has been especially disappointing: despite a wide-open Coastal Division featuring bowl ineligible North Carolina and Miami teams, the Hokies finished 6-6, with Logan Thomas not playing up to potential. Three of those wins came in overtime or by three points, so they very easily could have ended up missing out on a bowl. The Hokies are favored in the game after winning their last two games of the season.

Here's the info on how to catch the game on Friday:

Game date and time

Dec. 28, 5:30 p.m.

Location

Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.

Spread

Virginia Tech opened as 1.5 point-favorites.

TV schedule

ESPN

Watch online

WatchESPN

Radio schedule

ESPN Radio

Last year’s game

Florida State, 18, Notre Dame, 14

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