Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl 2012: George O'Leary promises 'great competition'

The Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl might not have the same ring to it as, say, the Sugar Bowl, but UCF coach George O'Leary expects a great game nonetheless.

The ninth-year coach of the Knights said the Dec. 21 game against the Ball State Cardinals should make fans happy, writes Ben Breiner of The Star Press:

"I think we have two good football teams and great game expectation as far as crowd and competition is concerned," UCF coach George O'Leary said at a bowl press conference. "I have had the opportunity to look at them on film. It is going to be a great competition, and I am looking forward to the challenge."

UCF has had a solid season, going 9-4 and 7-1 in Conference USA. The Knights struggled toward the end, losing a pair of games to Tulsa in the final three weeks.

Ball State is 9-4 this season. The Cardinals finished the year with a six-game winning streak, including a 34-27 win over No. 25 Toledo on Nov. 6.

This is the fifth bowl game for the Knights under O'Leary's watch. The team is 1-3 in bowl games, with the only win coming two years ago in the Liberty Bowl. The Knights beat the Georgia Bulldogs, 10-6.