Florida football: All you need to know for the Orange Bowl
We are finally here as Florida football prepares to kick-off against Virginia in the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami.
It has been a long month for Florida football fans as we have endured that time without much in the way of football.
But that has all changed as No. 6 Florida prepares to take on No. 24 Virginia in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium.
Florida football has the opportunity to win back-to-back New Year’s 6 bowl games after beating Michigan last season in the Peach Bowl.
Standing in their way is the ACC Coastal Division champions in the Virginia Cavaliers.
Here’s all you need to know for tonight’s matchup:
Game information
Time and Date: 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, 2019.
Where: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida).
TV: ESPN with Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Todd McShay.
Radio: Gator IMG Sports Network with Mick Hubert, Lee McGriff and Tate Casey.
Satellite: Sirius Ch. 135, XM Ch. 190.
Headlines
- Know your opponent — Virginia Cavaliers
- Orange Bowl sets Gators on an upward path
- Orange Bowl a chance for Trask to set 2020 stage
- Gators injury report ahead of Orange Bowl
- Virginia injury report ahead of bowl game
- South Florida provides the perfect setting for Gators
Gators in the Orange Bowl
1967: Florida 27, No. 8 Georgia Tech 12 — Florida football quarterback Steve Spurrier led the Gators to an upset victory over No. 8 Georgia Tech, capping his Heisman Trophy-winning season.
1999: No. 8 Florida 31, No. 15 Syracuse 10 — Doug Johnson had a pair of touchdown passes to Travis Taylor in the first half to give Florida football a 14-0 early lead on Donovan McNabb and the Orangemen.
2002: No. 5 Florida 56, No. 10 Maryland 23 — Quarterback Rex Grossman had four touchdown passes for Florida football as the Gators held a 28-10 lead at halftime. The Gators racked up 659 yards of total offense in the win.
The Florida football offense
Behind quarterback Kyle Trask, the Gators have amassed 3,605 yards passing through 12 games — the most since 2001 — and is on pace to have its ninth season averaging 300 or more yards passing per game.
Florida’s total offensive output is 5,048 yards — the seventh season since 2001 the Gators have more than 5,000 yards in total offense.
The Florida football defense
The Gators rank No. 5 nationally in sacks with 46 total — that is 13 more than the next team in the Southeastern Conference.
Jonathan Greenard leads the SEC in both sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (14.5) in a season where he missed time with an ankle injury.
Zachary Carter, Mohamoud Diabate, James Houston, Jeremiah Moon and Jabari Zuniga all have at least three sacks on the season while Ventrell Miller, Adam Shuler, Khris Bogle, Trey Dean III, David Reece II and Tedarrell Slaton all have at least two.
Betting the game
The odds on this game are pretty steep in favor of Florida football, according to the Action Network. Most betting houses have Florida -14.5 with 69% of betters taking the Gators.
The final line
Florida football is in a good spot for this game. They are mostly healthy and have the chance to cap off a very strong season. Couple this with how a win can build for 2020 and the Gators look to be strong favorites.
3 Cavaliers to watch at the Orange Bowl. dark. Next
Remember, No. 9 Florida football will take on No. 24 Virginia in the Capital One Orange Bowl at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.