2011 Bowl Schedule: Most Intriguing Matchups in the Champs Sports Bowl

Florida State and Notre Dame are much more comfortable playing in post-New Year’s Eve bowl games, but this season, they’ll match up on December 29th  in the Champs Sports Bowl.  At 5:30 p.m. EST in Orlando, the two teams will face off against each other in what will be a huge game for each program's future.  A win sends a school in the right direction to once again contend for a BCS bowl while a loss continues a squad’s streak of disappointment.

Here are the key individual matchups that’ll decide the contest:

Michael Floyd vs. Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes

Floyd is a beast.  The sure-fire first-round pick brought down 95 receptions this season for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns.  If the Fighting Irish win this game, it’ll be on the back of Floyd.

Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes make up one of the best cornerback tandems in college football.  Of course, the Miami Hurricanes supposedly had one of the more talented duos in the nation last bowl season in Brandon Harris and DeMarcus Van Dyke, and Floyd still owned them.  If Reid and Rhodes can even slow Floyd down a little, the Seminoles would be well on their way to victory.

Brandon Jenkins vs. Zack Martin and Taylor Dever

Florida State’s first-round prospect could have the same type of impact on the game as Notre Dame’s.  Jenkins is pass rushing machine.  The defensive end possesses the talent to be in Tommy Rees’ grill all game long.

The Fighting Irish’s two offensive tackles, Martin and Dever, must give Rees time to throw the football.  If they can keep his pocket clean, the talented young quarterback will be able to comfortably march the football down the field.  If Jenkins’ rush is too relentless, though, pressure could quickly translate into turnovers.

Devonta Freeman vs. Manti Te’o

Florida State’s freshman phenom running back will be a key in the Seminoles offensive consistency.  After taking over the workload in the second half of the season, Freeman excelled rushing for 531 yards and eight touchdowns on five yards a pop.  It will be difficult to score on the Irish if Florida State becomes one-dimensional.

Another first-round prospect, Manti Te’o will make sure Freeman doesn’t have a productive day.  Te’o has dragged down 106 ball carriers so far this season.  If he can successfully shadow Freeman, the Seminoles special teams will become their best way to get in scoring range.

Prediction

Michael Floyd will put on a show in front of NFL scouts, but in the end, Florida State’s fourth-ranked defense will be too much for Tommy Rees to overcome.  The Seminoles top-notch special teams will also play a huge role in knocking off the Fighting Irish.

Florida State 24-21

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer. Follow him on Twitter.