Orange Bowl 2014: TV Schedule, Matchup Predictions and More
There are many college football bowl games that will take place over the coming month, but few have the history and prestige associated with the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The Orange Bowl was first played on January 1, 1935, and has been held annually ever since.
The 2014 edition of the game will feature the ACC champion (or second-place ACC team if Florida State makes the College Football Playoff) squaring off against a representative from the SEC, Big Ten or the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
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Here is all the vital viewing information for the 2014 Orange Bowl.
Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
When: Wednesday, December 31
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Predicting Possible Matchups
A huge part of the Orange Bowl is the inclusion of an Atlantic Coast Conference representative. While the Florida State Seminoles are the No. 1 team in the conference, the program will have to square off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for the ACC Championship Game.
The championship will take place Saturday, December 6, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
If Florida State wins the game and claims the ACC title, the team will be a lock for the College Football Playoff with an undefeated record. In that case, Georgia Tech would advance to the Orange Bowl as the representative of the ACC.
On the other hand, a loss for the Seminoles would knock the team out of playoff contention and out of the Orange Bowl as well. The Yellow Jackets are in a win-win situation, and their spot in the postseason is secured.
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson spoke to Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com about the lack of respect he and his team have received at times:
"You're never going to please everybody. As soon as you lose a game or lose a couple games, they come back out. They don't go away. That's the same for everybody. I've been doing this for a long time, and there's a long track record, and I'm proud of it. I figure when it's not good enough, they'll get somebody else.
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As for which program the Yellow Jackets play in the Orange Bowl, that’s a bit more complicated.
Notre Dame was a major consideration earlier in the season, but four straight losses to end the season and five losses in the last six games prove that the Fighting Irish do not deserve the honor.
The result will be the highest-ranked team from the Southeastern Conference or the Big Ten Conference (not including conference champions) squaring off against Georgia Tech. Right now, all signs point to either the Michigan State Spartans or the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
It still remains to be seen how the conference championships shake up the College Football Playoff rankings, but losses from top teams in the rankings could drastically change how both Michigan State and Mississippi State are ranked.
As much as the Spartans deserve credit for an impressive season, the schedule was much more difficult for the Bulldogs. Despite a loss in the final game of the regular season, Mississippi State still has marquee wins over LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn.
Michigan State has played only three ranked teams all year and lost two of those matchups (defeated by Oregon and Ohio State), and the Spartans will likely just miss out on the chance to play in the Orange Bowl.
College football fans want the best game possible. With Georgia Tech a lock to make the Orange Bowl and Mississippi State deserving the honor more than Michigan State, the predicted matchup between the Yellow Jackets and Bulldogs will be a marquee bowl game.
As much as Georgia Tech deserves the honor of making the Orange Bowl, Mississippi State is the better team and will be looking for vengeance after ending the regular season with a loss. Those looking to place a bet on the bowl games should ride with the Bulldogs.
Predicted 2014 Orange Bowl and Score: Mississippi State 33, Georgia Tech 24
*Stats via ESPN.com.
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