Champs Sports Bowl 2011: TV Schedule, Live Streaming, Radio, Game Time and More

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Florida State Seminoles are squaring off in Orlando with the Champs Sports Bowl on the line.

It’s a contest between two teams that stumbled during the season but are very capable of stringing together a solid performance on the gridiron.

While both teams were hoping to be in a BCS bowl this season, having a name-brand second-tier bowl to play in is a solid consolation for each side.

Keep reading to find out all you need to know about this exciting postseason game.  

Where: Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL

When: Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. EDT

Watch: ESPN/ESPN3D/ESPN3

Listen: 89.7 FM – Florida State, WLS 890 AM – Notre Dame

Betting Line: There is no line set for this game at this time.

Key Storyline

Both of these teams have had underwhelming seasons and finished well short of expectations with their 8-4 records. Florida State started No. 6 and Notre Dame was No. 16 in the AP Poll during the preseason.

They have a chance to somewhat redeem themselves with a solid bowl victory to cap off their 2011 campaign.

There have played some epic games before between these programs, and the rivalry should be rekindled on December 29.

Who Might Not Play for Florida State

C David Spurlock—OUT (undisclosed): The senior starting center has not played for weeks and may not be cleared to return for the bowl game.

RB Chris Thompson—OUT (back): Against Wake Forest, the star junior RB broke his back and has not been able to play. He will miss the bowl game for sure.

Who Might Not Play for Notre Dame

RB Jonas Gray—OUT (knee): The senior’s career ended a few weeks ago with a torn ACL and he won’t be able to suit up for the trip to Orlando.

DE Kapron Lewis-Moore—OUT (knee): The junior lineman injured his MCL and had his season cut short a few weeks ago.

What It Means for Florida State

The Seminoles have won three straight bowl games and are looking to make it a fourth.

The Champs Sports Bowl wasn’t what they had in mind when they began the season as the No. 6 team, but it’s certainly one they are familiar with and have had success in before.

They pummeled Wisconsin back in 2008 in this game, 42-13, and also beat Penn State way in 1990 when it was called the Blockbuster Bowl.

Regardless, it’s a major win for them if they beat a program like Notre Dame. The bowl will definitely have a lot of hype surrounding it.

But who would have thought a game between the ‘Noles and the Irish would be played before New Year's this season?

What It Means for Notre Dame

The Irish would love to win the Champs Sports Bowl considering they can only play in it once during the four-year contract that maintains this is traditionally a Big East/ACC bowl.

They also would like to best the Seminoles and renew a rivalry that has an excellent history with games like their 1993 regular season matchup and the 1996 Orange Bowl.

What They're Saying

Keith Arnold with Inside the Irish is reporting that Tommy Rees is going to start against FSU but Andrew Hendrix will play. 

As you probably know, Rees took over the No. 1 QB job at halftime in the first game against South Florida. Dayne Crist was relegated to the bench and then Rees started until losing the job to Hendrix, a sophomore, in the second half of the regular-season finale against Stanford.

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Rees will start against the Seminoles but Hendrix will play. Whoever is playing against FSU will battle one of the country’s strongest defenses. The Seminoles give up only 15.2 points a game, fourth best in the country, and sport a top-10 ranking in rush defense and total defense as well.

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Brian Hamilton at the Chicago Tribune found that many current players don’t know the history between these schools.

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Asked about the 1993 showdown between the No. 1 Seminoles and No. 2 Irish, receiver Michael Floyd described his familiarity this way Sunday: ‘I've seen it on YouTube,’ Floyd deadpanned.

 

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Florida State Player to Watch: E.J. Manuel

Manuel can absolutely take games over at times, and he needs to continue to flash that ability against the Irish.

If he puts together a good performance, the Seminoles have a very good chance to win a game they should be favorites in.

Notre Dame Player to Watch: Tommy Rees

If Rees plays poorly, it’s very possible Hendrix will take over for him.

How will he handle the pressure?

We’ll find out on Dec. 29. 

Key Matchup: Notre Dame Offense vs. FSU Defense

Florida State has such a beastly defense that it’s going to be extremely hard for the Irish to put yards up on them.

The 'Noles could fluster head coach Brian Kelly into making quarterback changes early and throwing their game plan completely off.

Prediction

Florida State 28, Notre Dame 24