Virginia vs. Auburn: What You Need To Know About the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl

The (7-5, 4-4 SEC) No. 25 Auburn Tigers are set to take on the (8-4, 5-3 ACC) Virginia Cavaliers on December 31, 2011 in the Atlanta Chick-fil-A Bowl. Both of these teams have been overachievers this season and have surprised numerous pundits by landing in this New Year’s Eve Bowl.

As both squads prepare to represent their conference in the coming bowl, both teams have a lot to show to close the season. The Tigers and the Cavaliers are at different points in their programs with the Cavaliers looking to be on the up while the Tigers are struggling to settle the house.

Looking ahead to the New Year's Eve matchup, here is a breakdown of the game. 

Details of 2011 Chick-Fil-a Bowl

Auburn and Virginia are playing in the 44^th annual Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Tigers are entering their fifth appearance in the bowl while Virginia is entering their fourth attempt at the bowl. If the 2011 game reaches a sellout, it will be the 14^th straight year for the bowl.

Date and Time: December 31, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. ET

TV Network: ESPN

Stadium/Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Inaugural Game: December 30, 1968

Performance Against Ranked Teams

Auburn’s Record against Ranked Teams: 2-4

Ranked Teams Faced: win vs. No. 16 Mississippi State 41-34; win at No. 10 South Carolina 16-13; loss at No. 10 Arkansas 38-14; loss at No. 1 LSU 45-10; loss at No. 15 Georgia 45-7; loss vs. No. 2 Alabama 42-14

Virginia’s Record against Ranked Teams: 2-1

Ranked Teams Faced: win vs. No. 12 Georgia Tech 24-21; win at No. 25 Florida State 14-13; loss vs. No. 5 Virginia Tech 38-0

Running Game Leads the Way

Auburn and Virginia are both very reliant on the rushing attack for their offenses to work. Auburn will miss the suspended Michael Dyer as he was an All-SEC first-team selection and has rushed for 1,242 yards this season. Here is a breakdown of the runners that will move the rock for the Tigers and Cavaliers this coming Saturday.

No. 23 Onterio McCalebb, Auburn Tigers

Rushing: 102 attempts for 532 yards and four TDs

Receiving: 30 receptions for 291 yards and one TD

No. 21 Tre Mason, Auburn Tigers

Rushing: 19 attempts for 97 yards

Return: 24 returns for 633 yards and one TD

No. 33 Perry Jones, Virginia Cavaliers

Rushing: 176 attempts for 883 yards and five TDs

Receiving: 41 catches for 416 yards and three TD’s

No. 25 Kevin Parks, Virginia Cavaliers

Rushing: 141 attempts for 661 yards and eight TDs

Receiving: 10 catches for 86 yards and one TD

While Auburn will miss Michael Dyer, the Cavaliers will have both starters and Clifton Richardson at their disposal. Richardson added an additional 333 rushing yards this season. The obvious edge falls to Virginia in the rushing game. 

Inconsistent Quarterback Play

Auburn enters this game without a definitive starter at quarterback. The Tigers are sharing snaps between season-ending starter Clint Moseley and the hopeful quarterback of the future, Kiehl Frazier. Virginia has a solid starter in Michael Rocco, but Rocco is only a sophomore and is still making rookie mistakes.

This will be a bigger key than most expect, but the edge falls to Virginia and the Cavaliers experience at the position.

No. 15 Clint Moseley, Auburn Tigers

Passing: 65-of-104, 794 yards, five TDs, three INTs, 62.5 CMP% and a 136.73 passer rating

No. 10 Kiehl Frazier, Auburn Tigers

Passing: 5-of-12, 34 yards, zero TDs, two INTs, 41.7 CMP% and a 32.14 passer rating

Rushing: 60 attempts for 272 yards and one TD

No. 16 Michael Rocco, Virginia Cavaliers

Passing: 196-of-325, 2,359 yards, 11 TDs, 11 INTs, 60.3 CMP% and a 125.7 passer rating

Defense Could Lead the Way

Virginia Cavalier Defense: fourth ACC in scoring defense, fourth in ACC rushing defense, sixth in ACC passing defense, third in ACC total defense

Auburn Tigers Defense: 11^th in SEC scoring defense, 11^th in SEC rushing defense, 12^th in SEC passing defense, 11^th in SEC total defense

The Cavaliers have the obvious edge over the Tigers in the defensive category. This game is not likely to be a barn burner, so whoever can make the most stops and win field position should win the game. Auburn’s punting game may be their best defensive weapon, but head to head the Cavaliers win this edge for the game as well. 

Coaching Resumes

Auburn Tigers Head Coach Gene Chizik

Overall Head Coaching Record: 34-29

Three Seasons with Auburn: 29-10

Bowl Record: 2-0

Highest AP Ranking while Head Coach: first (2010)

Virginia Cavaliers Head Coach Mike London

Overall Head Coaching Record: 36-17

Two Seasons with Virginia: 12-12

Bowl Record: none

Highest AP Ranking while Head Coach: N/A

2011 Regular Season

Auburn Tigers' 2011 Record: 7-5 (4-4 SEC)

Key Wins: 16-13 at No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks, 17-6 vs. Florida Gators

Auburn was coming off of the school's second national title season with very low expectations nationally. The consensus was that the Tigers would be lucky to finish .500, much less in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

For Gene Chizik and the Tigers team, however, this year was an underachieving season. Auburn ranks near the bottom in every defensive statistical category this season while also struggling offensively. This could be a big win for the Tigers program as they look to find footing heading into the 2012 offseason.

Virgina Cavaliers' 2011 Record: 8-4 (5-3 ACC)

Key Wins: 24-21 vs. No. 12 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 14-13 at No. 25 Florida State Seminoles

Virginia has overachieved everyone’s expectations this season. With marquee wins against Georgia Tech, Florida State and Miami, Mike London has this Cavaliers team headed in the right direction. In one season, London was able to take the Cavaliers from 4-8 to 8-4 and the Cavaliers won four more conference games in 2011 than in 2010.

In just his second season, the Cavaliers played their final regular-season game against No. 5 Virginia Tech for the Coastal Division crown.

Virginia vs. Auburn in the History Books

Auburn Tigers All-Time

Auburn’s All-Time Record: 712-400-47

Auburn’s All-Time Bowl Record: 21-13-2

National Titles: two (1957, 2010)

Conference Titles: 11 (1900, 1913, 1919, 1932, 1957, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2010)

First Game: 1892

Conference Affiliation: SEC (1932-current)

Virginia Cavaliers All-Time

Virginia’s All-Time Record: 616-540-48

Virginia’s All-Time Bowl Record: 7-10

Conference Titles: three (1908, 1989, 1995)

First Game: 1888

Conference Affiliation: ACC (1953-current)

Auburn and Virginia will meet for the third time on the football field in the teams' history this coming Saturday. The Tigers and Cavaliers have split their contests so far, playing in 1997 and 1998. There is not a lot of on-field history for the two teams but the Tigers do owe their orange and blue colors to the Virginia team.

There are more than a few stories that determine how the Tigers came to wear orange and blue, this being my favorite, but in the end they all lead to the Tigers' first coach George Petrie and the Virginia Cavaliers.