The Capital One Bowl

Huskers and Gamecocks face off in the new year

The Capital One Bowl is always one of the more entertaining Bowl Games and the 2012 edition should be as well. The No.9 South Carolina Gamecocks will tangle with the No.20 Nebraska Cornhuskers as both teams are looking to win this Bowl Game to set the tone for the fall 2012 season. This is a game that should prove to be very entertaining with both teams wanting to end season on a winning note. Let us take a closer look at this match-up and see how it all breaks down.

Steve Spurrier is having another consistent season with the Gamecocks, but not quite, where he wants to be yet. South Carolina is usually known for their offense, but is only ranked 97th in the Nation. For the Gamecocks, they have a balanced attack on the ground and through the air averaging 177.4 yards passing to go along with 198 yards rushing per game. This balanced offense could give the Cornhuskers trouble. Steve Spurrier has been known to throw many wrinkles in, and will keep the Cornhuskers defense guessing on every series.

The one area that South Carolina has excelled at this season is on the defensive side of the ball. This is something Steve Spurrier teams are usually not known for, but this season is an exception. The Gamecocks have allowed just 18.8 points a game this season and just 268 yards per game. They will need the same kind of effort against a Nebraska offense that can score many points. South Carolina will need to find a way to stop Nebraska's one-two punch of Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead.

For Nebraska, they are looking for their tenth win and a chance to have their best record since the 2001 campaign. Bo Pelini has been riding his two offensive stars quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead all season and that will not change in this game. Burkhead and Martinez has been the Cornhuskers one-two punch all season long and very effective. Burkhead has rushed for over 1,000 yards and Nebraska is ranked 13th in the Nation in rushing. Quarterback Taylor Martinez has become more proficient this season as well, which has helped the offense to be more consistent.

The defense though for Nebraska has been questionable all season long and South Carolina will try to exploit it. Steve Spurrier will use a mixture of run and pass to keep the Cornhuskers guessing. Nebraska's pass defense is very questionable and look for the Cornhuskers to disguise it with a variety of schemes. Knowing Steve Spurrier, he still will find a way to exploit it to his advantage. Nebraska will rely on senior Lavonte David to keep the defense playing at a high level.

Nebraska has won all three previous meeting against South Carolina, but this one will not be easy. It could come down to who gets the ball last in this game or who commits the fewest turnovers. Nebraska will rely on Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead, while South Carolina will use a balance offense to get it done. This should be a very exciting match-up in the 2012 Capital One Bowl.

Capital One Bowl Overview

The Capital One Bowl is played in Orlando, Fla. and has been in existence since 1947. That year Catawba College beat Maryville College 31-0 on New Year's Day in front of 9,000 people.

The game was initially known as the Tangerine Bowl and held that name until 1982. From 1983-1993 it was called the Citrus Bowl.

Since 1994 corporate sponsorship has dictated the official name. It has been known as the CompUsa Florida Citrus Bowl (1994-1999), Ourhouse.com Florida Citrus Bowl (2000) and Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl (2001-2002). In 2003 it became the Capital One Bowl and is presently known as such.

Currently the Capital One Bowl is considered the next best match up outside of the BCS games. Once Bowl Championship Series lineups are determined, Capital One Bowl officials have first choice of an SEC and Big Ten team. Having two successful teams from powerhouse conferences usually assures high TV ratings. This is a great game to try out our live in-game college football wagering. All the highly televised games are covered to provide you with a chance to bet during the game.

Prior to 1968 the game was not considered one of the major bowls. It mainly played host to small colleges, with the likes of St. Vincent College winning in 1949 and Stetson University being victorious in 1951.

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) champions met opponents at this bowl from 1968-1975. The MAC dominated with Toledo and Miami (Ohio) capturing three victories each.

Two at-large teams from major conferences played from 1976-1986. In 1987 the ACC champion took on an at-large opponent and did so until 1991. The current Big Ten vs. SEC format began in 1992.

Although the game has always been scheduled in the same venue, the stadium has undergone some name changes. It has been the Tangerine Bowl, Citrus Bowl, Orlando Stadium and presently Florida Citrus Bowl. Renovations forced the 1973 game to be played in Gainesville.

The game began as a New Year's Day bowl and that tradition is alive today. However, from 1961-1985 the game was played in December. Currently there is a 1 p.m. kick off time, putting it right before the Rose Bowl.

The 1994 match up between Tennessee and Penn State is one of the most memorable. The Volunteers entered the game ranked #5 and a heavy favorite. The Nittany Lions instead handed them a 31-13 defeat.

In 2008 Michigan entered the game as underdogs to Florida and its Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow. Reportedly Gator players even taunted Michigan at half time. Ultimately the Wolverines won 41-35 and players triumphantly carried retiring coach Lloyd Carr off the field.

Two of the most notable individual performances came from Florida's Cris Collinsworth in 1980 and Tennessee's Peyton Manning in 1997. Collinsworth had eight receptions for 166 yards while Manning passed for 408 yards and four touchdowns. Each player earned game MVP honors for these achievements.

The largest crowd in the bowl's history is 72, 940 and came in the 1998 Florida vs. Penn State game. The 2009 and 2010 games have seen crowds of around 60,000.

The Orlando location is a big help for selling tickets. Central Florida's warm winter climate and attractions entice many fans to travel, especially from cold Big Ten cities. Although the Big Ten is about to undergo realignment, this bowl should not lose any popularity.

At Allpro sportsbook we also have all the NFL odds every week to go alongside the whole holiday bowl season. The Capital One Bowl Game preview along with the Capital One Bowl odds will be released and publish along with all bowl games at the end of the regular NCAA Football season.