Citrus Bowl

Site: Orlando, Fla.

Series history: Florida leads, 1-0.

Bowl records: Florida 11-13, Penn State 21-10-2.

How teams got there: Normally you would think Joe Paterno vs. Steve Spurrier--opposing each other for the first time--would be for a national title. Instead, the two coaches landed far off-Broadway . . . well, in Orlando, at least. Florida’s Spurrier, who has delighted mocking Tennessee’s numerous appearances in the Citrus Bowl, was greeted by an Orlando Sentinel headline: “Welcome to Your Worst Nightmare, Spurrier.” Florida got here in part by committing a combined nine turnovers in midseason losses to Georgia and LSU. Penn State’s season derailed against Michigan and Michigan State.

The game: In the span of a few days, most of the Nittany Lion offense vanished when Paterno first suspended star receiver Joe Jurevicius for subpar grades and then All-American running back Curtis Enis for receiving clothes worth $400 from an agent. They combined for 30 of Penn State’s 49 touchdowns. There will be more pressure on quarterback Mike McQueary, a fifth-year senior but first-year starter who threw for 2,211 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Gators are 15-0 when running back Fred Taylor (1,292 yards, 13 touchdowns) rushes for more than 100 yards, and the Nittany Lion defense is ranked 81st against the run.

FLORIDA (9-2)

at Southern Mississippi: W 21-6

Central Michigan: W 62-66

Tennessee: W 33-20

at Kentucky: W 55-28

Arkansas: W 56-7

at LSU: L 28-21

at Auburn: W 24-10

Georgia: L 37-17

Vanderbilt: W 20-7

at South Carolina: W 48-21

Florida State : W 32-29

PENN ST. (9-2)

Pittsburgh: W 34-17

Temple: W 52-10

at Louisville: W 57-21

at Illinois: W 41-6

Ohio State: W 31-27

Minnesota: W 16-15

at Northwestern: W 30-27

Michigan: L 34-8

at Purdue: W 42-17

Wisconsin: W 35-10

at Michigan State: W 49-14