Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl highlight Jan. 2 lineup
![The Rose Bowl trophy is displayed during an NCAA college football news conference, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in Los Angeles. (JOE HERMITT / Associated Press)](https://thumb.spokesman.com/uO6q6eDqVn9RLDznlEJuDvMVKgE=/600x0/media.spokesman.com/graphics/2018/07/sr-loader.png)
Outback Bowl
Matchup: No. 20 Florida (8-4, SEC) vs. No. 21 Iowa (8-4, Big Ten)
Logistics: at St. Petersburg, Florida, 10 a.m. (ABC).
Line: Florida by 3 1/2.
Series record: Florida leads 2-1.
What’s at stake
Florida looks to finish this season on a winning note after ending its first season under coach Jim McElwain with a 41-7 loss to Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Iowa has lost four consecutive bowl games, and coach Kirk Ferentz says Monday’s matchup of four-loss teams is very much about finishing strong.
Key matchup
Florida WR Antonio Callaway (47 receptions, 666 yards, 3 touchdowns) is excited about the challenge of competing against Iowa star CB Desmond King, the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back.
Cotton Bowl
Matchup: No. 12 Western Michigan (13-0, Mid-American) vs. No. 8 Wisconsin (10-3, Big Ten)
Logistics: at Arlington, Texas, 10 a.m. (ESPN).
Line: Wisconsin by 8 1/2.
Series record: Wisconsin leads 3-1.
What’s at stake
Western Michigan will try to complete an undefeated season. Wisconsin is trying to finish its fourth 11-win season in seven years and win a third consecutive bowl game.
Key matchup
WR Corey Davis, the All-American for Western Michigan, against the Wisconsin secondary. Davis has 91 catches this season for 1,427 yards and is the FBS career leader with 5,212 yards receiving. He is the only FBS player ever with 300 career catches, 5,000 yards and 50 TDs. Wisconsin leads all Power Five teams with 21 interceptions.
Rose Bowl
Matchup: No. 5 Penn State (11-2, Big Ten) vs. No. 9 USC (9-3, Pac-12)
Logistics: at Pasadena, California, 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: USC by 7.
Series record: USC leads 5-4, and 2-1 in bowl games, including a 38-24 victory in the 2009 Rose Bowl
What’s at stake
After overcoming poor starts in September to reach the Granddaddy of Them All, the winner of the Rose Bowl will find itself christened as an immediate favorite to reach the College Football Playoff in 2017. The Nittany Lions can finish in the Top 5 for the first time since 2005. The Trojans won eight straight to end an eight-year absence from their postseason home away from home.
Key matchup
USC quarterback Sam Darnold vs. Penn State’s pass rush. The redshirt freshman revitalized a struggling offense with his mobility and ability to spread the ball around, taking just five sacks since replacing Max Browne as the starter in USC’s fourth game. But Penn State can get after the quarterback, with 18 players accounting for the Nittany Lions’ 39 sacks this season.
Orange Bowl
Matchup: No. 17 Auburn (8-4, SEC) vs. No. 7 Oklahoma (10-2, Big 12)
Logistics: at New Orleans, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN).
Line: Oklahoma by 3.
Series record: Oklahoma leads 1-0.
What’s at stake
Oklahoma can finish its season with a 10th straight victory while cementing its top 10 ranking. Auburn, which lost its final two regular season conference games, wants to knock off the Big 12 champs to give the SEC more bragging rights over another power conference.
Key matchup
Oklahoma’s offense, featuring two Heisman trophy finalists in quarterback Baker Mayfield and receiver Dede Westbrook, against Auburn’s 20th-ranked defense, which also ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense (15.6 points per game).
Associated Press