Florida @ Ohio State preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 8, 2007 ) Florida 41, Ohio State 14

GATOR BOWL STORYLINES:

1. Two programs that met for the BCS national championship just five years ago stumble into the Gator Bowl looking to salvage a winning season. When Florida beat Ohio State 41-14 for the 2006 BCS title, Urban Meyer patrolled the Gators sideline. Now he’s poised to take over a Buckeyes program still reeling from NCAA rules violations that cost former coach Jim Tressel his job.

2. Neither Ohio State nor Florida is accustomed to being this bad on offense. The Gators never found any consistency this season, finishing 102nd out of 120 FBS schools in total offense. Ohio State was worse, ranking 107th in the nation.

3. Ohio State freshman quarterback Braxton Miller averaged 90.4 yards rushing in his final five games and passed for 11 touchdowns. He’ll be challenged by a Florida defense that finished ninth in the nation in total defense and ranked 20th against the pass.

4. Florida senior quarterback John Brantley threw three interceptions against Florida State in the regular-season finale, before leaving with a concussion. Freshmen quarterbacks Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett, both of whom struggled when called upon this season, could see time if Brantley falters.

TV: ESPN2, ESPN3. LINE: Florida –2.0.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (6-6, 3-5 Big Ten): The Buckeyes appeared to find themselves after consecutive victories over then No. 16 Illinois and then No. 15 Wisconsin to end October. But Ohio State lost its final three games, all by a touchdown or less, finishing under .500 in conference play for the first time since 1999. Interim coach Luke Fickell will coach the Buckeyes in the Gator Bowl and has been offered a spot on Meyer’s staff. Ohio State won’t be in a bowl game next season as the NCAA announced a one-year bowl ban on Dec. 20.

ABOUT FLORIDA (6-6, 3-5 SEC): First-year coach Will Muschamp saw the Gators win their first four games, then drop six of their final eight -- only beating Vanderbilt and Furman. Muschamp has had to shuffle coaching duties leading up to the bowl game as offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left to take the head coaching job at Kansas. The Gators scored 20 points or less in all six of their losses, and scored more than 26 points just once in the season’s final two months.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 17, Florida 14. Meyer’s future beats Meyer’s past as the Buckeyes have more offense than the inconsistent Gators.