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Two questions for the Outback Bowl
Running back LeShun Daniels will be relied on by Iowa vs. a stout Florida defense in the Outback Bowl. Matthew Holst/Getty Images

Two questions for the Outback Bowl

One year ago, both the Iowa Hawkeyes and Florida Gators were in their respective conference championship games. Florida was able to get back to the SEC final, only to lose once again to Alabama, while Iowa followed up its surprising 2015 run with an up and down season, losing to North Dakota State yet defeating Michigan and Nebraska.

In this battle of 8-4 teams, which one can end on the right foot?

Outback Bowl
Florida (8-4, SEC) vs. Iowa (8-4, Big Ten)
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Time: Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT
Channel: ABC 

The Gators have been a mess this season (true by SEC standards, but really, they're not great in most football metrics outside of their defense against the pass). Despite this, they still slid into the final rankings at No. 17. Do they even deserve their ranking and a higher-profile bowl outside of reputation? 

Shiloh Carder: Well, there's a bit of inflation when it comes to SEC teams, don't you think? This hasn't been a brilliant SEC season outside of Tuscaloosa, yet they litter the bottom half of the rankings. Don't get me wrong: The SEC has solid teams and there seems to be a lot of 8-4 squads out there, but what has Florida done this year? Win at LSU?

Sam Greszes: Yes and no. It's always tough having this conversation because statistics don't really have any direct relation to rankings or for that matter to what bowl a team ends up going. If you look at the record, sure, No. 17 seems like a decent place for Florida, but that doesn't change the fact that the Gators are an utterly mediocre team.

Lucky for them, Iowa is equally mediocre and was a massive disappointment in the Big Ten.

Lucky for us, nobody is forcing us to watch this game.

Daniel Tran: Looking at Florida’s schedule, there is nothing that’ll blow anyone away. It went 1-3 against ranked teams this year and has been able to take advantage of a vastly weaker SEC East Division to pump up its résumé to get to the SEC Championship Game.

Should the Gators have been ranked No. 17? Probably not, but I think they’re a top 25 team.

That said, Iowa isn't very flashy either. Who is going to need to step up for the Hawkeyes to make this a game? Desmond King? C.J. Beathard?

Shiloh Carder: Running back LeShun Daniels has been big in Iowa's final two games, hitting the 159-yard mark and two scores each time. The Hawkeyes don't throw the ball that often and rely on that tough defense so if Daniels (along with Akrum Wadley) can keep the chains moving, then Iowa has a good chance to win this one.

Sam Greszes: It'll have to be Beathard. He's had his struggles this season, as has the rest of the Iowa team, and I really do believe that Florida should dominate this game from start to finish. For Iowa to have a chance, Beathard will have to challenge Florida's secondary — and win — with a few explosive long passes.

Daniel Tran: LeShun Daniels Jr. needs to have a big game against Florida to keep the Gator pass defense honest. If Daniels can pound the ball consistently, he can open up passing lanes if Florida loads up against the run.

C.J. Beathard isn’t a game-breaking quarterback, but he is coming into the game a little hot, beating ranked Nebraska with three touchdowns and no interceptions. If Daniels keeps Florida honest, Beathard can add another dimension to this team.

Mascot edge: I'm going to be honest, I wouldn't want to stare down Hawkeyes or Gators, and seeing as both are pretty much dinosaurs, they know how to survive. Still, who isn't more terrified of Gators than any type of bird, no matter how ferocious?

Save your quiz results!   You must sign in to save your score.
Can you name every Florida Gators player to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft?
SCORE:
0/54
TIME:
12:00
1945 - 2 - B - PIT
Paul Duhart
1950 - 3 - HB - CHI
Chuck Hunsinger
1967 - 3 - QB - SF
Steve Spurrier
1969 - 8 - RB - RAM
Larry Smith
1970 - 20 - DB - NYJ
Steve Tannen
1971 - 20 - DE - RAM
Jack Youngblood
1972 - 14 - QB - PHI
John Reaves
1975 - 14 - LB - CIN
Glenn Cameron
1978 - 3 - WR - NO
Wes Chandler
1983 - 13 - FB - DET
James Jones
1984 - 11 - LB - CHI
Wilber Marshall
1985 - 6 - T - DET
Lomas Brown
1985 - 27 - RB - MIA
Lorenzo Hampton
1986 - 15 - FB - SEA
John Williams
1986 - 27 - RB - CHI
Neal Anderson
1987 - 27 - WR - DEN
Ricky Nattiel
1988 - 21 - LB - CLE
Clifford Charlton
1989 - 12 - DE - CHI
Trace Armstrong
1989 - 23 - T - HOU
David Williams
1989 - 25 - DB - MIA
Louis Oliver
1990 - 17 - RB - DAL
Emmitt Smith
1991 - 15 - LB - PIT
Huey Richardson
1995 - 6 - DE - STL
Kevin Carter
1995 - 15 - DT - IND
Ellis Johnson
1997 - 7 - WR - NYG
Ike Hilliard
1997 - 16 - WR - TB
Reidel Anthony
1998 - 9 - RB - JAX
Fred Taylor
1998 - 23 - G - OAK
Mo Collins
1999 - 16 - DE - TEN
Jevon Kearse
1999 - 24 - DT - SF
Reggie McGrew
2000 - 10 - WR - BAL
Travis Taylor
2001 - 3 - DT - CLE
Gerard Warren
2001 - 14 - T - TB
Kenyatta Walker
2002 - 26 - DB - PHI
Lito Sheppard
2003 - 22 - QB - CHI
Rex Grossman
2007 - 17 - DE - DEN
Jarvis Moss
2007 - 21 - DB - JAX
Reggie Nelson
2008 - 8 - DE - JAX
Derrick Harvey
2009 - 22 - WR - MIN
Percy Harvin
2010 - 7 - DB - CLE
Joe Haden
2010 - 18 - C - PIT
Maurkice Pouncey
2010 - 25 - QB - DEN
Tim Tebow
2011 - 15 - G - MIA
Mike Pouncey
2013 - 23 - DT - MIN
Sharrif Floyd
2013 - 32 - DB - BAL
Matt Elam
2014 - 29 - DT - NE
Dominique Easley
2015 - 3 - OLB - JAX
Dante Fowler
2015 - 24 - T - ARI
D.J. Humphries
2016 - 11 - CB - TB
Vernon Hargreaves
2016 - 17 - SS - ATL
Keanu Neal
2017- 21 - LB - DET
Jarrad Davis
2018 - 29 - DT - JAX
Taven Bryan
2020 - 9 - CB - JAX
C.J. Henderson
2021 - 20 - WR - NYG
Kadarius Toney

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