#MICHvsFLA Citrus Bowl: jan. 1, 2016

  • Who: No. 17 Michigan Wolverines (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 19 Florida Gators (10-3, 7-1 SEC)
  • What: 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl
  • When: New Year's Day, 1:00 p.m.
  • Where: Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando Florida
  • Broadcast: TV (ABC | WatchESPN), Radio (Michigan Sports Network)
  • Series History: U-M has won both previous match-ups with UF, and this will be the fifth appearance for the Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl (3-1)

Scouting the Gators

Florida Facts

Location: Gainesville, Fla.

Head Coach: Jim McElwain (1st Season)

Offensive Scheme: Multiple

Defensive Scheme: Multiple

Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)

Key Players

  • Kelvin Taylor (RB): 248 rushing attempts for 985 yards, 13 TD; 17 receptions for 150 yards
  • Antonio Callaway (WR): 30 receptions for 603 yards and a team-high four TD
  • Antonio Morrison (LB): Team-high 97 tackles, 12 TFL
  • Jalen Tabor (CB): Four INT with two returned for touchdowns, 19 PBU
  • Vernon Hargreaves (CB): Four INT returned for 152 yards

Michigan Offense vs. Florida Defense

What To Watch For

Trends

  • The U-M offense finished the regular season hot, averaging 443.75 yards per game over the final four weeks of the year, while the Florida defense has ranked among the nation's best all season, with opponents averaging 295.4 ypg.
  • Michigan enters the game scoring 30.6 points per game, but will face a Gator defense that gives up just 16.5 ppg, a figure that lists eighth in the FBS. However, that same unit has surrendered 56 points in their last two games - both losses.

Battle in the Trenches

  • Florida averages 3.08 sacks per game (9th, FBS) and 7.5 tackles for loss per game (14th, FBS), providing a tough test for the Michigan offensive line.
  • On the season, the Gators have totaled 98 TFLs and 40 sacks. Linebacker Antonio Morrison leads Florida with 97 tackles, followed by fellow linebacker Jarrad Davis with 94. UF has four defensive players with double-digit TFL, led by defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard with 17.5. Bullard also shares the team lead in sacks with 6.5.
  • Michigan has used the same five starters across the offensive line all season, surrendering just 18 sacks and 62 TFL on the year.

Aerial Attack

  • Jalen Tabor and Vernon Hargreaves lead the way in the Gators' secondary as each has four interceptions, with Tabor returning two of them for touchdowns. As a unit, Florida has collected 14 interceptions in 2015.
  • Jake Rudock has connected on 64% of his passes this season, one of the best ranks in school history.
  • The receiving trio of Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt has totaled 11 touchdown receptions and 1,025 yards in the past four games.

Ground Attack

  • Michigan averages 152.7 ypg while the Florida defense gives up an average of 120.6 ypg.
  • De'Veon Smith leads all Wolverine rushers with 155 carries for 644 yards and six touchdowns while Sione Houma and Jake Rudock each have four rushing touchdowns to their name, which is second on the team.
  • U-M has tallied 25 rushing touchdowns this season while Florida has only allowed 10 rushing scores in 2015.

Quarters to Win

  • The second and fourth quarters will be key to Michigan's success. The Wolverines have scored 140 and 77 points, respectively, in those frames, while the Gator defense has allowed 78 and 79 points in those quarters.

Michigan Defense vs. Florida Offense

What To Watch For

Trends

  • Florida has scored just six offensive touchdowns in their past five games, averaging 14 ppg during that stretch.
  • Michigan's scoring defense of 17.2 ppg ranks 11th in the FBS, while its total defense is fourth in the country, allowing 281.3 ypg.
  • Michigan opponents have converted 25.6% of their third down chances this season, a category the Wolverines rank second in the country in. The Florida offense, on the other hand, has converted 35.2% of their third down attempts in 2015, listing 103rd in the FBS.

Battle in the Trenches

  • Michigan linebackers Joe Bolden and Desmond Morgan lead the way in tackles with 76 and 67, respectively.
  • Willie Henry paces the squad with 6.5 sacks while Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton have contributed with 5.5 sacks each. Wormley leads all U-M defenders with 12 TFLs. As a team, the Wolverines have collected 82 TFLs and 30 sacks.
  • The Florida offensive line has given up 43 sacks this season, an average of 3.31 per game. That number lists 121st of 127 teams in the country.

Aerial Attack

  • Treon Harris has completed 51.9% of his passes on the season, throwing for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions. The Michigan pass defense ranks third in the country, giving up 158.3 ypg, while boasting the top-rated pass efficiency defense at 94.98.
  • The Gators receiving corps feature Demarcus Robinson, who leads the team with 47 receptions totaling 505 yards and a pair of scores. Antonio Callaway has a team-high 603 yards on 30 receptions, a 20.1 average yards per catch, to go along with four touchdowns, tied for the team lead with tight end Jake McGee.
  • Jourdan Lewis leads the Michigan secondary with a school-record 21 passes defended, including two interceptions, with one being returned for a touchdown.

Ground Attack

  • Running back Kelvin Taylor leads the Gators rushing attack, carrying the ball 248 times for 985 yards and 13 touchdowns this season - all team highs. Jordan Cronkrite is second on the team with three touchdowns and has accumulated 140 yards on 41 carries. UF averages 127.6 rushing ypg, a number that lists 113th in the nation while Michigan's rush defense is 18th, yielding 122.6 ypg.
  • Opponents are averaging 3.6 yards per carry against the Wolverine defense and have scored just 12 touchdowns on the ground.
  • Michigan has held seven opponents under 100 yards rushing this season, including a stretch of six consecutive weeks.

Michigan Special Teams vs. Florida Special Teams

What To Watch For

Trends

  • Special teams has been a decided strength for the Wolverines this year, while the Gators unit has struggled to find consistency throughout the season.

Place Kicking

  • Florida kicker Austin Hardin has made just 5-14 field goal tries on the year, with three attempts blocked, and has missed his last five overall. He has also missed three PAT, converting 24-27 this year.
  • For Michigan, Kenny Allen has connected at an 80% clip, making 16-20 attempts with a long of 47, and is 13-14 inside of 40 yards.

Punting

  • Johnny Townsend has punted 79 times in 2015, with an average of 44.9 yards per punt. He has 26 punts of 50+ yards with a long of 61, and has dropped 29 inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
  • Blake O'Neill has punted the ball 53 times for 2,188 yards, an average of 41.3 yards per punt. 23 of his punts have been downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line and nine punts have traveled 50+ yards, including an 80-yarder, the longest in the FBS this season.

Return Game

  • Brandon Powell is the leading kick returner for the Gators with 22 kicks returned for 474 yards. Antonio Callaway has returned 28 punts for 435 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Jabrill Peppers has all 17 of Michigan's punt returns this season, totaling 11.4 yards per return. Jourdan Lewis leads all Wolverines with 15 kickoff returns for 478 yards, while Jehu Chesson owns a 96-yard touchdown return. On the season, Michigan has averaged 28.4 yards per kick return, a figure that lists second nationally.

michigan in the citrus bowl

Michigan is 3-1 in the Citrus Bowl, with wins over Arkansas (1999), Auburn (2001) and Florida (2008). The lone loss came to Tennessee in 2002.

1999 - Michigan 45 • Arkansas 31

Anthony Thomas led the Wolverines with three rushing touchdowns and 139 yards on the ground en route to being named the MVP.

2001 - Michigan 31 • Auburn 28

DeWayne Patmon tallied eight tackles and made a diving interception in the Wolverine's win over Auburn.

2002 - Tennessee 45 • Michigan 17

Larry Foote was named U-M's Defensive MVP after recording a team-high nine tackles with two pass breakups.

2008 - Michigan 41 • Florida 35

In Lloyd Carr's final game as Michigan's head coach, the Wolverines battled to an emotional victory over the ninth-ranked Gators. The win improved Carr's 13-year head coaching record to 122-40.

citrus bowl information

  • Stadium: Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium (65,000)
  • Starting as the Tangerine Bowl in 1947, the Citrus Bowl is the seventh-oldest collegiate bowl game in the country.
  • The Citrus Bowl has been a January 1 tradition since the game moved to New Year's Day in 1987.
  • Since 1993, the Citrus Bowl has hosted the top teams from the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences

michigan players from florida

Ten players on the U-M roster hail from the state of Florida

  • Mason Cole (Tarpon Springs/East Lake)
  • Karan Higdon (Sarasota/Riverview)
  • Shelton Johnson (Delray Beach/Atlantic Community)
  • Reuben Jones (Lakeland/Lake Gibson)
  • Wayne Lyons (Fort Lauderdale/Dillard)
  • Jameson Offerdahl (Fort Lauderdale/Cardinal Gibbons)
  • John O'Korn (Fort Lauderdale/St. Thomas Aquinas)
  • Brady Pallante (Naples/Barron Collier)
  • Jake Rudock (Weston/St. Thomas Aquinas)
  • Tommy Whitted (Winter Park/Winter Park)

High School Teammates

  • Michigan's Shaun Austin played with Florida's Cam Dillard at Plymouth HS (Plymouth, Mich.)
  • U-M QBs Jake Rudock and John O'Korn played at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderale, Fla.) with UF's Bryan Cox Jr., Richerd Desir-Jones and Jordan Scarlett

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