There’s nothing like a David vs. Goliath bowl matchup, and we’ll get one on New Year’s Eve when No. 9 Florida State takes on the 18th-ranked Houston Cougars in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome.
Watch the Houston vs. Florida State Peach Bowl online: Time, TV schedule, live stream, 3 things to know
One of the more intriguing New Year’s Six matchups.
The Seminoles (10-2, 6-2 in the ACC) come in at No. 5 in the S&P+ rankings and riding a three-game winning streak since their loss to top-ranked Clemson. The Noles’ headliner will be sophomore tailback Dalvin Cook, who led the ACC with 1,658 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Sean Maguire has come on strong down the stretch as well, with 8 touchdowns against just two interceptions in his last five games since replacing Everett Golson as the starter. On defense, the Noles allowed just 15.8 points per game, led by senior linebacker Reggie Northrup and freshman safety Derwin James.
Houston (12-1, 8-1 in the AAC) has been one of the top stories among college football mid-majors under first-year head coach Tom Herman -- who will be staying at Houston for at least a little while longer. Herman’s first season in Houston saw the Cougars improve by four wins and 11 points per game, climbing to 48th in the S&P+ and becoming the taste of H-town. Keep an eye on quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who scored a combined 35 touchdowns running and passing this season, to go with 3,631 yards of total offense in Herman’s high-powered attack.
How to watch, stream and listen
When: Thursday, Dec. 31, noon ET
TV: ESPN
Radio: Florida State, Houston
Online streaming: WatchESPN Link
Spread: Florida State is favored by 7 points.
Make friends: Check out Tomahawk Nation for all the chatter on this game from the Florida State angle, or Underdog Dynasty for Houston fans.
Three big things to know
1. Houston hasn’t played anyone like Florida State. The Cougars are really good, but the best team they’ve played this season is Navy, which is ranked No. 15 nationally by S&P+. The Seminoles are No. 5 and a different animal altogether.
2. But the Seminoles are going to have their hands full. Houston might not be quite as good as its 12-1 record, but the Cougars do a couple of things as well as almost anyone. They’re the best team in the country at finishing drives, scoring 5.68 points per trip inside the opposing 40-yard line. They also have a plus-17 turnover margin, which is tied for second-best. Florida State had better take care of the football.
3. The coach matchup is a good one, too. Houston’s Herman and Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher are both pretty close to the top of the college coaching profession, with Fisher solidifying his elite status over the last few years and Herman joining that party with a monster debut season leading the Cougars. There will be a lot of talent on both the field and the sidelines here.
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