Pre-Game Discussion: Las Vegas Bowl -- FLORIDA vs. #14 Oregon State (12/17 ESPN 2:30)

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State Beavers vs. Florida Gators
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada) | Tickets

The Gators have several explosive players on offense, including running back Montrell Johnson Jr. David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire
Oregon State comes in hot after winning six of its final seven games, including an upset of rival Oregon, while Florida lost its rivalry game to Florida State and four of its final six contests. The Beavers improved markedly on defense this season but must contend with Florida running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne, who combined for 1,532 rush yards and 16 touchdowns. Oregon State counters with its own dynamic young running back in Damien Martinez, who scores a late touchdown for the win.

Prediction: Oregon State 27, Florida 24

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No. 14 Oregon State vs. Florida Gators, Las Vegas Bowl facts, time and TV, odds, ticket info

• Updated: Dec. 04, 2022, 5:41 p.m.|
• Published: Dec. 04, 2022, 4:12 p.m.

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2015, file photo, Albert and Alberta, the mascots for Florida, do the gator chomp before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)AP

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• Nick Daschel | The Oregonian/OregonLive

For the second consecutive year, No. 14 Oregon State gets an early start to the bowl season as the Beavers play Florida in the Las Vegas Bowl at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at Allegiant Stadium.

This is Oregon State’s first game against a Southeastern Conference foe since 2004, when the Beavers lost to Louisiana State 22-21 in overtime.

Things to know about the bowl matchup:

No. 14 Oregon State (9-3) vs. Florida (6-6)

Time: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Coaches: OSU’s Jonathan Smith (fifth year, 25-31), Florida’s Billy Napier (first year, 6-6; career, fifth year, 46-18)

Payout: $2.9 million per school

Betting line: Beavers by 1

TV channel: KATU (2).

Tickets: Las Vegas Bowl tickets range from $50-275. Oregon State season ticket holders and donors can purchase tickets immediately. Those making a deposit for 2023 season tickets can get early access to purchasing tickets. Tickets go on public sale Thursday.

Game info: Oregon State will be the home team, and uses the West side of the stadium as its sideline.

At stake for the Beavers: The Beavers are trying to win their first bowl game since 2013, when they beat Boise State 38-23 in the Hawaii Bowl. A win gives Oregon State 10 wins, a feat it has only accomplished twice in program history (2000, 2006).

OSU vs. SEC: The Beavers are winless against teams from the SEC while they were active SEC members (the league has gained and lost schools over the years). OSU is 0-11-1 against the SEC, the tie a 13-13 draw with SEC in 1978. The Beavers are 0-4 vs. LSU, 0-3 vs. Georgia, 0-1-1 vs. Tennessee, 0-2 vs. Kentucky and 0-1 vs. Auburn.

2021 Las Vegas Bowl: Wisconsin 20, Arizona State 13. In a bit of a defensive snooze fest, the teams combined for 31 first downs and 513 offensive yards. Wisconsin scored all its 20 points in the second half to hold on.

Oregon State in Las Vegas Bowl: This is the Beavers third trip to Las Vegas. Both games were played at Sam Boyd Stadium. In 2003, the Beavers beat New Mexico 55-14. Steven Jackson ran for 161 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Derek Anderson passed for 322 yards and two scores. New Mexico was completely overmatched as the Lobos managed only seven first downs and 127 offensive yards.

In 2009, No. 15 Brigham Young defeated No. 16 OSU 44-20. The Cougars spotted the Beavers a 7-0 lead, then scored 37 consecutive points to rout Oregon State. Neither team had a great offensive game, but BYU quarterback Max Hall threw three touchdowns to give the Cougars an edge.

Comparables
Scoring offense: OSU (No. 37 nationally, 32.4 ppg), UF (43, 31.8)
Rushing offense: OSU (27, 199.2 ypg), UF (16, 213.9)
Passing offense: OSU (103, 200.4), UF (69, 227.5)
Total offense: OSU (59, 399.6), UF (32, 441.5)
Scoring defense: OSU (31, 21.4 ppg), UF (90, 28.8)
Rushing defense: OSU (20, 114.0 ypg), UF (101, 176.2)
Passing defense: OSU (75, 228.3), UF (89, 239.7)
Total defense: OSU (31, 342.3) UF (103, 415.8)
Turnover margin: OSU (74, minus 1), UF (16, plus 8)
Florida schedule results
Florida’s prominent players
Anthony Richardson: The Gators dual-threat quarterback passed for 2,549 yards and 17 touchdowns, while running for 654 yards and nine scores.
Montrell Johnson Jr.: Florida’s sophomore running back fueled the Gators’ rushing attack with 827 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Trevor Etienne: The younger brother of former Clemson star Travis Etienne, the freshman running back has 705 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He’s averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
Trey Dean III/Rashad Torrence II: In 11 games, the senior safety led the Gators with 77 tackles, includes 3½ for a loss. Torrence, a sophomore safety, has 76 tackles.
Linebackers: Ventrell Miller, Amari Burney and Brenton Cox Jr. combined for 25 ½ tackles for loss, and helped a defense that forced 13 fumbles this season.
Way too early prediction
Oregon State 29, Florida 20