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Bowl Breakdowns - preview to all preseason games /

Clemson (7-5)
                 vs.
Nebraska (8-4)

Date: Jan. 1

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Location: Jacksonville, Fla.

Television: CBS

Payout: $2.5 million

Last result: Texas Tech 31, Virginia 28

2008 results: Clemson; Nebraska

2008 statistics: Clemson; Nebraska

Tickets: Buy tickets here

Coaches: Dabo Swinney (Clemson); Bo Pelini (Nebraska)

Bowl history/last appearance: Clemson 15-15 (lost 23-20 to Auburn in OT in '07 Chick-fil-A); Nebraska 22-22 (lost 17-14 to Auburn in '07 Cotton)

Series: Clemson 1-0 (22-15 in '82 Orange)

What Clemson must do to win: The much maligned Tigers offensive line needs to do what it did in the 31-14 victory over South Carolina in the regular-season finale that locked up the permanent gig for Coach Dabo Swinney. Coming together versus a stout Gamecock defense, Clemson’s offensive front led the way for 184 rushing yards.  If that maturation process continues during the bowl practices, the Tigers have a great shot at taking advantage of a Cornhuskers defense that’s allowing 361.5 yards and 29.2 points per game.

What Nebraska must do to win: The Cornhuskers, who are 105th in the country in turnover margin, need to take better care of the football and not give the Tigers any extra opportunities. Nebraska needs to keep feeding the ball to sophomore RB Roy Helu Jr., who rushed for 510 yards in the last four games of the regular season, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. If he’s able to provide that sort of offensive balance, Huskers QB Joe Ganz will have a much easier time navigating against Clemson’s pass defense, which is allowing only 167.3 yards per game through the air (No. 10 in the nation).

Who the NFL is watching: Clemson RBs James Davis and C.J. Spiller have been on the radar forever.

Opening point spread: Nebraska by 1 (55)

Prediction: Clemson 21, Nebraska 17

MVP: Clemson RB James Davis

Live vote: Who will win?

  BOWL BREAKDOWNS
Click on each game for a recap of the action


                                            BCS GAMES
   1/8: Championship — No. 1 Florida 24, No. 2 Oklahoma 14
   1/5: Fiesta — No. 3 Texas 24, No. 10 Ohio State 21
   1/2: Sugar — No. 7 Utah 31, No. 4 Alabama 17
   1/1: Orange — No. 21 Virginia Tech 20, No. 12 Cincinnati 7
   1/1: Rose — No. 5 USC 38, No. 6 Penn State 24

                                          OTHER BOWLS
   1/6: GMAC — Tulsa 45, No. 23 Ball State 13
   1/3: International — Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20
   1/2: Liberty — Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
   1/2: Cotton — No. 20 Mississippi 47, No. 8 Texas Tech 34
   1/1: Capital One — No. 16 Georgia 24, No. 19 Michigan State 12
   1/1: Gator — Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
   1/1: Outback — Iowa 31, South Carolina 10
12/31: Chick-fil-A — LSU 38, No. 14 Georgia Tech 3
12/31: Insight — Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
12/31: Music City — Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14
12/31: Sun — No. 24 Oregon State 3, No. 18 Pittsburgh 0
12/31: Armed Forces — Houston 34, Air Force 28
12/30: Holiday — No. 15 Oregon 42, No. 13 Oklahoma State 31
12/30: Texas — Rice 38, Western Michigan 14
12/30: Humanitarian — Maryland 42, Nevada 35
12/29: Alamo — No. 25 Missouri 30, No. 22 Northwestern 23, OT
12/29: PapaJohns.com — Rutgers 29, North Carolina State 23
12/28: Independence — Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10
12/27: Emerald — California 24, Miami 17
12/27: Champs Sports — Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13
12/27: Meineke Car Care — West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30
12/26: Motor City — Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21
12/24: Hawaii — Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21
12/23: Poinsettia — No. 11 TCU 17, No. 9 Boise State 16
12/21: New Orleans — Southern Miss 30, Troy 27, OT
12/20: Las Vegas — Arizona 31, No. 17 BYU 21
12/20: St. Petersburg — South Florida 41, Memphis 14
12/20: New Mexico — Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35
12/20: EagleBank — Wake Forest 29, Navy 19

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