PEACH BOWL

Clemson (8-4) vs. Tennessee (10-2), 1:30 p.m., ESPN -- The Volunteers seemingly were ticketed to the Outback Bowl, only to see Florida -- a team with eight victories that Tennessee defeated, 24-7, at Gainesville, Fla. -- get the invitation. How the Volunteers respond to the snub could be a factor. So could the memory of a 30-3 drubbing by Maryland in the 2002 Peach Bowl. Tennessee has a senior quarterback in Casey Clausen, who is 34-9 as a starter, but defense has been the backbone of its team. Clemson was drilled by Texas Tech, 55-15, in the 2002 Tangerine Bowl and was poised to fire Tommy Bowden after a 45-17 loss at Wake Forest, but a three-game winning streak, including a 26-10 home victory over Florida State, earned the coach a three-year contract extension.

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-- Jay Christensen