The SEC and ACC will collide on the gridiron tonight as the South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida State Seminoles meet in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl. Kickoff in this evening's postseason special is scheduled for 7:30pm ET tonight at the Georgia Dome; the game will be broadcast live on ESPN. 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl Odds have the Gamecocks listed as a -3 against the spread favorite and the game total set at 54.5.
Despite last season's 7-6 record, Florida 
State appears on the verge of making a return to the elite status it enjoyed in the 1990's. The Seminoles, which were directed by first year Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, finished the season with a 9-4 record and ranked No. 23 in both the BCS Standings and AP Poll. They also earned a trip to the ACC Championship Game after winning the Atlantic Division with a 6-2 league record.
Florida State had a three game win streak snapped in the conference championship, falling to Virginia Tech 44-33. Senior quarterback Christian Ponder missed that game with an elbow injury and his backup, sophomore E.J. Manuel, tossed two critical interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown. In the three games prior to the Hokies outburst, the Seminoles had allowed just 36 points to Clemson, Maryland, and Florida.
Florida State ranked 22nd in the nation in points per game allowed this season, giving up an average of 19.8 per contest, while its offense averaged 33 points per game with Ponder in the lineup (11 games).
The Seminoles come into today's game riding a two bowl win streak. FSU beat Wisconsin 42-13 in the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl and it upended West Virginia 33-21 in last year's Gator Bowl.
South Carolina reached its first conference championship game under Head Coach Steve Spurrier this season after winning the SEC's East Division with a 5-3 league record. The Gamecocks faced No. 1 Auburn, a team they lost to 35-27 on the road in September, in the SEC Championship and the result was not pretty. The Tigers laid a 56-17 beatdown on South Carolina after Heisman winner Cam Newton threw four touchdown passes and rushed for two more.
The Gamecocks season was still a great success, though, as they reached nine wins for just the second time in the last 11 years.
While Spurrier has helped keep South Carolina's football program on the map, the Gamecocks have not enjoyed a great deal of bowl success under him. SC is 1-3 in bowl play since Spurrier took over as head coach in 2005, with its only win coming against Houston in the 2006 Liberty Bowl.
2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl Betting Trend: The Over is 8-2 in Florida State's last 10 games playing as an underdog.
2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl South Carolina vs Florida State Odds:
South Carolina Gamecocks -3 (-110), Over 54.5 (-110)
Florida State Seminoles +3 (-110), Under 54.5 (-110)
