Miami's 3 Most Likely Bowl Opponents

It's been the definition of an up-and-down season for the Miami Hurricanes, but the program is still in position for a second-straight bowl game under head coach Al Golden and a sixth-straight non-losing campaign.

While expectations may not have been met during the 2014 regular season, there are still plenty of intriguing postseason possibilities for the Hurricanes as we look at Miami's 3 Most Likely Bowl Opponents.

Florida

In-state recruiting rivals jockeying for position at the Independence Bowl in Lousiana? Yes, please. The Florida Gators' may have an impressive defense, but they will also be in a state of upheaval with Will Muschamp not around to coach the team in their bowl game (defensive coordinator DJ Durkin will take over the headset). This matchup is a marketing dream for the Independence Bowl, and could provide a unique opportunity for Miami to put a hurting on a team from inside the state and showcase themselves as the up-and-coming program in the state of Florida.

UCF

Here's another matchup with a team from in-state, but without the pizzazz of the Florida matchup. However, having two teams from the Sunshine State go after it in St. Petersburg would be a boon for the newly-branded BITCOIN St. Petersburg Bowl. In addition, George O'Leary's boys from Central Florida are underrated because of the conference (American) they play in, sporting eight wins and a defense ranked sixth in the nation with just 16.8 points allowed per game. Interesting possibility to say the least.

Rutgers

Miami vs. Rutgers in the heart of Detroit? It's not exactly the most marketable opponent for the Hurricanes, but it's a program they've traditionally dominated. Fun Fact: Miami was 11-0 against Rutgers during the programs' time together in the Big East, outscoring the Scarlet Knights by an average score of 45.8-10.4 in those matchups (1993-2003). A chance for a 12th win in the Quick Lane Bowl. Bring it on.

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