Georgia Tech, Clemson accept Bowl bids

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By NBC Augusta Reporters

With the first selection in the ACC after the BCS, the Chick-fil-A Bowl today officially extended an invitation to the No. 15 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3, 5-3) making them the Atlantic Coast Conference representative in the 41st annual Chick-fil-A Bowl Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta.

"With Georgia Tech at number 15 in the BCS, we're getting the highest-ranked team in the ACC and a program that's coming into our game on a real high note after a great win over their in-state rivals. We couldn't be happier," said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president. "Coach Johnson has done an incredible job this season as ACC Coach of the Year and with impact players like unanimous All ACC First Team selection Jonathan Dwyer, this team is playing great football and will represent the ACC well in the Chick-fil-A Bowl."

Georgia Tech's opponent from the Southeastern Conference is scheduled to be announced Sunday, December 7. The combined team payouts to the ACC and SEC teams this year will be $6.01 million, giving the Chick-fil-A Bowl the third-highest team payout in the country after the BCS bowls.

Clemson has been extended an invitation to the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, FL. The contest will be played on January 1 at 1:00 PM and will be nationally televised by CBS. Clemson's opponent will be named at a later date.

Clemson has a 7-5 record entering the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl and has won four of its last five games, including a 27-21 win over Boston College in Boston, and a 31-14 win over South Carolina in the regular season finale. The Tigers finished strong under Head Coach Dabo Swinney, who became interim head coach on October 13 after Tommy Bowden resigned. He was named head coach on December 1.

Clemson's 4-1 record over the last five games of the season ties for the best among ACC teams and Clemson's 3-1 mark in the second half of the ACC season, is topped only by NC State's 4-0 finish to the ACC schedule. Clemson ranks 19th in the nation in the latest Sagarin computer rankings and played the 12th most difficult schedule in the nation according to the NCAA.

"We are thrilled to be invited to the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl," said Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney. "Clemson has a proud history in this bowl game dating back to Frank Howard's years as Clemson head coach. It has long been one of the top bowl games in college football. It will be a great experience for our players, especially our seniors who have meant so much to our program."

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