On January 1, 2016, in Orlando, Florida and at 1:00 PM ET, the No. 14 Michigan Wolverines will take part in the 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl against the No. 19 Florida Gators. 

The Wolverines (9-3, 6-2 B1G) will be playing in their 44th overall bowl game and will be making a fifth overall Citrus Bowl appearance. Behind the Rose Bowl, the Citrus Bowl has been around the longest across college football. The Gators (10-3, 7-1 SEC) won their division of the SEC, but then lost in the championship to No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide. The team will be making their 42nd bowl appearance. In their previous four bowl games in Orlando, Florida has a 2-2 record. 

Both teams fired their head coaches after the 2014 season and made a huge bounce back. The Gators hired Jim McElwain, while the Wolverines fired Brady Hoke and added Jim Harbaugh back to his alma mater. Both teams are coming off losses as Michigan got blow out 42-13 against the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. 

The x-factor in the game on offense will be Jake Butt, a tight end for the Wolverines. Along with Butt, fifth-year senior quarterback Jake Rudock can pass to Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson. Butt said that he will return for the 2016 season in the Maize and Blue. 

"I can fine-tune my game, and the NFL's a complicated thing," Butt said. "I can come back a year and work on my blocking, get a little faster and a little stronger so that I can solidify myself in those top rounds."

Rudock tossed for 2,739 yards and 17 touchdowns, while only throwing nine interceptions, most of which came early in the season. Butt caught three of those touchdowns and came down with 620 yards. De'Veon Smith led the run game with 155 carries for 644 yards and six touchdowns for the Wolverines this regular season. 

The Gators will need to watch for Jabrill Peppers, who can do it on offense, defense and special teams. The three-way playmaker should get more reps on the offensive side of the ball, which is something the Wolverines plan to do in the future. 

Special teams for Florida could play a decent factor as Johnny Townsend, a punter, ranked 12th in the national in average yards per punt. On the other end, Antonio Callaway has returned two kicks for a touchdown this season. Michigan only returned 17 punts in 2015, while they mostly called for a fair-catch or let the ball bounce through the end zone. 

Defense will play a huge factor, as the Wolverines will need to take better care of the football than in the past. Florida can turn opponents over and keep the ball, but Michigan just force turnovers and then lose the ball. 

"Only two Big Ten teams were worse [in turnover margin]," Big Ten Network reporter Tom Dienhart said. "And both had losing records (Nebraska and Maryland). In what figures to be a close game, the Wolverines need to protect the ball and not give a struggling Florida offense any short fields—or easy touchdowns."

On the offensive end for Florida, sophomore quarterback Treon Harris will look for Chris Thompson, Callaway and Brandon Powell down field. While running backs Kelvin Taylor and Jordan Cronkrite will take the carries. 

Harris, a 5-foot-11, 195 pound quarterback, threw for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions during the regular season. During the same season, Taylor has carried the ball 248 times for 985 yards and 13 scores. 

Michigan and Florida met in the Citrus Bowl in the 2008 season. The Wolverines, coached by Lloyd Carr defeated the Gators, coached by Urban Meyer, 41-35 in the event. Chad Henne was the Most Valuable Player of the game as he defeated quarterback Tim Tebow and the Gators.