Outback Bowl 2013: Michigan to face South Carolina

Following an eight-win campaign, the Michigan Wolverines have been selected to take part in the 2013 Outback Bowl on New Year's Day against the South Carolina Gamecocks, according to an official release.

The Wolverines last played in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day in 2003, back when head coach Lloyd Carr helped lead Michigan to a 38-30 win over the Florida Gators. Tied with a handful of schools for the second-most appearances in Tampa Bay since the bowl began in 1986, the Wolverines are just one of three programs (Georgia, Penn State) with three victories in Outback Bowl games.

Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks will serve as a formidable adversary for the Wolverines, and are 2-1 themselves over three all-time appearances in Outback Bowl games. Owner of a meager 8-10 career mark in postseason games at the college level, the 67-year-old Spurrier came up short with the Gamecocks in his only previous Outback Bowl appearance back in 2008.