ACC loser headed to Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta

ATLANTA -- The Chick-fil-A Bowl has announced one of the teams for its Dec. 31 game.

Well, sort of.

Officials for the Atlanta-based bowl said Thursday they will invite the loser of Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference championship game between No. 12 Virginia Tech (10-2) and No. 20 Florida State (9-3). The winner earns an automatic BCS bid and a likely trip to the Orange Bowl.

The ACC championship game loser faces a team from the Southeastern Conference at the Georgia Dome. No. 22 Mississippi State (8-4) appears to be the leading candidate.