Michigan nearly sells out Outback Bowl ticket allotment

Devin Gardner is one of Michigan's hottest players heading into the Outback Bowl. The school's ticket sales for the game are performing well. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com  

This story was changed at 4:50 p.m. with an updated ticket sales number.

ANN ARBOR -- Michigan hasn't sold out its ticket allotment for the Outback Bowl.

But it's close.

The Wolverines had sold 10,977 of their 11,500 tickets as of about 4 p.m. Friday. The deadline for purchases was at 5 p.m. Thursday, but a school spokesman said Michigan will continue to place orders through its ticket office until game day.

No. 19 Michigan (8-4) faces No. 11 South Carolina (10-2) on Jan. 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

Those sales numbers are strong compared to most Big Ten schools and are similar to last year's Sugar Bowl numbers, despite winning two fewer games and heading to the Outback Bowl. Michigan sold about 15,000 of its 17,500 tickets for the BCS win against Virginia Tech.

Check out other Big Ten ticket sales over at ESPN's Big Ten blog.

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