Champs Sports Bowl: Michigan State vs. Boston College

Teams: Boston College vs. Michigan State
Date: Dec. 28, 2007 at 5 p.m. ET
Location: Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Fla.

Analysis
After falling short of winning the ACC title, Boston College heads back to Florida to keep alive its seven-game winning streak in bowl games. First-year head coach Jeff Jagodzinski appeared to have the Eagles on the verge of contending for a national title, but losses to Florida State and Maryland ended hopes of a dream season.

Led by senior quarterback Matt Ryan, the Eagles own the ACC’s top passing and total offense. Ryan will be facing a Spartan secondary that finished fourth overall in the Big Ten, but gave up 19 passing touchdowns this season. Ryan and the receiving corps will look spread out the Spartan secondary, but running back Andre Callender is also one to watch. Callender is approaching 1,000 yards on the ground and is Ryan’s safety valve when things break down in the pocket. The Spartan defense is tough, but few teams have been able to slow Ryan and his receivers this season.

Although the Spartans want to pound the ball against the Eagle defense, quarterback Brian Hoyer has posted solid numbers and the game could rest on his shoulders. With the Eagles owning the top run defense in the NCAA, the Spartans need Hoyer to hit a few passes downfield, which would allow the one-two punch of Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick to see more openings in the running game. Ringer and Caulcrick will find looks tough inside the redzone as well, as the Eagles have allowed only eight rushing touchdowns this season.

The Eagles want to spread out their opponents and let Ryan pick apart their secondary, but the Spartans can counter with a strong running game and a tough defense. If the Eagles are able to jump on the Spartans early, it may eliminate Caulcrick and Ringer from the gameplan and force Hoyer to win the game through the air.

Breakdown: Boston College
Campus Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Distance to Orlando: 1,297 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 12–6
2007 Season: 10–3, 6–2 ACC

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 105 (107)
Pass Offense: 6 (330)
Scoring Offense: 55 (29)
Rush Defense: 1 (68)
Pass Defense: 103 (263)
Scoring Defense: 24 (20)
Turnover Margin: 43 (.23)

Additional Notes:
Boston College has appeared in a bowl game for a school-record nine consecutive seasons … The Eagles are coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history … Quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown for 300 or more yards in nine games this season and was named the 2007 ACC Player of the Year … Running back Andre Callender leads the team in receptions with 72.

Breakdown: Michigan State
Campus Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Distance to Orlando: 1,214 miles
All-Time Bowl Game Record: 7–10
2007 Season: 7–5, 3–5 Big Ten

NCAA Rankings (yards/points per game totals):
Rush Offense: 22 (200)
Pass Offense: 58 (226)
Scoring Offense: 24 (34)
Rush Defense: 42 (134)
Pass Defense: 43 (217)
Scoring Defense: 59 (27)
Turnover Margin: 30 (.42)

Additional Notes:
This will be Michigan State’s first bowl game since the 2003 season … The Spartans finished the year as the number one ranked scoring offense in the Big Ten with 34 points per game … Running backs Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick combined to score 27 touchdowns and 2,159 rushing yards … Receiver Devin Thomas finished ninth in the NCAA in receiving yards per game with 102.

Prediction: Boston College by 7

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