Champs Sports Bowl Preview & Prediction

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL – Dec. 28^th, 5:00 EST

Boston College vs. Michigan State –

Despite boasting different records, the Eagles and Spartans followed similar trajectories in 2007. MSU burst out of the gates 4-0, making the Mark Dantonio hire look like one of the most astute personnel moves of the offseason. But then came OT losses at Northwestern and Iowa and heartbreakers to Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State in a 6 game span. The second-half swoon ended with clutch wins over Purdue and Penn State, but everything State did so well in the first half of the year (rush the passer, run the football) began tailing off and never fully recovered. In New England, BC was ranked #2 in the land, and people were touting Matt Ryan as the next great NFL QB, despite his weak pass efficiency rating, mired in the 40s nationally most of the year. Then BC came to Blacksburg, and even though the Eagles escaped with a 14-10 win, they didn’t catch their collective breath until three weeks later, after two devastating losses to Florida State and Maryland. And even though Tech didn’t get the win at home, it finished the job in December that it started in October, rolling to the ACC crown and giving BC its third loss.

Even though this contest hasn’t been talked about much nationally, it strikes me as one of the most intriguing bowl matchups of the season. Each team’s strength plays at the other squad’s strength. Michigan State started the year with the fiercest pass rush in the nation, and even though they’ve since dropped to 12^th nationally in sacks, but getting in to opponents’ backfields is still a priority and skill for the Spartan D. On the other side, BC’s front line was the ACC’s best at protecting its QB this year, allowing 1.46 sacks a game, tops in the conference. Flip the units, and you’ve got BC’s top-ranked national rush D taking on the MSU ground game, which was 23^rd in the country, and features Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick, two of the Big Ten’s top 9 runners.

I picked Michigan State before the bowl season started, but with key components Jonal Saint-Dic, SirDarean Adams and Terry Love left in East Lansing thanks to rules violations, I’ve got to take Boston College. Closer than some think, but a win for the ACC. BC 28, Michigan State 20.