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Boston College seeks eighth straight bowl victory

Dec 28, 2007 - 11:23 AM No. 14 Boston College (10-3) vs. Michigan St (7-5) 5:00 pm EST Champs Sports Bowl December 28

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Once again, Boston College had to settle for a lesser bowl. Once again, it hopes to end its season with a victory.

The 14th-ranked Eagles look to extend the nation's longest current bowl winning streak to eight games when they face Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl on Friday.

Boston College (10-3) won its previous seven bowl games under former coach Tom O'Brien, who left following last season to take the job at North Carolina State.

The Eagles will be making their first bowl appearance under Jeff Jagodzinski, who guided the Eagles to the Atlantic Coast Conference's Atlantic Division title in his initial year as coach.

Boston College, which was ranked as high as No. 2 this season, had visions of playing in the Orange Bowl as the ACC champions. But the Eagles lost to Virginia Tech, 30-16, in the ACC title game.

Even with 10 wins, Boston College was passed over for more prestigious bowl games with ACC tie-ins, including the Chick-fil-A and Gator Bowls.

Eagles senior quarterback Matt Ryan will be making the final appearance of his stellar career.

Ryan passed for 4,258 yards and 28 touchdowns this season - both school records - and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top quarterback.

Last year, Boston College rallied in the final minute to defeat Navy, 25-24, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

"There's not many teams in the country that have 10 wins," Jagodzinski said. "You get to play a conference that you don't get to play a lot. Our guys are very excited to play a good Michigan State team."

The Spartans are making their first bowl appearance since 2003 following three straight losing seasons.

Michigan State finished in eighth place in the Big Ten under first-year coach Mark Dantonio but concluded the regular season with wins over Penn State and Purdue.

In the win over Penn State, the Spartans rallied from a 17-point deficit to post a 35-31 victory.

Jehuu Caulcrick is Michigan State's top offensive threat, rushing for 21 touchdowns, which ranks fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The Spartans are 23rd nationally in rushing but will be facing the top run defense in the FBS, as the Eagles allow only 68 yards per game on the ground.