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Boston College looks to extend bowl winning streak

Dec 31, 2008 - 12:15 PM Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6), 3:30 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- While Boston College knows a few things about winning bowl games, Vanderbilt is a novice when it comes to playing in the postseason.

The Eagles look to extend the nation's longest current bowl winning streak to nine games when they face the Commodores on Wednesday in the Music City Bowl.

Boston College (9-4), which lost to Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game for the second straight year, is playing in a school record-tying 10th straight bowl game and 20th overall.

The Eagles' bowl winning percentage of .684 (13-6) is the best among all teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is Vanderbilt (6-6), which is making its first bowl appearance in 26 years and looking to end a postseason drought that has extended beyond five decades.

The Commodores are 1-1-1 in their only three previous postseason games, and their lone win was a 25-13 victory over Auburn in the 1955 Gator Bowl.

"I'm excited, our staff is excited and our players are excited about getting a chance to experience a bowl game," Commodores coach Bobby Johnson said. "Getting to play in the Music City Bowl is a fantastic reward for this football team and Vanderbilt University."

While Vanderbilt struggled down the stretch, the Commodores started 5-0 for the first time since 1943.

However, the Commodores could be without second-leading rusher Jared Hawkins due to an ankle injury he suffered against Tennessee on November 22.

If Hawkins is unable to play, redshirt freshman wide receiver Jamie Graham could see time at tailback again after switching to the position against Wake Forest on November 29.

The Commodores could have the edge at quarterback as junior Mackenzi Adams completed his second season as the team's starter.

Redshirt freshman Dominique Davis will be making only his third start for Boston College after Chris Crane suffered a season-ending broken collarbone against Wake Forest on November 22.

Davis struggled in the Eagles' 30-12 loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, completing only 17-of-43 passes for 263 yards and two TDs.

However, Boston College won't ask Davis to do too much. Instead, it will rely on an opportunistic defense that has forced 26 interceptions, the No. 1 mark in FBS.

The Eagles have scored eight non-offensive touchdowns, tied with Alabama, Fresno State, and Kansas State for the most in the FBS.