On paper, Boston College against USC looks like the only sure loss of the ACC's seven bowl games. The ACC should win no less than four of its other six matchups, if not all of them.

But 90 percent of bowl winners are determined by which team wants to be there. Clemson and UNC would qualify as the conspicuous ACC teams that are not ecstatic with their bowl fate.

The outcome of the Georgia Tech-Clemson ACC title game will affect the first four bowl tie-ins for the ACC but not likely the last three.

North Carolina (Music City), Florida State (Meineke) and Boston College (Emerald) are tracking towards the last three tie-ins.

Goodbye, Boise. Hello, Mobile.

The Blue Turf and the dreaded trip to Idaho in December is history for the ACC. The conference's deal with the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise has ended. The ACC has added a deal with the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala. for a ninth bowl eligible team.

MEMPHIS — Once more, they needed that late-game magic.

Once more, they needed for somebody to complete a key pass, kick a field goal, or run a kick back.

But this time East Carolina’s Pirates — who had won five games in the final minutes — couldn’t locate that hero. So after leading 16-3 at halftime, they lost 25-19 to resilient Kentucky in the 50th Liberty Bowl Friday night.

The beginning couldn’t have been much better for the Pirates, and the ending couldn’t have been more bitter.

Staff photo by Chuck Liddy

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — What a difference a quarterback makes.

After cruising to an 11-point, halftime lead Monday at the
Papajohns.com Bowl, N.C. State crumbled in the second half without starting quarterback Russell Wilson, losing 29-23 at Legion Field.

Rutgers outscored the Wolfpack 22-6 in the second half, taking
the lead for good on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Mike Teel to Kenny Britt with 8:30 remaining.