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No. 8 Kansas (11-1)
               vs.
No. 5 Virginia Tech (11-2)

Date: Jan. 3

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: Miami

Television: FOX

Payout: $17 million

Last result: Louisville 24, Wake Forest 13

2007 results:
Kansas; Virginia Tech

2007 statistics: Kansas; Virginia Tech

Coaches: Mark Mangino (Kansas); Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech)

Bowl history/last appearance: Kansas 4-6 (won 42-13 over Houston in '05 Fort Worth); Virginia Tech 7-13 (lost 31-24 to Georgia in '06 Chick-fil-A)

Series: First meeting

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What Kansas must do to win: The Jayhawks need to find some passing lanes for their quarterback, Todd Reesing, who is 5-foot-11 and will have Virginia Tech’s pressing defense in his face throughout the game. Reesing threw 32 touchdown passes this season, but when it came to a big moment, he and his offensive line could not play with Missouri. Virginia Tech is a much better defense than what Mizzou has seen all season. A misdirection running game and some slip screens can slow down the Hokies who pursue.

If Tech gets an extra defender in pass coverage, KU has to be able to run the ball so Reesing isn’t looking at a picket fence defense all night. The Jayhawks ran for 196 yards per game, but got just 39 yards against Missouri in their only loss of the season. They have to be more balanced. The other thing KU has to do is handle the short out patterns to Tech’s very good wide receiver corps led by Josh Morgan and Eddie Royal. These guys are physical and can turn up field with the ball. The Jayhawks also better get ready for the Hokies’ No. 2 quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who ran for 431 yards this season. Kansas had trouble with the mobility of Mizzou’s Chase Daniel.

What Virginia Tech must do to win: Be prepared to throw. Kansas ranked in the top 10 in run defense and while it was not against the stiffest competition — KU ranked 109 among 118 teams in strength of schedule — the Jayhawks are still going to be formidable. Tech quarterback Sean Glennon handled all of Georgia Tech’s blitzes in a victory in Atlanta during the regular season and he will need the same poise and accuracy in this game. Glennon was the MVP of the ACC championship game with three touchdown strikes against Boston College, but the Hokies can also change up with a running quarterback, Tyrod Taylor.

The feature running back Branden Ore had just one game rushing for over 100 yards as Tech started to throw the ball more. You have to assume the Hokies want to control the ball if they get into the game and Kansas is just as good as the 11-1 record indicates. Tech has to get its hands up on defense and distract Reesing. He throws it well and accurately with a little time. 

Opening point spread: Even (54)

Prediction: Virginia Tech 27, Kansas 24

MVP: Virginia Tech QB Sean Glennon

Live vote: Who will win?

  BOWL BREAKDOWNS
Click on each postseason game for a recap


                                            BCS GAMES
   1/7: Championship — No. 2 LSU 38, No. 1 Ohio State 24
   1/3: Orange — No. 8 Kansas 24, No. 5 Virginia Tech 21
   1/2: Fiesta — No. 11 West Virginia 48, No. 3 Oklahoma 28
   1/1: Sugar — No. 4 Georgia 41, No. 10 Hawaii 10
   1/1: Rose — No. 6 USC 49, No. 13 Illinois 17

                                          OTHER BOWLS
   1/6: GMAC — Tulsa 63, Bowling Green 7
   1/5: International — Rutgers 52, Ball State 30
   1/1: Gator — Texas Tech 31, No. 21 Virginia 28
   1/1: Capital One — Michigan 41, No. 9 Florida 35
   1/1: Cotton: No. 7 Missouri 38, No. 25 Arkansas 7
   1/1: Outback — No. 16 Tennessee 21, No. 18 Wisconsin 17
12/31: Insight — Oklahoma State 49, Indiana 33
12/31: Chick-fil-A — No. 22 Auburn 23, No. 15 Clemson 20, OT
12/31: Music City — Kentucky 35, Florida State 28
12/31: Humanitarian — Fresno State 40, Georgia Tech 28
12/31: Sun — Oregon 56, No. 23 South Florida 21
12/31: Armed Forces — California 42, Air Force 36
12/30: Independence — Alabama 30, Colorado 24
12/29: Alamo — Penn State 24, Texas A&M 17
12/29: Liberty — Mississippi State 10, Central Florida 3
12/29: Meineke Car Care: Wake Forest 24, Connecticut 10
12/28: Texas — TCU 20, Houston 13
12/28: Emerald — Oregon State 21, Maryland 14
12/28: Champs Sports: No. 14 Boston College 24, Michigan St. 21
12/27: Holiday — No. 17 Texas 51, No. 12 Arizona State 34
12/26: Motor City — Purdue 51, Central Michigan 48
12/23: Hawaii — East Carolina 41, No. 24 Boise State 38
12/22: Las Vegas — No. 19 BYU 17, UCLA 16
12/22: New Mexico: New Mexico 23, Nevada 0
12/22: PapaJohns.com: No. 20 Cincinnati 31, Southern Miss 21
12/21: New Orleans: Florida Atlantic 44, Memphis 27
12/20: Poinsettia: Utah 35, Navy 32

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