2008 Capital One Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=2008 Capital One Bowl
Date=January 1, 2008
Year=2007
Visitor School=University of Michigan
Visitor Name Short=Michigan
Visitor Nickname=Wolverines
Visitor Record=8–4
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=
Visitor BCS=
Visitor Coach=Lloyd Carr
Visitor1=7
Visitor2=14
Visitor3=7
Visitor4=13
Visitor Final=41
Home School=University of Florida
Home Name Short=Florida
Home Nickname=Gators
Home Record=9–3
Home

Home Coaches=12
Home BCS=12
Home Coach=Urban Meyer
Home1=7
Home2=7
Home3=14
Home4=7
Home Final=35
Type=bg
Stadium=Citrus Bowl
City=Orlando, Florida


MVP=Chad Henne
Odds=Florida by 10½ [World Features Syndicate via "Long Beach Press-Telegram", Dec. 28, 2007]
Anthem=
Referee=
Halftime=Both school bands
Attendance=
Radio Shack Game MVP: Chad Henne, QB, Michigan
US Network=ABC
US Announcers=Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge [ [http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2007/12/your-comprehensive-bowl-game-announcing.html Awful Announcing: Your Comprehensive Bowl Game Announcing Schedule ] ]
Ratings=9.13cite web |url=http://blog.mlive.com/wolverines/2008/01/capital_one_bowl_a_hit_on_tv.html |title=Capital One Bowl a hit on TV | author=Heuser, John | accessdate=2008-01-15 | date=2008-01-15 |work=mlive.com]

The 2008 Capital One Bowl was held on January 1, 2008 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The game featured the University of Michigan Wolverines—who finished the 2007 season 3rd in the Big Ten Conference with an overall record of 8–4 (6–2 in the Big Ten)—and the #12 University of Florida Gators—who finished the 2007 season 3rd in the Southeastern Conference's East Division with an overall record of 9–3 (5–3 in the SEC).

Pre-game buildup

This game was significant for several different reasons. It was the last game for Lloyd Carr, who announced his retirement as Michigan's head coach on November 19, 2007 and also the last game for the Michigan senior class, who had lost each of their previous 3 bowl game attempts. It was also an opportunity for Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators to play in front of a crowd of mostly Gator fans.

Coming into this game, Florida was highly favored to win with many predicting that Michigan would not be able to match well against Florida's spread offense, having lost to Appalachian State and Oregon early in the season, who also employs a similar style of offense. However, the Wolverines were able to produce 524 yards of offense to defeat the Gators 41–35, despite turning the ball over four times.

According to ESPN.com's bowl mania 90% of America had predicted Florida to win this game.Fact|date=January 2008

This game was a bit of a grudge match because Florida coach, Urban Meyer had lobbied for his team to get into the BCS National Championship game over Michigan during the 2006 season.Fact|date=January 2008 Ultimately, Meyer's lobbying was successful and Florida went on to defeat Ohio State 41-14 in the BCS National Championship Game.

Previously, Michigan and Florida met four years earlier in the 2003 Outback Bowl, with Michigan defeating Florida 38–30. Florida's loss makes them the second defending BCS Champion to lose a non-BCS bowl game a year later, the first being Florida's SEC rivals the LSU Tigers in the 2005 Capital One Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Game Summary

Michigan started the game at their own 6-yard line and put together a 94-yard opening drive. Chad Henne connected on a 21-yard pass to Mario Manningham to put Michigan up 7-0. Over the course of the game, Michigan turned the ball over four times (two fumbles and two interceptions), which resulted in two Florida touchdown drives. These two touchdowns eventually put the Gators ahead 35-31 with just under six minutes to play. The Wolverines regained the lead when Adrian Arrington caught a touchdown pass to make the score 38-35 in favor of Michigan. Florida got the ball back but could not convert on fourth down from their own 25-yard line. Michigan ran three straight plays that resulted in a K.C. Lopata field goal to make the score 41-35 with 2:20 remaining. On Florida's last possession, quarterback Tim Tebow failed to complete a pass on four consecutive downs. After knocking down Tebow's final pass, Michigan ran out the clock to clinch the win, 41-35.

Final Statistics

^*Completions/Attempts^aCarries^bLong play^cReceptions

References

*cite web | title = Capital One Bowl Preview | publisher = ESPN.com | url = http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=280010057 | accessdate = 2007-12-12