Syracuse Defeated in a Rout

Maybe Georgia Tech Coach Chan Gailey will ease up on Reggie Ball now.

Ball threw two touchdown passes, ran for another score and led the Yellow Jackets to a 51-14 victory over Syracuse in the Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday night.

Gailey has been critical of his sophomore quarterback all season, and he reiterated this week that Ball will have to win the starting job again next spring.

Ball certainly stated his case against the Orange, completing 12 of 19 passes for 207 yards with an interception.

He also had plenty of help.

P.J. Daniels ran 17 times for 119 yards and two scores, Calvin Johnson set a school record for touchdowns by a freshman with his seventh, and the defense set the tone by returning an interception for a touchdown on the second play of the game. The unit added a safety with 1 minute 42 seconds to play. Even special teams played a role, blocking a punt in the first quarter that the Yellow Jackets (7-5) converted into a touchdown.

The loss was the worst in a bowl game for Syracuse (6-6) since the 1953 Orange Bowl, a 61-6 drubbing by Alabama. It also means more questions about the future of besieged Coach Paul Pasqualoni.

Syracuse Chancellor Nancy Cantor gave Pasqualoni a vote of confidence this month, saying he would be retained for a 15th season. But the school also named longtime USC administrator Daryl Gross the new athletic director last week.

Gross replaces Jake Crouthamel, one of Pasqualoni’s biggest supporters.

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GMAC BOWL MEMPHIS (8-3) VS. BOWLING GREEN (8-3)

Opening line: Bowling Green by 6.

Bowl records: Memphis 2-0, Bowling Green 3-3.

Last bowl appearance: Memphis beat North Texas, 27-17, in the 2003 New Orleans Bowl. Bowling Green beat Northwestern, 28-24, in the 2003 Motor City Bowl.

What to watch: Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs leads the nation’s second-most prolific passing team against the Tigers’ balanced attack. Both offenses are in the nation’s top 10. Memphis averaged 464.5 yards per game behind quarterback Danny Wimprine and running back DeAngelo Williams, who is third in the nation with 166 yards rushing per game.

Notes: Bowling Green has won its last three bowls.... Williams has averaged 220.7 yards in games on ESPN this season.