2008 Outback Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=2008 Outback Bowl
Date=January 1, 2008
Year=2007
Visitor School=University of Wisconsin at Madison
Visitor Name Short=Wisconsin
Visitor Nickname=Badgers
Visitor Record=9–3
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=15
Visitor BCS=18
Visitor Coach=Bret Bielema
Visitor1=7
Visitor2=7
Visitor3=3
Visitor4=0
Visitor Total=17
Home School=University of Tennessee
Home Name Short=Tennessee
Home Nickname=Volunteers
Home Record=9–4
Home

Home Coaches=18
Home BCS=16
Home Coach=Phillip Fulmer
Home1=7
Home2=14
Home3=0
Home4=0
Home Total=21
Type=bg
Stadium=Raymond James Stadium
City=Tampa, Florida


MVP=Tennessee QB Erik Ainge
Odds=Tennessee by 4cite web |url=http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=750671 |title=Rivals.com Bowl Viewer's Guide |author=Fox, David |accessdate=2007-12-17 |date=2007-12-13 |work=Rivals.com]
anthem=
referee=
halftime=
Attendance=60,121cite web |url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20080102/NEWS/801020467/1002 |title=Vols Fight Off Badgers Thanks to Clutch Ainge |author=Scanlon, Dick |accessdate=2008-01-17 |date=2008-01-02 |work=theledger.com]
US Network=ESPN
US Announcers=Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman

The 2008 Outback Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on January 1, 2008 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

As is the case every year, the opposing teams are from the Big Ten Conference (Wisconsin) and Southeastern Conference (Tennessee). The Volunteers were runner-ups in the SEC, having lost to LSU, 21–14, in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, Georgia on December 1. The Badgers were trying for a second straight 10-win season under head coach Bret Bielema.

Tennessee won, 21-17. Wisconsin had a chance to win the game in the final minute, but Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Donovan was intercepted on a desperation pass, sealing a Volunteers win. Game MVP Erik Ainge completed 25 of his 43 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns. Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill ran the ball 16 times for 132 yards.

During the first half of the Outback Bowl, the inaugural Joe Montana Award was awarded Matt Barkley of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. [ [http://www.outbackbowl.com/pressbox/release.html?release=154 Matt Barkley named Recipient of the inaugural Joe Montana Quarterback of the Year Award] ]

References