FSU belts Badgers, 42-13

Published 12:05 am Sunday, December 28, 2008

Derek Nicholson and Dakota Wilson returned fumbles for touchdowns, Christian Ponder threw two TD passes and Florida State (9-4) finished with more than eight wins for the first time since 2004 with a 42-13 rout of Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Nicholson had two fumble recoveries, including one he returned 75 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. Punter Graham Gano averaged 48.2 yards on five and had three downed inside the Badgers 5 to earn game MVP.

P.J. Hill ran for 140 yards on 15 carries for the Badgers (7-6), but quarterback Dustin Sherer completed only four of nine for 55 yards through the first three quarters. His fumble early in the fourth quarter was returned 51 yards for a score by Watson to put FSU up 35-6.

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Ponder completed 18 of 31 passes for 199 yards.

Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21

DETROIT (AP) — Florida Atlantic has played eight seasons of major college football and already has the hang of it in bowl games.

Rusty Smith threw for 307 yards and two second-half touchdowns to help the Owls beat Central Michigan 24-21 on Friday night in the Motor City Bowl.

Florida Atlantic began playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2001 but has won both its postseason games.