PREVIEW \ Bowl capsule

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
Who: Georgia Tech (6-5) vs. Syracuse (6-5).
When: 7:45 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Orlando, Fla.
TV: ESPN.
Coaches: Chan Gailey (20-17 in third year at Ga. Tech) and Paul Pasqualoni (107-58-1 in 14th year at Syracuse).
Payout: Each school receives $850,000.
Bowl records: Ga. Tech is 21-11. Syracuse is 12-8-1.
Last bowl appearance: Ga. Tech beat Tulsa, 52-10, in last year's Humanitarian Bowl. Syracuse beat Kansas State, 26-3, in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl.
Series history: Ga. Tech leads, 1-0.
Last meeting: Ga. Tech won, 13-7, in the 2001 Kickoff Classic.
Last game: Ga. Tech lost at Georgia, 19-13, on Nov. 27. Syracuse won at Boston College, 43-17, on Nov. 27
Stat that matters: Since start of 2002 season, Orangemen are 4-13 away from home and yielding 33 points per game.
Game facts: Yellow Jackets managed a school-record seventh consecutive bowl trip despite season-ending losses to Virginia and Georgia. Sophomore QB Reggie Ball (152-of-311, 1,940 yards passing, 14 TDs, 17 ints. including 10 in Tech losses) has been hopelessly erratic, so Gailey said junior backup Damarius Bilbo, who is also a receiver, will take snaps as well. Tough defense (14th in nation in total defense, 299.5 ypg) is led by LBs Geris Wilkerson and Chris Reis (combined 29 tackles for loss). Orangemen likely saved Pasqualoni's job with stunning upset win at BC, which cost Eagles the Big East title and BCS bid. With RB Walter Reyes (856 rushing, 10 TDs) and backup Damien Rhodes hurt in that game, S Diamond Ferri filled in, running the ball for 141 yards and two TDs while also scoring on an interception return, making six tackles and returning punts. QB Perry Patterson (63-of-107, 702 passing, 1 TD, 2 ints. in last four games) is improving, but defense (90th in nation in total defense, 418.9 ypg) gave up 32 points per game in losses and has shown holes.
Scripps Howard