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Most lopsided blowouts in bowl history
Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images

Most lopsided blowouts in bowl history

Not every bowl game is a barn burner. In fact, many are often blowouts of epic proportions. Here's a look at the 27 most lopsided blowouts in college football bowl history. Will any bowls this year join the list?

 

56 Points: 2008 GMAC Bowl

56 Points: 2008 GMAC Bowl
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Tulsa defeated Bowling Green State 63-7 in 2007, tying the record bowl margin set in the 1920 season. Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith threw for 312 yards and five touchdowns.

 

56 Points: 1921 Fort Worth Classic

56 Points: 1921 Fort Worth Classic
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The only Fort Worth Classic took place on Jan. 1, 1921, as Centre beat TCU 63-7 in front of 9,000 fans. Centre finished 8-2 in the 1920 season.

 

55 Points: 1953 Orange Bowl

55 Points: 1953 Orange Bowl
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No. 8 Alabama dominated Syracuse in the 1952 Orange Bowl 61-6 in front of more than 66,000 fans. The Crimson Tide squad was led by running back Bobby Marlow.

 

53 Points: 1948 Harbor Bowl

53 Points: 1948 Harbor Bowl
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The Harbor Bowl was played only three times. The second game featured a 53-0 win by Hardin-Simmons over San Diego State. The 1947 squad went 8-3 under head coach Warren Woodson.

 

51 Points: 1990 Holiday Bowl

51 Points: 1990 Holiday Bowl
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Texas A&M demolished BYU 65-14, with quarterback Bucky Richardson and linebacker William Thomas winning MVPs.

 

49 Points: 1948 Rose Bowl

49 Points: 1948 Rose Bowl
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No. 2 Michigan dominated No. 3 USC 49-0 in the 1948 Rose Bowl behind the heroics of Bob Chappuis.

 

49 Points: 1902 Rose Bowl

49 Points: 1902 Rose Bowl
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The first Rose Bowl was a 49-0 win by Michigan over Stanford. The game was originally known as the Tournament East-West Football Game. Neil Snow was the MVP of the game.

 

48 Points: 2015 Poinsettia Bowl

48 Points: 2015 Poinsettia Bowl
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

Boise State completed an easy 55-7 win over Northern Illinois in the 2015 Poinsettia Bowl. Quarterback Brett Rypien threw for 377 yards and three scores, while Jeremy McNichols had 189 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.

 

48 Points: 1988 Holiday Bowl

48 Points: 1988 Holiday Bowl
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Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders capped off an unbelievable season in which he rushed for 2,628 yards with a 62-14 Oklahoma State win over Wyoming.

 

47 Points: 2017 Boca Raton Bowl

47 Points: 2017 Boca Raton Bowl
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Lane Kiffin capped off a great first season at FAU by pulverizing Akron in the Boca Raton Bowl 50-3. FAU scored five touchdowns on the ground, and quarterback Jason Driskel contributing two of them while also throwing for two scores.

 

45 Points: 2016 Miami Beach Bowl

45 Points: 2016 Miami Beach Bowl
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Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans had a great game in a 55-10 win over Central Michigan. He threw for 304 yards and five touchdowns.

 

44 Points: 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl

44 Points: 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl
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Oklahoma State had fun in a 58-14 win over Purdue, led by quarterback Clint Chelf's three touchdown passes. 

 

44 Points: 1985 California Bowl

44 Points: 1985 California Bowl
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The short-lived California Bowl featured a blowout win by head coach Jim Sweeney's Fresno State squad over Bowling Green State 51-7. Both teams were undefeated entering the game, and punter Mike Mancini won game MVP.

 

43 Points: 1991 Cotton Bowl

43 Points: 1991 Cotton Bowl
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No. 4-ranked Miami blew out No. 3 Texas in a shocking 46-3 result. Quarterback Craig Erickson and defensive lineman Russell Maryland claimed game MVPs.

 

42 Points: 2011 Citrus Bowl

42 Points: 2011 Citrus Bowl
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Alabama head coach Nick Saban clobbered his former employer Michigan State in a 49-7 win. Linebacker Courtney Upshaw won game MVP with two sacks, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble.

 

42 Points: 2004 Humanitarian Bowl

42 Points: 2004 Humanitarian Bowl
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Georgia Tech defeated Tulsa 52-10 with running back P.J. Daniels having a historic day. He had 31 carries for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

 

42 Points: 1999 Micron PC Bowl

42 Points: 1999 Micron PC Bowl
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Illinois beat Virginia 63-21 as Illini quarterback Kurt Kittner threw two touchdowns.

 

42 Points: 1978 Sun Bowl

42 Points: 1978 Sun Bowl
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No. 14 Texas shut out No. 13 Maryland 42-0 in a lopsided Sun Bowl win. Running back Lam Jones and defensive lineman Dwight Jefferson were the game MVPs.

 

41 Points: 2017 Frisco Bowl

41 Points: 2017 Frisco Bowl
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The 2017 Frisco Bowl featured two excellent offenses, but the Mustangs of SMU were in over their heads against Louisiana Tech. Louisiana Tech won 51-10, as J'Mar Smith threw three touchdowns and the Bulldogs defense got three interceptions.

 

41 Points: 2003 Las Vegas Bowl

41 Points: 2003 Las Vegas Bowl
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Oregon State running back Steven Jackson finished his career with a huge game in a 55-14 win over New Mexico. The future St. Louis Ram had 200 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns.

 

41 Points: 1996 Gator Bowl

41 Points: 1996 Gator Bowl
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Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb was just establishing himself but won MVP of the Gator Bowl with a 41-0 win over Clemson. He threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in the rain.

 

41 Points: 1995 Cotton Bowl

41 Points: 1995 Cotton Bowl
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USC won 55-14 over Texas Tech, led by future No. 1 overall draft choice Keyshawn Johnson. Johnson finished the game with three touchdown catches.

 

40 Points: 2002 Tangerine Bowl

40 Points: 2002 Tangerine Bowl
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Now the head coach at Texas Tech, Kliff Kingsbury blew away Clemson in a 55-15 win. Kingsbury threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns.

 

40 Points: 1973 Bluebonnet Bowl

40 Points: 1973 Bluebonnet Bowl
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Houston won the now defunct Bluebonnet Bowl over Tulane, 47-7. Leonard Parker and Donnie McGraw each had two touchdown runs in the game that took place at the Houston Astrodome.

 

39 Points: 2016 Outback Bowl

39 Points: 2016 Outback Bowl
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Tennessee beat No. 13 Northwestern 45-6 in the Outback Bowl, as quarterback Joshua Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd starred on offense.

 

39 Points: 2015 Rose Bowl

39 Points: 2015 Rose Bowl
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Oregon advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game after defeating defending champs Florida State 59-20. Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota threw for 338 yards and two scores, adding 62 rushing yards and a rushing score.

 

39 Points: 2014 Peach Bowl

39 Points: 2014 Peach Bowl
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TCU ran over Ole Miss 42-3, as quarterback Trevone Boykin threw for 187 yards and three scores.

 

39 Points: 1998 Gator Bowl

39 Points: 1998 Gator Bowl
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North Carolina won its second consecutive Gator Bowl, beating Virginia Tech 42-3. UNC quarterback Chris Keldorf led the way for the Tar Heels.

 

39 Points: 1969 Sun Bowl

39 Points: 1969 Sun Bowl
Jeff Hanisch / USA TODAY Sports

No. 14 Nebraska blew out Georgia 45-6. Paul Rogers won MVP after making four field goals in the first quarter.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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