ShareThisCapsule previews for six pre-Christmas college football bowl games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.
SATURDAY:
NEW MEXICO BOWL in Albuquerque.
FRESNO STATE (8-4) vs. WYOMING (6-6), 4:30, ESPN .
PAYOUT: Each school receives $750,000.
FAVORITE: Fresno State by 11.
COACHES: Pat Hill (100-65 in 13th year at Fresno State) and Dave Christensen (first year at Wyoming).
BOWL RECORD: Fresno State is 10-8. Wyoming is 5-6..
LAST GAME: Fresno State won at Illinois, 53-52, on Dec. 5. Wyoming won at Colorado State, 17-16, on Nov. 27.
SERIES HISTORY: Tied, 3-3.
LAST MEETING: Fresno State won, 24-7, in 1997.
STAT THAT MATTERS: In their six wins, Cowboys averaged 29 points per game. In their six losses, Wyoming averaged five points per game.
GAME FACTS: A combined 20-18 from 2006-08 coming into this season, Bulldogs would love to cap 7-1 season-ending surge with only fourth bowl win in six appearances since 2003. Junior RB Ryan Mathews led the nation in rushing (1,664 yards, 17 TD runs) and could do a lot of damage to weak Cowboys' front seven (91st in nation vs. run, 170.5 ypg). After rough start that included 7 ints. in first four games, junior QB Ryan Coburn has settled down (68-of-111, 786 passing, 6 TDs, 2 ints., 111 yards rushing in last four games) nicely. Making only second bowl appearance since 1993, UW is really one of worst teams to go bowling with only 5 wins vs. D-I opponents (none with winning record). Despite Christensen's explosive teams as a coordinator at Missouri, Cowboys offense was mostly awful (last in Mountain West, 112th in nation in total offense, 298.6 ypg) before finally showing bit of life behind freshman QB Austyn Carta-Samuels (552 yards total offense, 3 TD runs, 2 TD passes, int. in last three games). Sophomore LB Brian Hendricks and junior Chris Prosinski (combined 240 tackles, most of any LB duo in nation) have motors that won't quit and will be busy taking aim at Mathews.
ST. PETERSBURG BOWL in St. Petersburg, Fla.
CENTRAL FLORIDA (8-4) vs. RUTGERS (8-4), 8, ESPN.
PAYOUT: Each school receives $750,000.
FAVORITE: Rutgers by 3.
COACHES: George O'Leary (34-40 in 6th year at UCF) and Greg Schiano (54-55 in 9th year at Rutgers).
BOWL RECORD: UCF is 0-2. Rutgers is 3-2.
LAST GAME: UCF won at Alabama-Birmingham, 34-27, on Nov. 28. Rutgers lost at home to West Virginia, 24-21, on Dec. 5.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Making fifth consecutive bowl appearance, Scarlet Knights have won three of last four postseason games. Prior to Schiano's arrival, Rutgers had gone to one bowl game in its first 131 years of football.
GAME FACTS: Interesting match-up of UCF's speed vs. Rutgers' strength. Knights won five of last six down the stretch with unheralded sophomore RB Brynn Harvey (398 rushing, 7 TDs in last three games) doing much of the damage, including 139 yards, 3 TDs in 37-32 upset of then-No. 13 Houston on Nov. 14. Junior DE Bruce Miller led C-USA with 12 sacks (fifth in nation) while run defense was rock solid (led C-USA, fourth in nation vs. run, 82.5 ypg). After amazing 7-0 finish to last season, Knights didn't have it this time around dropping two of final three games. Schiano likes to pound RB Joe Martinek (923 rushing, 9 TDs). But will he turn freshman QB Tom Savage (4 TD passes, 5 ints. in last four games) loose against weak Knights secondary (112th in nation vs. pass, 265.6 ypg, 18 TD passes given up, 11 ints.)? With talented WR Tim Brown (51 catches, third in Big East with 1,051 yards receiving, 8 TDs) playing on gimpy ankle, WR Mohamed Sanu (47 catches, 2 TDs, 305 yards rushing, 3 TD runs) may be more of a weapon than usual. Rutgers led nation in turnover ratio (32 forced, 12 given up) as pressure defense (second in nation with 102 tackles for loss, 12th with 34 sacks) created havoc behind line of scrimmage.
SUNDAY:
NEW ORLEANS BOWL
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (9-3) vs. SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (7-5), 8:15..
PAYOUT: Each school receives $325,000.
FAVORITE: Southern Miss by 4.
COACHES: Rick Stockstill (26-23 in fourth year at Middle Tennessee) and Larry Fedora (14-11 in second year at Southern Miss).
BOWL RECORD: Middle Tennessee is 0-1. Southern Miss is 9-8.
LAST GAME: Middle Tennessee won at Louisiana-Monroe, 38-19, on Nov. 28. Southern Miss lost at East Carolina, 25-20, on Nov. 28.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting.
STAT THAT MATTERS: In winning last six games to get here, Blue Raiders outscored opponents by combined 247-115.
GAME FACTS: Huge difference in postseason experience here with Raiders playing in second bowl ever while Golden Eagles are making 8th consecutive bowl and 12th in last 13 years. With only losses to Sun Belt champ Troy, ACC runner-up Clemson and SEC's Mississippi State, Blue Raiders are sneaky good with wins over Maryland and Memphis. Junior Dwight Dasher (9th in nation with 3,580 total offense, 21 TD passes, 14 ints., 11 TD runs) is one of better QBs you've never heard of. DE Chris McCoy's 20-1/2 tackles for loss lead Sun Belt (6th in nation). Senior LB Danny Carmichael has 257 career tackles. MTSU's only other bowl trip was 31-14 loss to Central Michigan in 2006 Motor City Bowl. Golden Eagles also have unheralded QB in junior Martevious Young (third in C-USA in QB rating, 1,590 passing, 13 TDs, 1 int. in 196 passes) while senior RB Damion Fletcher (937 rushing, 9 TDs) needs 63 more yards to become 9th D-I player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in all four seasons. USM is 3-0 all-time in New Orleans Bowls but Superdome has bad memories for talented 6-6 sophomore WR DeAndre Brown (43 catches, 7 TDs) who broke his leg trying to make catch in last year's 30-27 win over Troy.
TUESDAY:
LAS VEGAS BOWL
No. 15 BRIGHAM YOUNG (10-2) vs. No. 16 OREGON STATE (8-4), 8, ESPN.
PAYOUT: Each school receives $1 million.
FAVORITE: Oregon State by 2.
COACHES: Bronco Mendenhall (48-15 in fifth year at BYU) and Mike Riley (64-46 in 9th year at Oregon State).
BOWL RECORD: BYU is 9-17-1. Oregon State is 8-4.
LAST GAME: BYU beat Utah, 26-23 in overtime, on Nov. 28. Oregon State lost at Oregon, 37-33, on Dec. 3.
SERIES HISTORY: Oregon State leads, 5-3.
LAST MEETING: Oregon State won, 10-7, in 1986.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Beavers' 5-game bowl winning streak since 2003 ties Texas for second longest streak in nation.
GAME FACTS: With 2-2 mark playing in last four Las Vegas Bowls, Cougars' enthusiasm for trip No. 5 is open to question. Last year's 31-21 loss to Arizona was hardly encouraging. In spite of being third in nation in QB rating, you have to wonder where QB Max Hall's head is -- especially after his worst game of season (12-of-32, 124 passing, 2 TDs) vs. rival Utah then spouting off afterwards how much he "hates'' all things Utah. Senior Dennis Pitta's 2,856 yards receiving are most ever for a D-I TE. An OSU alum, Mendenhall played safety for Beavers in their win over Cougars in Provo in 23 years ago. Beavers fell just short of first Rose Bowl trip since 1965 in valiant loss at Oregon. Post-season bullies, Beavers gave up only 178 total yards with five sacks in last year's 3-0 win over Pitt in Sun Bowl. But OSU defense hasn't been nearly as good this season (51st in nation in scoring, 23.4 ppg, 87th vs. pass, 238.6 ypg, 106th nationally with 15 sacks). So as usual, burden will falls on Rodgers brothers, sophomore RB Jacquizz (third in Pac-10 with 1,377 rushing, fourth in nation with 21 TDs), junior WR James (led Pac-10 with 87 catches, 2,213 all-purpose yards, fifth in nation). QB Sean Canfield (led Pac-10 in QB rating, 3,103 passing, 21 TDs, 6 ints.) also chips in as does K Justin Kahut, who was fourth in nation with 22 FG (vs. only five misses).
WEDNESDAY:
POINSETTIA BOWL in San Diego
No. 23 UTAH (9-3) vs. CALIFORNIA (8-4), 8, ESPN.
PAYOUT: Each school receives $750,000.
FAVORITE: Cal by 3.
COACHES: Kyle Whittingham (46-17 in 5th year at Utah) and Jeff Tedford (67-34 in 8th year at Cal).
BOWL RECORD: Utah is 11-3. Cal is 10-8-1.
LAST GAME: Utah lost at BYU, 26-23 in overtime, on Nov. 28. Cal lost at Washington, 42-10, on Dec. 5.
SERIES HISTORY: Cal leads, 4-2.
LAST MEETING: Utah won, 31-24, in 2003.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Utes' 8 consecutive bowl wins is longest streak in nation.
GAME FACTS: Undefeated 13-0 and finishing No. 2 in nation last year, it's different this time for Utes, who come in on 1-2 slide while giving up 81 points in losses to TCU, BYU. Freshman QB Jordan Wynn (69-of-129, 909 passing, 4 TDs, 3 ints. in last four starts following junior Terrance Cain's season-ending leg injury) has had his ups and downs. LB Mike Wright (77 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 2 ints.), DE Koa Misi (65 tackles, 3 forced fumbles) anchor capable defense (third in Mountain West in total defense, 314.2 ypg). Bears offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig served same position at Utah from 2005-08. He will miss talented RB Jahvid Best who hasn't played since suffering severe concussion in loss to Oregon State Nov. 7. After rousing upset 34-28 upset of Stanford Nov. 21, Cal suffered through debacle in season-ender at Washington, tying season-high for points given up. On bright side, junior QB Kevin Riley finally found consistency down the stretch (12 TD passes, 5 ints. in last seven games) while sophomore RB Shane Vereen shined as Best's replacement with 444 yards rushing, 3 TDs in final three games. Hot-and-cold offense averaged 40.1 points in Cal's 8 wins and 7.5 ppg in the other four losses. Bears have been able to bounce back in bowls with wins in each of last four seasons (tied for longest streak in Pac-10).
HAWAII BOWL in Honolulu.
SMU (7-5) vs. NEVADA (8-4), 8, ESPN.
PAYOUT: Each school receives $750,000.
FAVORITE: Nevada by 14.
COACHES: June Jones (8-16 in second year at SMU) and Chris Ault (146-57-1 in 25th year at Nevada).
BOWL RECORD: SMU is 4-6-1. Nevada is 3-6.
LAST GAME: SMU beat Tulane, 26-21, on Nov. 28. Nevada lost at Boise State, 44-33, on Nov. 27.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Wolf Pack led the nation in rushing (362.2 yards per game) while Mustangs were 88th in nation against the run (169.2 ypg).
GAME FACTS: Making first bowl trip since pre-Death Penalty days of 1984, Mustangs want to prove they belong. 4-1 surge to end the season included wins over Rice, UTEP and Tulane by combined total of 12 points. Surprisingly, RB Shawnbrey McNeal (1,125 rushing, 11 TDs) has excelled in Jones' run-and-shoot attack. Since taking over at midseason, freshman QB Kyle Padron has improved (92-of-148, 1,319 passing, 7 TDs, 4 ints., 2 TD runs in last five games). Defense (92nd in nation in total defense, 404 ypg) held only four foes under 28 points. That is problem vs. Wolf Pack's vaunted "Pistol'' option game that produced three 1,000-yard rushers -- RBs Vai Taua, Luke Lipincott and QB Colin Kaepernick -- for first time ever in D-I history. Pass defense is next-to-last in nation (284.2 ypg, 31 TD passes given up, 8 ints.) and has Jones licking his chops to test them. Team shook off 0-3 start to make school-record fifth straight bowl game. Now UN needs a win (1-5 in bowls under Ault, losses last three years.)
(E-mail John Lindsay at lindsayj(at)shns.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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