Preview of Saturday’s bowl games
St. Petersburg Bowl
Schools: Marshall (9-3) vs. Connecticut (6-6)
Line: Marshall by 5
Series: First meeting
Time, TV: 8 a.m., ESPN
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Marshall fell short of a goal of repeating as Conference USA champion, but has an opportunity to finish with at least 10 wins for the third straight season under coach Doc Holliday. A victory would give UConn its first winning season since 2010.
KEY MATCHUP
Marshall freshman QB Chase Litton, who’s thrown for 2,387 yards and 22 touchdowns, against a physical UConn defense that statistically is one of the toughest the Thundering Herd have faced. The Huskies rank 17th nationally in scoring defense (19.8) and 33rd in yards allowed (352.2). CB Jamal Summers led the American Athletic Conference with seven interceptions, and UConn’s 17 picks overall is tied for 10th nationally.
Sun Bowl
Schools: Miami (8-4, ACC) vs. Washington State (8-4, Pac-12)
Line: Washington State by 2
Series: First meeting
Time, TV: 11 a.m., CBS
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Both teams are looking to end long bowl droughts. Washington State is in its second bowl game in three seasons, but it hasn’t won one since defeating Texas 28-20 in the 2003 Holiday Bowl. Miami is making its third consecutive bowl appearance, but the Hurricanes haven’t won one since defeating Nevada 21-20 in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl. Miami is 0-5 since then, including a 33-17 loss to Notre Dame in the 2010 Sun Bowl.
KEY MATCHUP
Washington State QB Luke Falk vs. the Miami secondary. Falk leads the No. 1 passing offense in the nation, averaging 397 yards, and the No. 1 overall offense in the nation at 476.9 yards per game. Miami is No. 64 in pass defense, allowing 223.8 yards per game, and cornerback Artie Burns leads the ACC with six interceptions. But the Hurricanes will be without safety Jamal Carter, who will not play because of a violation of team rules.
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Schools: Washington (6-6, Pac-12) vs. Southern Miss (9-4, Conference USA)
Line: Washington by 9
Series: First meeting
Time, TV: 11:20 a.m., ESPN
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Southern Miss tries to reach 10 wins for only the third time in school history – the others were 1988, Brett Favre’s sophomore season, and 2011 when the Golden Eagles were 12-2 a year before going 0-12. Washington, an 0-12 team in 2008, is in a bowl for the sixth consecutive season.
KEY MATCHUP
Washington’s stingy defense against Southern Miss’ offense with a 4,000-yard passer and two 1,000-yard rushers. The Huskies allowed only 17 combined points their last two games. Jalen Richard and Ito Smith are only the second set of Southern Miss teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season – the last were running back Sammy Winder and quarterback Reggie Collier in 1981. The Huskies led the Pac-12 in total defense (350 yards per game) and scoring defense (17.8 points per game).
Pinstripe Bowl
Schools: Indiana (6-6) vs. Duke (7-5)
Line: Indiana by 2
Series: Indiana leads 2-1
Time, TV: 12:30 p.m., ABC
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Duke’s seniors want to get the elusive bowl victory after blowing games in the second half to Cincinnati, Texas A&M and Arizona State, keeping the program without a bowl victory since the 1961 Cotton Bowl. Indiana hopes to win its first bowl game since a 24-0 victory over Baylor in the 1991 Copper Bowl.
KEY MATCHUP
Indiana’s wide receivers against Duke’s secondary. Indiana’s prolific offense will try to capitalize on the absence of ACC defensive player of the year Jeremy Cash, who underwent wrist surgery Dec. 16.
Independence Bowl
Schools: Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast) vs. Tulsa (6-6, 3-5 American Athletic)
Line: Virginia Tech by 14
Series: Tulsa leads 3-1
Time, TV: 2:45 p.m., ESPN
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Virginia Tech looks to send legendary head coach Frank Beamer out a winner in his finale. Tulsa and first-year head coach Philip Montgomery are seeking their first bowl win since the Golden Hurricane’s last postseason appearance three years ago.
KEY MATCHUP
Tulsa enters with the nation’s 11th-ranked passing offense led by QB Dane Evans. Virginia Tech boasts the No. 9-rated passing defense in the country.
Foster Farms Bowl
Schools: Nebraska (5-7) vs. UCLA (8-4)
Line: UCLA by 6 1/2
Series: Tied 6-6
Time, TV: 6:15 p.m., ESPN
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The Cornhuskers made a bowl in coach Mike Riley’s first season despite a losing record and look to end the year on a positive note. The Bruins had hoped to play at Levi’s Stadium earlier this month in the Pac-12 title game but fell short and are settling for a trip to the Santa Clara, California, venue for the bowl.
KEY MATCHUP
UCLA RB Paul Perkins vs. Nebraska run D. Perkins became the first UCLA player to lead the Pac-12 in rushing since DeShaun Foster in 2001. Perkins ran for 1,275 yards and ranks third in school history with 3,423. The Huskers allowed just 113.4 yards rushing per game, eighth-best in the nation.