Bowl previews for Saturday, Dec. 17

Las Vegas Bowl

Matchup: Houston (9-3, AAC) vs. San Diego State (10-3, MWC)

Logistics: At Las Vegas, 12:30 p.m. (ABC)

Line: Houston by 4.

Series record: Houston leads 2-0.

What’s at stake

Houston can win 10 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history while also starting the Major Applewhite era on a positive note, as the offensive coordinator and former Texas quarterback was promoted to replace Austin-bound Tom Herman as head coach. A victory by SDSU would tie the school record for wins, first set in 1969 under coach Don Coryell and matched last season by Rocky Long. The winning team is also likely to end the season ranked, something SDSU has not accomplished since the 1977 season.

Key matchup

Houston’s run defense vs. SDSU’s tailback tandem of Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny. In their two marquee games, the Cougars held Oklahoma to 2.7 yards per carry and Louisville to 2.5, but the defensive front was decidedly less effective in their three losses and allowed at least 146 yards rushing in those games. If Pumphrey and Penny can get going early, a duo that rushed for 27 touchdowns this season can not only wear down Houston but keep star quarterback Greg Ward Jr. off the field at the same time.

New Mexico Bowl

Matchup: New Mexico (8-4, 6-2 Mountain West) vs. UTSA (6-6, 5-3 Conference USA)

Logistics: At Albuquerque, New Mexico, 11 a.m. (ESPN)

Line: New Mexico by 7 1/2

Series record: Split 1-1

What’s at stake

UTSA is making its first bowl appearance in its program’s brief history. The Roadrunners football program was launched only six years ago and the team won five of its last eight to finish second in Conference USA’s West Division under first-year coach Frank Wilson. New Mexico is 3-8-1 in bowl games and returns to the New Mexico Bowl for the second straight year. The Lobos’ back-to-back postseason appearances come after years of turmoil on and off the field.

Key matchup

UTSA’s pro-style offense versus New Mexico’s triple-option threat. The Roadrunners are led by quarterback Dalton Sturm, who threw for 2,052 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. UTSA also has depth among its speedy receiving corps. The Lobos lead the nation in rushing yards per game with 360.9 and racked up 4,331 rushing yards, the most in school history. New Mexico has two running backs with 1,000 rushing yards each and rarely turns the ball over.

Camellia Bowl

Matchup: Appalachian St. (9-3, Sun Belt) vs. Toledo (9-3, Mid-American Conference)

Logistics: At Montgomery, Alabama, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Toledo by 1.

Series record: First meeting.

What’s at stake

Both teams are trying to reach 10 wins and extend bowl success. Appalachian State won this game last year in its first bowl game, while the Rockets are 11-4 in bowl games.

Key matchup

Appalachian State’s defense versus Toledo’s offense. The Mountaineers rank seventh nationally in scoring defense, allowing 17 points per game. The Rockets are averaging 529.8 yards – which would be a school season mark – and 38.8 points.

Cure Bowl

Matchup: UCF (6-6, American Athletic Conference) vs. Arkansas State (7-5, Sun Belt Conference),

Logistics: At Orlando, Florida, 2:30 p.m., CBSSN

Line: UCF by 6 1/2.

Series record: UCF leads 1-0.

What’s at stake

The Knights and the Red Wolves are both on the rebound from adversity. UCF is coming off a 0-12 campaign in 2015, while the Red Wolves turned their season around after starting out 0-4. Both teams are looking for wins to further signify their respective programs are on the right track.

Key matchup

Arkansas State’s defense vs. UCF QB McKenzie Milton. The Red Wolves have an aggressive defensive front that gets after the quarter, led by linebacker Chris Odom and defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones. The two have combined for 24 of the team’s 37 sacks on the season. That could spell trouble for Milton, who is sometimes prone to freshmen mistakes when facing great pressure. Milton will need time from his offensive line to be effective in the passing game.

New Orleans Bowl

Matchup: Southern Mississippi (6-6, Conference USA) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6, Sun Belt)

Logistics: At New Orleans, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Southern Miss by 5 1/2.

Series record: Southern Miss leads 39-11-1.

What’s at stake

Both teams had to win their final regular season games to get a post-season bid and don’t want to follow that with a loss that would doom them to end their 2016 campaign with losing record. Regional bragging rights are in play as well. Both campuses are less than a three-hour drive from New Orleans and these teams have played a lot over the years.

Key matchup

The ULL ground game, led by senior running back Elijah McGuire, vs. a Southern Miss defense that ranks in the top five nationally in terms of fewest first downs allowed and percentage of third-down stops.

Celebration Bowl

Matchup: Grambling State (10-1, Southwestern Athletic Conference) vs. North Carolina Central (9-2, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference),

Logistics: At Atlanta, 9 a.m. (ABC)

Line: Grambling State by 14 1/2

Series record: Grambling State leads 3-0

What’s at stake

The game between champions of the historically black college conferences SWAC and MEAC will determine the HBCU national championship.

Key matchup

The North Carolina Central’s high-scoring offense, which has averaged 30.7 points per game – second-most in school history – will be tested by Grambling State’s defense that ranks first in the nation in red-zone defense and sixth in scoring defense. The Tigers held nine opponents to 20 or fewer points.