Sun Bowl
Oregon State (8-4) vs. Pittsburgh (9-3)
Where: El Paso, Texas When: Noon, today TV: KCNC-4
Series record: Pitt leads 1-0.
Last meeting: 2002, Pitt won 38-13.
What’s at stake: Oregon State coach Mike Riley is 4-0 in bowl games since beginning his second run at the school in 2003.
Key matchup: Pitt RB LeSean McCoy vs. Oregon State LBs Keaton Kristick, Bryant Cornell and Keith Pankey. McCoy, a sophomore, is the nation’s No. 10 rusher, averaging 116.9 yards per game. Beavers allowed 134.8 yards rushing per game.
Players to watch: Oregon State — WR Sammie Stroughter regained his senior season after NCAA granted a medical hardship for a kidney injury suffered last year. He has 2,565 career yards receiving, 158 catches and 14 TDs. Also a dangerous kick returner. Pitt — LB Scott McKillop averaged 10.5 tackles per game, ranking 11th nationally. Last year he led the nation with a 12.6 average.
Facts and figures: Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt, former NFL coach with Dolphins and Bears, is a Pitt alum, a three-year OT starter from 1971-73. . . . Oregon State won the Sun Bowl two years ago, beating Missouri in a 39-38 thriller.
Music City Bowl
Boston College (9-4) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6)
Where: Nashville, Tenn. When: 1:30 p.m., today TV: ESPN
Series record: Boston College leads 2-0.
Last meeting: 1963, Boston College won 19-6
What’s at stake: For Boston College, bouncing back from losing the Atlantic Coast Conference championship to extend the nation’s longest winning streak in bowl games to nine in the Eagles’ school-record 10th consecutive bowl game. For Vanderbilt, the first bowl win since 1955.
Key matchup: Two of the stingier defenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Eagles had an FBS-leading 26 interceptions, forced 36 turnovers and had three shutouts. Vanderbilt ranked second in the SEC with 18 interceptions.
Players to watch: Boston College — LB Mark Herzlich was the ACC defensive player of the year and a third-team All-American. He had 98 tackles and six interceptions. Vanderbilt — CB D.J. Moore was the first Vanderbilt player in 11 years to earn All-America honors from the AP, making the second team.
Facts and figures: This is Boston College’s second appearance in the Music City Bowl. The Eagles beat Georgia 20-16 in 2001. . . . The Eagles have won 21 straight nonconference games.
Insight Bowl
Minnesota vs. Kansas
Where: Tempe, Ariz. When: 4 p.m., today TV: NFL
Series record: Tied 3-3.
Last meeting: 1973, Kansas won 34-19 at Lawrence
What’s at stake: The Golden Gophers hope to end a couple of losing streaks. After opening the season 7-1, they lost their last four games. Minnesota has also lost its last two bowls, including the 2006 Insight. Kansas started fast and finished slowly, but has some momentum after upsetting then-No. 12 Missouri 40-37 in the regular-season finale.
Key matchup: Minnesota’s defensive front against Kansas’ offensive line. With quarterback Todd Reesing, the Jayhawks like to throw it; they average 302.3 passing yards per game. Led by all-Big Ten defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg, the Gophers average 2.5 sacks per game.
Players to watch: Minnesota: WR Eric Decker. A consensus all-Big Ten first-teamer, Decker caught a school-record 76 passes this season. Kansas: LB James Holt.He leads the Jayhawks with 97 tackles.
Facts and figures: KU, which won the Orange Bowl last January, is making bowl appearances in consecutive seasons for the first time. . . . Minnesota hopes to avert a rerun of its last Insight trip, a 44-41 overtime loss to Texas Tech.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
LSU (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (9-3)
Where: Atlanta When: 5:30 p.m., today TV: ESPN
Series record: Georgia Tech leads 12-6.
Last meeting: 2000, LSU won 28-14 in 2000 Chick-fil-A Bowl.
What’s at stake: Georgia Tech will play for its first 10-win season since 1998. One year after winning the national championship, LSU lost five of its last eight games, including two straight to end the season.
Key matchup: Georgia Tech’s running game vs. LSU’s front seven. The Yellow Jackets rank third in the nation with their average of 282 yards rushing, while LSU is 17th in rushing defense.
Players to watch: LSU: RB Charles Scott. After opening the season with four straight 100-yard games, Scott finished fourth in the SEC with 1,109 yards rushing. Georgia Tech: S Morgan Burnett. Only a sophomore, Burnett tied for the national lead with seven interceptions.
Facts and figures: LSU has won 18 straight nonconference games since losing to Iowa in the Capital One Bowl following the 2004 season. . . . Georgia Tech is 0-3 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
