TODAY’S BOWL GAMES
MILITARY BOWL Cincinnati (9-3) vs. Va. Tech (6-6)
Time: 1 p.m., TV: ESPN, Line: Cincinnati -2¹/ 2, O/U: 51
Outlook: Virginia Tech seeks to extend its run of consecutive seasons with a winning record to 22 in its 22nd successive year in a bowl game. Cincinnati, the American Athletic Conference co-champion, seeks its eighth straight win overall and is looking for redemption after losing to Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina 39-17 last year in the Belk Bowl.
Players to watch: Cincinnati — Notre Dame transfer Gunner Kiel completed 219 of 364 passes for 3,010 yards and 30 TDs with 11 INTs. Virginia Tech — Senior safety
Detrick Bonner played 796 snaps on defense and 62 more on special teams. He had 68 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
SUN BOWL Arizona St. (9-3) vs. Duke (9-3)
Time: 2 p.m., TV: CBS, Line: Arizona St. -7¹/ 2, O/U: 65
Outlook: Duke is looking for its first bowl win since 1961 in its third straight trip to one. Last year, the Blue Devils lost 52-48 to Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel in the Peach Bowl. Two seasons ago, Duke lost 48-34 to Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl. Arizona State is making its fourth consecutive bowl appearance and third in a row under Todd Graham.
Players to watch: Arizona State — QB Taylor Kelly is 141 of 244 passing for 1,874 yards and 20 TDs with just five interceptions. He has thrown a TD pass in every game but four in his career and is third in program history with 75 passing TDs. Duke — LB David Helton led the ACC in tackles for the second consecutive season, finishing with 125 this season.
INDEPENDENCE BOWL Miami (6-6) vs. So. Carolina (6-6)
Time: 3:30 p.m., TV: ABC, Line: Miami -3¹/ 2, O/U: 61
Outlook: It has been a disappointing season for both Miami and South Carolina, and now each program hopes to salvage some pride. Miami is trying to snap a fourgame bowl losing streak and hasn’t won in the postseason since the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl over Nevada. South Carolina is trying for a school record four-game bowl winning streak.
Players to watch: South Carolina — QB Dylan Thompson. The senior has thrown for 3,280 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. Miami — QB Brad
Kaaya. The true freshman has been very good for the Hurricanes, throwing for 2,962 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 touchdowns.
PINSTRIPE BOWL Boston College (7-5) vs. Penn St. (6-6)
Time: 4:30 p.m., TV: ESPN, Line: Boston College -2¹/ 2, O/U: 40
Outlook: Penn State is back in the bowl game business after the NCAA rescinded penalties levied in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. The Nittany Lions are trying to win their first bowl game since the 2010 Capital One Bowl. Boston College is in its second straight bowl and trying to win for the first time under coach Steve Addazio.
Players to watch: Boston College — QB Tyler Murphy broke the ACC’s single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,079 yards in 2014. Penn State — Freshman WR DaeSean Hamilton is among the top pass catchers in school history with his 75 catches for 848 yards.
HOLIDAY BOWL USC (8-4) vs. Nebraska (9-3)
Time: 8 p.m., TV: ESPN, Line: USC -7, O/U: 62
Outlook: This is the first bowl meeting between the two storied programs. USC owns a 3-0-1 edge in the series. This is the first appearance in the Holiday Bowl for USC, which made the two-hour trip by bus from Los Angeles. Nebraska interim coach Barney Cotton will handle the bowl game assignment following the firing of Bo Pelini.
Players to watch: Nebraska — With 1,523 yards, RB Ameer Abdullah has registered his third straight 1,000-yard season, a first in Cornhuskers history. USC — QB Cody
Kessler’s completion percentage of 70.7 currently is above the school season record of 69.1 percent by Matt Barkley in 2011.