A glance at Friday’s bowl games
CHEEZ-IT BOWL No. 24 Air Force (10-2) vs. Washington State (6-6)
When: 9:15 p.m.
Where: Phoenix, Arizona
TV: ESPN (Cox 29)
Line: Air Force by 2 1/2.
Series Record: First meeting.
What's at stake: Air Force is looking to finish with 11 victories in a season for the first time since going 12-1 in 1998. Washington State is hoping to close strong in a season that started with a No. 23 preseason ranking in the AP Top 25 and fizzled midway through with a string of five losses in six games. The bowl will feature a wide disparity in styles: the Falcons and their triple option against the Cougars and their Air Raid offense.
Key matchup: Air Force's defense vs. Washington State QB Anthony Gordon. A senior, Gordon made the most of his lone season as the Cougars' starter, leading the nation with a Pac-12-record 5,228 yards passing and 45 TDs. The Falcons were decent against the pass this season, finishing 39th in the FBS but have faced nothing like what Washington State does.
HOLIDAY BOWL No. 22 USC (8-4) vs. No. 18 Iowa (9-3)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: San Diego, California
TV: FS1 (Cox 67)
Line: Iowa by 2½.
Series record: USC leads 7-2.
What's at stake: The Hawkeyes will be playing for the memory of former coach Hayden Fry, who died on Dec. 17 at age 90, and for a 10-win season. USC plays for the first time since new athletic director Mike Bohn announced that coach Clay Helton would return next season.
Key matchup: USC's passing game, led by freshman QB Kedon Slovis and junior WR Michael Pittman, against Iowa's defense. Slovis has thrown for 3,242 yards and 28 touchdowns, against nine interceptions in 11 games, including 10 starts. Pittman has 95 catches for 1,222 yards and 11 touchdowns.
MILITARY BOWL North Carolina (6-6) vs Temple (8-4)
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Annapolis, Maryland
TV: ESPN (Cox 29)
Line: North Carolina by by 4 1/2.
Series Record: First meeting.
What's at stake: North Carolina seeks to complete a winning season with its first bowl victory since defeating Cincinnati in the 2013 Belk Bowl. Temple is making its fifth straight bowl appearance after losing three of the previous four.
Key matchup: Temple defense against North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell. The Owls allowed only 212.5 yards passing per game and had 39 sacks. Mitchell threw for 3,347 yards and 35 touchdowns, the most by a true freshman in FBS history.
PINSTRIPE BOWL Michigan State (6-6) vs. Wake Forest (8-4)
When: 2:30 p.m.
Where: The Bronx, New York
TV: ESPN (Cox 29)
Line: Michigan State by 3½.
Series Record: First meeting.
What's at stake: Wake Forest is one of nine schools to win a bowl game in each of the past three seasons and needs one more win to become just the third team in school history to finish with nine or more victories. Michigan State's offense has been wildly inconsistent this season and failed to score more than 10 points in a game five times. The Spartans still did just enough to make a bowl game for the 12th time in 13 seasons.
Key matchup: Wake's QB vs. Michigan State's pass defense. Jamie Newman has been hit with injuries this season, missing one game and leaving early in two others. He averages 244.8 yards and has thrown for 23 TDs with 10 interceptions, but it's possible that even if healthy enough to start, he doesn't play much. Wake Forest ranks 12th in the nation in total offense. The Spartans allowed 30-plus points four times this season.