TODAY’S GAMES
LIBERTY BOWL
Arkansas (7-5, SEC) vs. Kansas State (6-6, Big 12), 3:20 p.m. (ESPN) Arkansas by 12 ½
Arkansas is seeking its first eight-win season since 2011. The Razorbacks also could get capture their third straight bowl victory, which would be the longest such streak in school history. This game also determines whether Kansas State finishes above or below .500. Kansas State hasn’t had a losing season since Bill Snyder began his second stint as the Wildcats’ coach in 2009.
LINE: WHAT’S AT STAKE:
KEY MATCHUP:
Arkansas running back Alex Collins vs. Kansas State run defense: Kansas State’s chances of pulling the upset depend on making sure the Razorbacks don’t run wild. Arkansas’ offense is more balanced than usual this season, but the Razorbacks’ ground attack remains potent. Collins has rushed for 1,392 yards and 17 touchdowns in his third straight 1,000-yard season. Kansas State ranks second in the Big 12 in run defense but is allowing 4.3 yards per carry.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Arkansas:
TE Hunter Henry: The Associated Press All-America first-team tight end has 46 catches for 647 yards and three touchdowns. He leads all tight ends in yards receiving, firstdown catches (32) and gains of 15-plus yards (19). According to Arkansas’ sports information department, Henry hasn’t dropped a pass all season.
CB/KR Morgan Burns: He has scored touchdowns on four kickoff returns this season and also has 34 tackles and 11 passes defensed as a starting cornerback. He could tie a Football Bowl Subdivision single-season record Saturday by producing a fifth touchdown on a kickoff return.
Kansas State:
ALAMO BOWL
No. 15 Oregon (9-3, Pac-12) vs. No. 11 TCU (10-2, Big 12), at San Antonio, Saturday, 6:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Oregon by 7.
LINE: WHAT’S AT STAKE:
A year after being the national runnerup, Oregon is trying to reach 10 wins for the eighth season in a row. The Ducks have a six-game winning streak since a double-overtime loss Oct. 10 to Washington State. TCU, playing without suspended quarterback Trevone Boykin and injured star receiver Josh Doctson, can have its ninth 11-win season in 13 seasons, and looks for its eighth bowl victory in that span. But the Frogs went from a slight favorite to a touchdown underdog after Boykin’s arrest in San Antonio early Thursday.
Oregon QB Vernon Adams Jr., the nation’s top-rated passer, vs. TCU defense. Adams, the graduate transfer, has completed 155 of 240 passes (65 percent) for 2,456 yards with 25 TDs and six interceptions. TCU was the second-best pass defense in the Big 12, allowing only 214 yards pass per game.
KEY MATCHUP: PLAYERS TO WATCH: Oregon:
Sophomore RB Royce Freeman leads the Pac-12 with 142.2 yards rushing per game and his 1,706 yards is 100 shy of LaMichael James’ singleschool school record of 1,805 in 2011. Freeman is the only FBS player to have at least 100 all-purpose yards in every game this season.
Aaron Green is TCU’s first 1,000-yard rusher In five seasons with 1,171 yards — the most by a Horned Frog since LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2,158 yards in 2000. He has five 100yard games this season.
TCU:
CACTUS BOWL
West Virginia (7-5, Big 12) vs. Arizona State (6-6, Pac-12), 10:15 p.m., ESPN West Virginia by 1 ½.
Arizona State and West Virginia both failed to live up to lofty expectations, so this is a chance to end the season with a win and hopefully build some momentum into spring football.
Arizona State’s defense vs. West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood. Arizona State has one of the nation’s most aggressive defenses, sending blitzes from every direction. The Sun Devils are among the best in the nation at tackling behind the line of scrimmage, but also have been susceptible to big plays.
LINE: WHAT’S AT STAKE:
KEY MATCHUP: PLAYERS TO WATCH: West Virginia:
WR Shelton Gibson. Despite the Mountaineers penchant for running, Gibson has found a way to peel off big plays. He was second nationally in yards per reception at 22.5 per catch and was 28th in receiving touchdowns with seven.
Arizona State:
RB D.J. Foster. The senior was one of the most versatile players in Arizona State history during his four seasons in Tempe, playing running back and receiver. He has 4,785 career all-purpose and is one of five players in NCAA history to have 2,000 yards rushing and passing.