TODAY’S BOWL PREVIEWS
■ Orange Bowl: Florida (10-2) at Virginia (9-4), today at 8 p.m. (ESPN). ■ Line: Florida by 14 1/2.
■ Series record: Florida leads 1-0.
KEY MATCHUP
Kyle Trask’s passer rating of 159.24 is the highest at Florida since Tim Tebow led the nation at 164.2 in 2009. Virginia will try to keep him off balance with a pass rush that ranks sixth in the nation with a school-record 45 sacks. The Cavaliers could be in trouble if they can’t get to Trask — they’re allowing 23.4 points per game and gave up 62 to Clemson in their Atlantic Coast Conference title game loss.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
■ Bryce Perkins is one of two players in the nation with at least 3,000 yards passing and 700 rushing (the other is Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts). Perkins had 3,960 yards in total offense to set a school record for the second year in a row. He also holds single-season school records for yards passing and yards rushing by a quarterback.
■ Linebacker Jonathan Greenard led the Southeastern Conference in sacks (8 1/2) and tackles for a loss (14 1/2) despite missing two games because of an ankle injury. He’s part of a defense that allowed 14.4 points per game to rank eighth in the nation.
■ First Responder Bowl: Western Kentucky (8-4, C-USA) vs. Western Michigan (7-5, MAC), in Dallas, today at 12:30 p.m.
■ Line: had 13 catches for 287 yards in the last two games. The Hilltoppers, with standout safeties Devon Key and Antwon Kincade, have allowed only 200.5 yards passing per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
■ DE DeAngelo Malone was the Conference USA defensive player of the year. He has 90 tackles with 11 1/2 sacks and 21 tackles for loss, the most at the school in the FBS era since 2009.
■ The Broncos have the MAC’s offensive and defensive players of the year. RB LeVante Bellamy has 1,412 yards and a nationalbest 23 TDs rushing. LB Treshaun Howard has 132 tackles, including 10 1/2 tackles for loss and five sacks.
■ Music City Bowl: Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Louisville (7-5), 4 p.m. today (ESPN)
■ Line: by31/2.
■ Series record: Mississippi State leads 3-2 but has never lost to Louisville on the field. The Bulldogs forfeited wins in 1975 and 1976.
KEY MATCHUP
Louisville’s run game — which is led by Javian Hawkins, who is averaging 118.3 yards a contest while piling up 1,420 yards averaging 5.9 yards a carry — against Mississippi State’s defense. The Bulldogs rank 56th nationally defending the run, allowing only 148.6 yards a game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
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RB Kylin Hill. The firstteam All-Southeastern Conference junior is playing his final game before entering the NFL draft. He led the SEC with 1,347 yards rushing and eight 100-yard rushing games.
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QB Micale
Cunningham. The Cardinals rank 36th nationally in total offense thanks to the redshirt sophomore providing some balance averaging 162.4 yards passing a game. He has thrown 20 touchdowns with only five interceptions and is 6-4 as a starter.
■ Redbox Bowl: California (7-5) at Illinois (6-6), today at 4 p.m. (Fox).
■ Line:
■ Series record: leads 7-3.
KEY MATCHUP
Illinois QB Brandon Peters vs. California secondary. Peters was held out of the Fighting Illini’s last game against Northwestern because of a concussion, his second of the season. Although there was some concern he might not play in the Redbox Bowl, Peters was cleared and says he feels fine. Peters passed for 1,611 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He faces a Bears pass defense that has been solid most of the year. In 12 games, California’s secondary allowed 15 touchdown passes, thirdbest in the Pac-12.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
■ Consensus All-America LB Evan Weaver needs 21 tackles to break the NCAA singleseason record. The Pac12 Defensive Player of the Year, Weaver has been a monster on defense all season with 173 tackles. Three times this year he’s had 21 or more in one game.
■ RB Reggie Corbin had mixed success this season but has been a force in the Illini’s backfield while averaging nearly five yards a carry. Corbin is 12th on Illinois’ career rushing charts with 2,320 yards. He has two 100-yard games this season while splitting time in the backfield with Dre Brown. — AP