BOWL GAMES Previews

TODAY
LAS VEGAS BOWL
UCLA (7-5) vs. NEW MEXICO (7-6)
When: 4:30 p.m., ESPN.
Coaches: Ed Kezirian (first game as interim UCLA coach) and Rocky Long (25-34 in 5th year).
Bowl records: UCLA is 11-11-1. New Mexico is 2-3-1
Last bowl appearance: UCLA lost to Wisconsin, 21-20, in the 2000 Sun Bowl. New Mexico lost to Arizona, 20-14, in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl.
Series history: First meeting.
Last game: UCLA lost at home to Washington State, 48-27 on Dec. 7. New Mexico beat Wyoming, 49-20, on Nov. 30.
Stat that matters: Lobos did not beat team with winning record as their seven victims went combined 27-54.
Game facts: With Bob Toledo fired after Wash. St. loss, asst. director of academic services Kezirian, former Bruins assistant, is name-only coach. Defensive coordinator Phil Snow and off. coordinator Kelly Skipper will handle most of calls. Freshman RB Tyler Ebell (924 rushing, 9 TDs), WRs Craig Bragg, TE Mike Seidman (combined 92 catches, 13 TDs) are standouts. Lobos used 4-1 finish to make only second bowl trip since 1961. UNM can't afford to fall behind as offense (100th in nation in total offense, 327.6) doesn't do much -- outside of freshman RB Dontrell Moore (1,117 rushing, 13 TDs), WR Dwight Counter (30 catches, 3 TDs, second in Mountain West in punt returns, 13.4, 1 TD). QB Casey Kelly (850 passing, 10 TDs, 2 ints. in last 6 games) looks to be improving.
HAWAII BOWL
TULANE (7-5) vs. HAWAII (10-3)
When: 8 p.m., ESPN.
Coaches: Chris Selfo (20-27 in fourth year at Tulane) and June Jones (31-19 in fourth year).
Bowl records: Tulane is 3-6. Hawaii is 2-1.
Last bowl appearance: Tulane beat BYU, 41-27, in the 1998 Liberty Bowl. Hawaii beat Oregon State, 23-17, in the 1999 Oahu Classic.
Series history: Tulane leads, 2-0.
Last meeting: Tulane won, 56-17, in 1993.
Last game: Tulane beat Southern Miss, 31-10, on Nov. 23. Hawaii beat San Diego State, 41-40, on Dec. 7.
Stat that matters: Rainbows led nation in passing (387.9) and were third in total offense (500.8) while Green Wave was 67th in passing (200.5) and 111th in total offense (307.0).
Game facts: Green Wave finished 5-2 to make first bowl in four years. RB Mewelde Moore (1,022 rushing, 5 TDs, 46 catches, 3 TDs) is best of so-so offense. QB J.P. Losman has struggled (43-of-88, 383 passing, 1 TD, 3 ints. in last 3 games) lately with poor protection (sacked 10 times in last 3 games). CB Lynaris Elpheage (4th in nation with 8 ints.) leads opportunistic defense (led nation with 40 turnovers forced). High-powered Rainbows have won 10 of last 11 at home while averaging 53.4 points per game. Talented QB Timmy Chang (second in nation with 4,350 passing, 25 TDs) sometimes forces throws (led WAC with 22 ints., 8 in last 2 games). Slew of targets include WRs Justin Colbert, Britton Komine, Jeremiah Cockheran (combined 179 catches, 21 TDs). Defense (80th in nation vs. run, 170.6) is nothing special.
THURSDAY
MOTOR CITY BOWL
TOLEDO (9-4) vs. BOSTON COLLEGE (8-4)
When: 5 p.m., ESPN.
Coaches: Tom Amstutz (19-6 in second year at Toledo) and Tom O'Brien (39-31 in 6th year).
Bowl records: Toledo is 6-1. Boston College is 7-6
Last bowl appearance: Toledo beat Cincinnati, 23-16, in last year's Motor City Bowl. Boston College beat Georgia, 20-16, in last year's Music City Bowl.
Series history: First meeting.
Last game: Toledo lost at Marshall, 49-45, in the MAC Championship Game Dec. 7. Boston College beat Rutgers, 44-14, on Nov. 30.
Stat that matters: Rockets were 10th in nation in scoring (36.1 points per game) while Golden Eagles were 22nd in scoring defense (19.0).
Game facts: Rockets attack is in good hands of senior QB Brian Jones (3rd in nation in passing efficiency, 3,115 yards passing, 21 TDs, 7 ints., 70.7 pct. completions, 382 rushing, 5 TD runs). One of three Rockets to rush for over 600 yards, freshman RB Trinity Dawson erupted for 130 rushing, 4 TDs in MAC title game defeat. RB William Bratton (ankle) is questionable. Eagles win behind RB Derrick Knight (1,367 rushing, 13 TDs, BC is 7-1 when he rushes for 100 yards), rugged defense led by LB Josh Ott (119 tackles, 2 ints., 3 fumbles recovered), S Doug Bessette (9 tackles for loss). O'Brien hopes star DE Antonio Garay (ankle), WR Jamal Burke (shoulder) can play. QB Brian St. Pierre's 45 career TD passes trail only Doug Flutie, Glenn Foley on all-time BC list.
INSIGHT BOWL
OREGON STATE (8-4) vs. No. 24 PITTSBURGH (8-4)
When: 8:30 p.m., ESPN.
Coaches: Dennis Erickson (31-16 in fourth year at Oregon State) and Walt Harris (35-35 in 6th year).
Bowl records: Oregon State is 3-3. Pittsburgh is 9-12.
Last bowl appearance: Oregon State beat Notre Dame, 41-9, in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl. Pittsburgh beat N.C. State, 34-19, in last year's Tangerine Bowl.
Series history: First meeting.
Last game: Oregon State beat Oregon, 41-24, on Nov. 30. Pittsburgh lost at home to West Virginia, 24-17, on Nov. 30.
Stat that matters: Since start of 2000 season, Beavers are 24-11. In 1990s, OSU did not win 24th game until Sept. 11, 1999.
Game facts: Explosive Beavers averaged 41 points per game in 8 wins. RB Steven Jackson (led Pac-10 with 1,656 rushing, 17 TDs), WR James Newson (64 catches, 17.5 per catch, 11 TDS) key tricky spread attack. When QB Derrick Anderson struggles (55-of-151, 814 passing, 3 TDs, 10 ints. in 4 losses), OSU is in big trouble. S Mitch Meeuwsen (second in Pac-10 with 5 ints.) has nose for ball. Panthers QB Rod Rutherford (3,012 total offense, 21 TDs, 12 ints., 5 TD runs) often finds superb freshman WR Larry Fitzgerald (64 catches, 11 TDs), who uses leaping ability to get balls in traffic. RB Brandon Miree (830 rushing) adds balance. LB Gerald Hayes (122 tackles, 2 ints.) anchors improved defense (11th in nation in total defense, 293.4).