COLLEGE BOWLS Tuesday's football games

HUMANITARIAN BOWL, in Boise, Idaho.
IOWA STATE (7-6) vs. No. 18 BOISE STATE (11-1), Noon, ESPN.
COACHES: Dan McCarney (36-56 in 8th year) and Dan Hawkins (19-5 in second year).
PAYOUT: Each school receives $750,000.
BOWL RECORDS: Iowa State is 1-5. Boise State is 2-0.
LAST BOWL APPEARANCE: Iowa State lost to Alabama, 14-13, in last year's Independence Bowl. Boise State beat Texas-El Paso, 38-23, in the 2000 Humanitarian Bowl.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting.
LAST GAME: Iowa State lost at home to Connecticut, 37-20, on Nov. 23. Boise State won at Nevada, 44-7, on Nov. 23.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Broncos led the nation in scoring (46.6 points per game) while Cyclones gave up 40.1 points per game in season-ending 1-5 slide.
GAME FACTS: After reaching top 10 with 6-1 start, Cyclones collapsed amid brutal stretch of four road games vs. top 15 teams in 5-week stretch followed by inexplicable UConn loss. QB Seneca Wallace was at heart of struggles (11 TD passes, 6 ints., 6 TD runs in first seven games vs. 3 TDs, 11 ints., 2 TD runs in last 6 games). Defense (77th in nation in scoring, 27.8) can't seem to stop anyone. Playing at home on funky blue turf, WAC-champion Broncos (highest ranking in school history) are led by RB Brock Forsey (1,533 rushing, led nation with 29 TDs), QB Ryan Dinwiddie (2,123 passing, 19 TDs, 3 ints., 67.6 pct. completions), WRs Billy Wingfield, Jay Swillie, Lou Fanucci (combined 123 catches, 18.9 per catch, 17 TDs). But weak schedule (ranked 114th in nation) makes you wonder how good these guys really are.
SUN BOWL, in El Paso, Texas.
WASHINGTON (7-5) vs. PURDUE (6-6), 2 p.m., CBS.
COACHES: Rick Neuheisel (33-15 in fourth year at Washington) and Joe Tiller (45-28 in 6th year).
PAYOUT: Each school receives $1.35 million.
BOWL RECORDS: Washington is 14-13-1. Purdue is 6-4.
LAST BOWL APPEARANCE: Washington lost to Texas, 47-43, in last year's Holiday Bowl. Purdue lost to Washington State, 33-27, in last year's Sun Bowl.
SERIES HISTORY: Washington leads, 7-1-1.
LAST MEETING: Washington won, 34-24, in the 2001 Rose Bowl.
LAST GAME: Washington won at Washington State, 29-26 in overtime, on Nov. 23. Purdue beat Indiana, 34-10, on Nov. 23.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Boilermakers went 2-6 in games decided by 7 points or less.
GAME FACTS: Huskies won last 3 games, including dramatic triple-overtime upset at Wash. State, to make 8th straight bowl appearance. Neuheisel accepts absurd imbalance on offense (4th in nation in passing, 352.4, 113th in rushing, 77.0) as long as QB Cody Pickett (led Pac 10 with 4,186 passing, 26 TDs, 13 ints.), WR Reggie Williams (second in Pac-10 with 89 catches, 11 TDs) make enough plays. Since Rose Bowl loss to UW, Boilermakers have slumped to 12-12 record. Turnovers (95th in nation in turnover ratio, 22 forced, 33 given up), horrible special teams (113th in nation in kickoff returns, 16.7, 8 missed FGs, four kicks blocked) have been problems. RB Joey Harris (1,022 rushing, 7 TDs), WRs John Standeford, Taylor Stubblefield (combined 135 catches, 12 TDs) haven't gotten much help from erratic QBs Kyle Orton, Brandon Kirsch (combined 3,041 passing, 19 TDs, 14 ints.).
LIBERTY BOWL, in Memphis.
No. 23 COLORADO STATE (10-3) vs. TCU (9-2), 3:30 p.m., ESPN.
COACHES: Sonny Lubick (84-37 in 10th year at Colorado State) and Gary Patterson (15-9 in second year).
PAYOUT: Each school receives $1.3 million.
BOWL RECORDS: Colorado State is 4-4. TCU is 6-12-1.
LAST BOWL APPEARANCE: Colorado State beat North Texas, 45-20, in last year's New Orleans Bowl. TCU lost to Texas A & amp;M, 28-9, in last year's galleryfurniture.com Bowl.
SERIES HISTORY: Colorado State leads, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Colorado State won, 42-21, in 1998.
LAST GAME: Colorado State lost at home to UNLV, 36-33, on Nov. 30. TCU beat Memphis, 27-20, on Nov. 30.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Horned Frogs led the nation in rushing defense (62.6 yards per game) while Rams were 17th in rushing (214.7).
GAME FACTS: Rams QB Bradlee Van Pelt (2,874 total offense, 10 TD passes, 6 ints., 11 TD runs, Mountain West offensive player of the year) will start despite Dec. 13 arrest on verbal harassment charge outside nightclub. RB Cecil Sapp (1,495 rushing, 17 TDs) may not find many holes in tough Frogs' front seven. Frogs freshman RB Lonta Hobbs did not play until fifth game of year but still managed 952 rushing, 13 TDs including 287-yard, 3-TD effort in win over Memphis. With since getting starting job back after freshman Tye Gunn went down with knee injury, senior QB Sean Stilley (41-of-72, 393 passing, 1 TD, 6 ints. in last 4 games) has struggled with sore shoulder. LB LaMarcus McDonald (113 tackles, 10 sacks, led C-USA with 28 tackles for loss), CB Jason Goss (7 ints.), DE Bo Schobel (8 sacks) are keys to swarming defense (forced 36 turnovers).
SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC, in San Jose, Calif.
FRESNO STATE (8-5) vs. GEORGIA TECH (7-5), 3:30 p.m., ESPN2.
COACHES: Pat Hill (45-30 in 6th year at Fresno State) and Chan Gailey (7-5 in first year).
PAYOUT: Each school receives $750,000.
BOWL RECORDS: Fresno State is 6-6. Georgia Tech is 20-10.
LAST BOWL APPEARANCE: Fresno State lost to Michigan State, 44-35, in last year's Silicon Valley Classic. Georgia Tech beat Stanford, 24-14, in last year's Seattle Bowl.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting.
LAST GAME: Fresno State won at La. Tech, 45-13, on Dec. 5. Georgia Tech lost at Georgia, 51-7, on Nov. 30.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1991, Bulldogs are 1-5 in bowls including 4 straight losses, the last two in this game.
GAME FACTS: Hill couldn't be happier with development of freshman QB Paul Pinegar (2,741 passing, 20 TDs, 10 ints.). RB Rodney Davis (1,433 rushing, 7 TDs) romped for 221 yards, 2 TDs in win over La. Tech. DE Nick Burley (11 sacks, 3 fumbles recovered) is big-play guy on defense. Yellow Jackets managed to tie school-record with 6th consecutive bowl trip. Season fizzled after 4-1 start capped by season-ending debacle at Georgia. With RBs Tony Hollings (knee) Gordon Clinkscale (knee) both out, freshman trio of P.J. Daniels, Michael Sampson, Ajenavi Eziemefe must fill void. QB A.J. Suggs (2,202 passing, 11 TDs, 13 ints.) has struggled with consistency (6 ints., 2 TDs in last 3 games) so freshman Damarius Bilbo (309 passing, 2 TDs, 1 int., 1 TD run) may see some action.
PEACH BOWL, in Atlanta.
No. 20 MARYLAND (10-3) vs. TENNESSEE (8-4), 7:30 p.m., ESPN.
COACHES: Ralph Friedgen (20-5 in second year at Maryland) and Phillip Fulmer (103-24 in 10th full season).
PAYOUT: Each school receives $1.6 million.
BOWL RECORDS: Maryland is 6-10-2. Tennessee is 23-19.
LAST BOWL APPEARANCE: Maryland lost to Florida, 56-23, in last year's Orange Bowl. Tennessee beat Michigan, 45-17, in last year's Citrus Bowl.
SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee leads, 5-2.
LAST MEETING: Maryland won, 28-27, in the 1984 Sun Bowl.
LAST GAME: Maryland beat Wake Forest, 32-14, on Nov. 30. Tennessee beat Kentucky, 24-0, on Nov. 30
STATS THAT MATTER: In going 0-4 vs. ranked teams, Vols averaged 10.7 points per game. In 8-0 vs. unranked teams, UT averaged 36.2 points.
GAME FACTS: Terps look for second 11-win season in school history, first bowl triumph since 1985. After getting chance when star RB Bruce Perry went down, seldom-used senior Chris Downs (1,113 rushing, 15 TDs) blossomed into star. LB E.J. Henderson (won Butkus award, 163 tackles, 15 for loss, 6 sacks, 2 ints., 2 forced fumbles) is force on defense. WR Steve Suter is threat to score on kick returns (tied NCAA record with 4 TD punt returns). Banged-up Vols were crippled by injuries that saw 18 starters miss at least 1 game, including QB Casey Clausen (2,055 passing, 11 TDs, 6 ints.) who missed 2 games with collarbone, ankle, foot problems, played hurt in others. RB Cedric Houston (549 rushing, 3 TDs in Vols' 4-1 finish) is speed-power combo. S Rashad Baker (5 ints.) will play after missing last 2 games with knee problem.
SAN FRANCISCO BOWL
AIR FORCE (8-4) vs. No. 21 VIRGINIA TECH (9-4), 10:30 p.m., ESPN2.
COACHES: Fisher DeBerry (149-82-1 in 19th year at Air Force) and Frank Beamer (116-69-2 in 16th year).
PAYOUT: Each school receives $800,000.
BOWL RECORDS: Air Force is 8-7-1. Va. Tech is 5-10.
LAST BOWL APPEARANCE: Air Force beat Fresno State, 37-34, in the 2000 Silicon Valley Classic. Va. Tech lost to Florida State, 30-17, in last year's Gator Bowl.
SERIES HISTORY: Air Force leads, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Air Force won, 23-7, in the 1984 Independence Bowl.
LAST GAME: Air Force lost at home to San Diego State, 38-34, on Nov. 23. Va. Tech lost at Miami, 56-45, on Dec. 7.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1990, Hokies lead the nation with 85 blocked kicks while Falcons are second with 79.
GAME FACTS: Teams meet for first time since DeBerry capped his first AFA season with victory to finish 8-4. QB Chance Harridge (2,130 total offense, NCAA record for QB 22 TD runs) directs wishbone attack (leads nation in rushing, 314.5). OT Blane Neufeld (broken bone in foot) is questionable. LB Anthony Schlegel (101 tackles), CB Nate Allen (2 blocked punts), K Joey Ashcroft (14-of-16 on FGs) are other standouts. Hokies' 8-0 start crumbled in 1-4 finish. "Untouchables" RB duo of Lee Suggs, Kevin Jones (combined 2,091 rushing, 31 TDs) will test slower Falcons defense with their speed. Beamer wants to know what happened to his run defense (gave up 1,147 rushing in final 5 games vs. 326 in first 8 games). Kicking has been adventure with three different kickers combining to go 10-of-20 on FGs.