BOWL PREVIEW Friday's games

MOTOR CITY BOWL
Where: Detroit.
Who: Bowling Green (10-3) vs. Northwestern (6-6).
When: 5 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
Coaches: Gregg Brandon (10-3 in first year at Bowling Green) and Randy Walker (24-34 in 5th year at Northwestern).
Payout: Each school receives $800,000.
Bowl records: Bowling Green is 2-3. Northwestern is 1-3.
Last bowl appearance: Bowling Green beat Nevada, 35-34, in 1992 Las Vegas Bowl. Northwestern lost to Nebraska, 66-17, in 2000 Alamo Bowl.
Series history: Bowling Green leads, 1-0.
Last game: Bowling Green lost at home to Miami of Ohio, 49-27, in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game, Dec. 4. Northwestern won at Illinois, 37-20, on Nov. 22.
Stat that matters: Since 1949, Wildcats are winless in bowls (0-3) losing to Southern Cal (1996 Rose), Tennessee (1997 Citrus) and Nebraska by combined score of 155-77.
Game facts: Falcons want to salvage season after disappointing showing vs. Miami. QB Josh Harris (fourth in nation with 4,187 yards total offense, 24 TD passes, 12 TD runs, 10 ints.) is excellent run-pass threat while WRs Cole Magner, Charles Sharon (combined 139 catches, 18 TDs) stretch defense. CB Janssen Patton (7 ints.) is first player in NCAA history to intercept three passes in game more than once, including twice this year. In 4-2 season-ending push to make it here, Wildcats defense (opponents scored only 63.8 pct. of trips into red zone, best in Big Ten) improved greatly with LB Pat Durr, DE Loren Howard (6-1/2 sacks) leading way. RB Jason Wright (1,151 rushing, 6th in nation with 20 TDs) is underrated talent. However, QB Brett Basanez (1,858 passing, 4 TDs, 12 ints., 54.0 pct. completions) is not going to beat BG through the air.
INSIGHT.COM BOWL
Where: Phoenix.
Who: California (7-6) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4).
When: 8:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN.
Coaches: Jeff Tedford (14-11 in second year at Cal) and Frank Beamer (125-73-2 in 17th year at Va. Tech).
Payout: Each school receives $750,000.
Bowl records: Cal is 5-7-1. Va. Tech is 6-10.
Last bowl appearance: Cal lost to Navy, 42-38, in the 1996 Aloha Bowl. Va. Tech beat Air Force, 20-13, in last year's San Francisco Bowl.
Series history: First meeting.
Last game: Cal beat Stanford, 28-16, on Nov. 22. Va. Tech lost at Virginia, 35-21, on Nov. 29
Stat that matters: In racing to 6-0 start, Hokies averaged 45.5 points per game. In limping here with 2-4 finish, Tech averaged 23.0.
Game facts: Motivated by rare postseason shot, Bears won six of last nine to get here including 34-31 OT win over USC on Sept. 27. QB Aaron Rodgers (115-of-176, 1,617 passing, 11 TDs, 2 ints., 2 TD runs in last 6 games), WR Geoff MacArthur (school-record 85 catches, 10 TDs, second in nation with 1,504 yards receiving), RB Adimchinobe Echemandu (1,161 rushing, 12 TDs) are key talents. For third straight year, Hokies crumbled with 1-3 November record so motivation is questionable here. Junior RB Kevin Jones (8th in nation with ) says he's headed for NFL while published reports have QB Bryan Randall (2,010 total offense, 11 TD passes, 10 ints., 4 TD runs) considering a transfer. Sophomore QB Marcus Vick, brother of NFL star Michael, will also play. CB-WR DeAngelo Hall (7th in nation in punt returns, 14.4, 2 TDs, TD catch, TD run) is two-way threat. No one pressures kicks better than Hokies (102 blocked kicks under Beamer).
-- Scripps Howard News Service