BOWL PREVIEW Las Vegas Bowl

Who: New Mexico (8-4) vs. Oregon State (7-5).
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
TV: ESPN.
Coaches: Rocky Long (33-39 in 6th year at New Mexico) and Mike Riley (15-19 in third year at Oregon State).
Payout: Each school receives $800,000.
Bowl records: New Mexico is 2-4-1. Oregon State is 3-4.
Last bowl appearance: New Mexico lost to UCLA, 20-13, in last year's Las Vegas Bowl. Oregon State lost to Pittsburgh, 38-13, in last year's Insight Bowl.
Series history: First meeting.
Last game: New Mexico beat Wyoming, 26-3, on Nov. 22. Oregon State lost at Southern Cal, 52-28, on Dec. 6.
Stat that matters: In Beavers' seven wins, QB Derek Anderson threw 16 TDs vs. 7 ints. In OSU's five losses, Anderson was picked off 16 times vs. only 6 TD passes.
Game facts: Lobos rebounded from 1-3 start to return here for second year in row, make consecutive bowls for first time since 1945-46. Now UNM wants first bowl win since 1961. Long gets shot at OSU, where he once served as offensive coordinator. RB DonTrell Moore (led Mountain West with rushing 1,438 rushing, 5th in nation with 19 TDs) is main weapon so QB Casey Kelly (only 21 completions in last 3 games) isn't asked to do much. Beavers have plenty of talent but staggered to 2-4 finish as defense was including RB Steven Jackson (led Pac-10 with 1,396 rushing, 15 TDs), LB Richard Seigler, both natives of Vegas. WR James Newson (78 catches, 3 TDs) made All-Pac-10 despite erratic Anderson (led Pac-10 with 23 ints., 3,736 passing, 22 TDs, 50.3 pct. completions). LB Jonathan Pollard (ankle) is questionable.
Source: Scripps Howard News Service