COLLEGE BOWLS Second-tier bowls, but first-tier entertainment

The highest-scoring bowl games were played before New Year's Eve last year.
By RALPH D. RUSSO
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The bowl season has arrived and college football fans can expect two things: lots of games and lots of points.
Nineteen of the 28 bowl games will be played between Tuesday and New Year's Eve. Many of the matchups seem mundane, even odd. Memphis against Bowling Green? Toledo vs. Connecticut?
But don't be fooled. Often the pre-New Year's Day games are some of the most entertaining.
Check out some of these scores from last year's second-tier bowl games: Hawaii 54, Houston 48; California 52, Virginia Tech 49; Miami (Ohio) 49, Louisville 28; Minnesota 31, Oregon 30.
There are a few potential shootouts this year, too -- starting Wednesday with Memphis vs. Bowling Green in GMAC Bowl.
MAC represented
The Falcons are one of a record five Mid-American Conference teams in the postseason and rank fourth in the nation in scoring at 43.6 points per game. Memphis, making its second straight bowl appearance after a 32-year drought, averages more than 35 points.
Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs is one of the nation's least-publicized standouts. He's the country's fourth-rated passer (167.8), and has thrown for 3,637 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Memphis counters with maybe the most underrated running back in the country in DeAngelo Williams. The junior is third in rushing with 166.2 yards per game.
The Hawaii Bowl on Friday could also be a fun one, with the hometown Warriors facing UAB.
Timmy Chang, who holds the NCAA career record for yards passing, and wide receiver Chad Owens, a second-team All-American, put up plenty of points and yards for Hawaii. And the Warriors defense usually allows the same.
UAB's Darrell Hackney, a quarterback in the mold of the Minnesota Vikings' Daunte Culpepper, and wideout Roddy White, a third-team All-American, should make a good impression on NFL scouts.
Big numbers
Toledo and UConn in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 27 features two more prolific passers in the Rockets' Bruce Gradkowski and the Huskies' Don Orlovsky. They have combined for 6,590 yards and 48 touchdown passes.
"We sure don't want a shootout," UConn coach Randy Edsall said.
Texas Tech's Air Raid will try to keep up with a surly and very good California team in the Holiday Bowl, but for pure entertainment the Liberty Bowl could blow them all away.
No. 7 Louisville is No. 1 in scoring, averaging 50.3 points per game. No. 10 Boise State ranks second in that stat, at 49.7 points per game.
Liberty Bowl officials weren't thrilled with losing Utah to the Bowl Championship Series, but they got a great consolation prize in Boise State.
"It's such a unique matchup," Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart said. "We're always having to battle the bowls that have beaches and fancy new stadiums. That's why, this time, we have a terrific opportunity to showcase Memphis."