BOWL PREVIEW Thursday's games

CONTINENTAL TIRE BOWLCharlotte, N.C.No. 25 Boston College (8-3)vs. North Carolina (6-5)
Time: 1 p.m.TV: ESPNCoaches: Tom O'Brien (56-39 in 8th year at BC) and John Bunting (19-29 in fourth year at UNC)Payout: Each school receives $750,000Bowl records: BC is 9-6. UNC is 12-12Last bowl appearance: BC beat Colorado State, 35-21, in last year's San Francisco Bowl. North Carolina beat Auburn, 16-10, in the 2001 Peach Bowl.Series history: Tied, 1-1Last meeting: BC won, 52-20, in 1984Last game: BC lost at home to Syracuse, 43-17, on Nov. 27. North Carolina won at Duke, 40-17, on Nov. 20.Stat that matters: Under O'Brien, Golden Eagles are 4-1 in bowls including four straight victories by average score of 33-19.Game facts: QB Paul Patterson (281-of-469, 3,486 passing, 26 TDs, 17 interceptions) missed Syracuse game with a broken hand, but should start. Big East defensive player of the year DE Mathias Kiwanuka (led Big East with 10 sacks, 19 1/2 tackles for loss), CB Will Blackmon (3 interceptions) and Big East rookie-of-year LB Brian Toal (70 tackles) anchor stout a defense (15th in nation in scoring, 16.2 ppg). The Tar Heels saved Bunting's job with season-ending 3-1 push. QB Darian Durant (2,172 total offense, 14 TDs, 9 interceptions) is a tough, versatile performer. Defense (109th in nation in total defense, 443.7 ypg) has played better lately but still has lots of holes.
EMERALD BOWLSan FranciscoNew Mexico (7-4) vs. Navy (9-2)
Time: 4:30 p.m.TV: ESPNCoaches: Rocky Long (40-44 in 7th year at New Mexico) and Paul Johnson (19-17 in third year at Navy)Payout: Each school receives $750,000.Bowl records: New Mexico is 2-5-1. Navy is 4-5-1.Last bowl appearance: New Mexico lost to Oregon State, 55-14, in last year's Las Vegas Bowl. Navy lost to Texas Tech, 38-14, in last year's Houston Bowl.Series history: First meeting.Last game: New Mexico beat Wyoming, 16-9, on Nov. 20. Navy beat Army, 42-13, on Nov. 4.Stat that matters: Midshipmen did not beat Division I-team winning record as seven D-I victims went combined 20-57.Game facts: Look for grind-it-up battle here as both teams rely on the ground game. Lobos RB DonTrell Moore (1,083 rushing, 6 TDs) recorded third consecutive 1,000-yard season. That's good news considering QB Kole McKamey (1,065 passing, 5 TDs, 7 interceptions) averaged just 7.5 completions per game over the final eight games. LB Nick Speegle is the type of defender that gives the Midshipmen spread triple-option (third in nation in rushing, 291.4 ypg) trouble. QB Aaron Polanco, RB Kyle Eckel (combined 1,906 rushing, 24 TD runs) and S Josh Smith (113 tackles) are perfect players for Johnson's system.
HOLIDAY BOWLSan DiegoNo. 4 California (10-1)vs. No. 23 Texas Tech (7-4)
Time: 8 p.m.TV: ESPNCoaches: Jeff Tedford (25-12) and Mike Leach (38-25 in 5th year at Texas Tech).Payout: Each school receives $2 million.Bowl records: Cal is 6-7-1. Texas Tech is 7-19-1.Last bowl appearance: Cal beat Virginia Tech, 52-49, in last year. Texas Tech beat Navy, 38-14, in last year's Houston Bowl.Series history: First meeting.Last game: Cal won at Southern Miss, 26-16, on Dec. 4. Texas Tech beat Oklahoma State, 31-15, on Nov. 27.Stat that matters: Golden Bears are only team in top 10 nationally in both scoring (6th, 37.2 ppg) and scoring defense (4th, 13.4 ppg).Game facts: Cal RB J.J. Arrington (1,845 yards rushing, 14 TDs), QB Aaron Rodgers (7th in nation in QB rating, 185-of-274, 2,320 passing, 23 TDs, 7 interceptions) and WR Geoff McArthur (57 catches, 7 TDs) make balanced offense go. DE Ryan Riddle (second in nation with 14 1/2 sacks), 3 forced fumbles) leads an unheralded defense. Pass-happy Red Raiders will throw often with QB Sonny Crumbie, who led nation in passes (582), completions (382) and passing yards (4,222) to go along with 29 TD passes, 18 interceptions But spread attack (6th in nation in total offense, 482.1 ypg) also features ground threat of RB Taurean Henderson (805 rushing, 14 TDs) while WR Jarrett Hicks (67 catches) has 5 TDs in his last 19 catches.
SILICON VALLEY CLASSICSan Jose, Calif.Troy (7-4)vs. Northern Illinois (8-3)
Time: 11 p.m.TV: ESPN2Coaches: Larry Blakeney (115-52-1 in 14th year at Troy) and Joe Novak (46-55 in 9th year at Northern Illinois)Payout: Each school receives $750,000Bowl records: Troy is making bowl debut. Northern Illinois is 1-0.Last bowl appearance: Northern Illinois beat Fullerton State, 20-13, in 1983 California Bowl.Series history: First meeting.Last game: Troy beat Middle Tennessee, 37-17, on Nov. 20. Northern Illinois beat Eastern Michigan, 34-16, on Nov. 20.Stat that matters: In winning seven of last eight to close the regular season, the Huskies averaged 38 points per game.Game facts: In only its fourth year in Div. I, Troy wants to play well in its bowl debut. RB DeWhitt Betterson (1,136 rushing, 9 TDs) is the star while 6-1, 277-pound G Junior Louissant turned in the play of year when he picked up fumble and raced 63 yards for TD in win over Missouri. The Huskies have two of the best players you've never heard of -- RB Garrett Wolfe (led MAC with 1,572 rushing, 6.7 per carry, 17 TDs) and WR Dan Sheldon (39 catches, 23.6 per catch, 9 TDs, and seventh in the nation in punt returns, 16.7, 1 TD). LB Brian Atkinson and S Lionel Hickenbottom (4 interceptions) would like to impress NFL scouts.
Scripps Howard