COLLEGE BOWL PREVIEW \ Today's games

SOUTH FLORIDA (8-4)vs. EAST CAROLINA (7-5)
What: PapaJohn's BowlSite: Birmingham, Ala.Game time: 1 p.m.TV: ESPN2Coaches: Jim Leavitt (69-43 in 8th year at South Florida) and Skip Holtz (12-11 in second year at East Carolina).Payout: Each school receives 300,000.Bowl records: South Florida is 0-1. East Carolina is 7-5.Last bowl appearance: South Florida lost to N.C. State, 13-0, in last year's Meineke Car Care Bowl. East Carolina lost to Marshall, 64-61 in double overtime, in the 2001 Mobile Bowl.Series history: South Florida leads, 3-0.Last meeting: South Florida won, 41-17, in 2004.Last game: South Florida won at West Virginia, 24-19, on Nov. 25. East Carolina won at N.C. State, 21-16, on Nov. 25.Stat that matters: Since start of 2005 season, Bulls have won 14 consecutive games when scoring 21 points or more including 8-0 mark this season.Game facts: Considering collapses of Miami and Florida State, Bulls might just be the second best team in the Sunshine State. Rousing upset win at West Virginia capped 3-1 finish to earn second straight bowl bid in only sixth year at Division I (program began from scratch in 1996). Freshman QB Matt Grothe (3,102 total offense, 14 TD passes, 9 TD runs, 14 ints.) has accounted for 75 percent of USF's offense this year. LBs Stephen Nicholas, Patrick St. Louis (combined 149 tackles), DB Trae Williams (6th in nation with 7 ints.) lead underrated defense (second in Big East in total defense, 296.9 ypg). Son of former Notre Dame and South Carolina coach Lou Holtz, Skip has rebuilt sagging Pirates program on fly (ECU went 7-28 from 2002-04 prior to Holtz's arrival). 6-2 finish was Pirates' best stretch since 1999 team went 9-3. Senior QB James Pinkney has talent but is inconsistent (11 TD passes vs. 11 ints.). Defense (60th in nation in total defense, 332.9 ypg) shaved eight points and 70 yards a game off last year's totals but doesn't really scare anybody.
NEW MEXICO (6-6)vs. SAN JOSE STATE (8-4)
What: New Mexico BowlSite: AlbuquerqueGame time: 4:30TV: ESPNCoaches: Rocky Long (52-63 in 9th year at New Mexico) and Dick Tomey (11-12 in second year at San Jose State).Payout: Each school receives 750,000.Bowl records: New Mexico is 2-6-1. San Jose State is 3-3.Last bowl appearance: New Mexico lost to Navy, 34-19, in the 2004 Emerald Bowl. San Jose State beat Central Michigan, 48-24, in the 1990 California Raisin Bowl.Series history: San Jose State leads, 10-4-1.Last meeting: San Jose State won, 37-20, in 1998.Last game: New Mexico beat San Diego State, 41-14, on Nov. 25. San Jose State beat Fresno State, 24-14, on Dec. 2.Stat that matters: Spartans' eight wins this year equals what SJSU won the previous three years (8-25 from 2003-05).Game facts: More or less created by ESPN as pre-Christmas programming, inaugural event rewards Lobos with home field advantage and high hopes of producing first bowl win since 28-12 triumph over Western Michigan in the 1961 Aviation Bowl. After baffling loss to I-AA Portland State in opener that led to 2-4 start, UNM did win four of last six to get here, thanks to Long switching to freshman QB Donovan Porterie, who threw for 670 yards and 5 TDs in four starts before missing last two games with ankle injury. He will start here. LB Quincy Black (113 tackles, 3 ints.) is sure tackler. After taking Arizona to seven bowls from 1989-98, Tomey worked some serious magic here with his usual tough running game (second in WAC in rushing, 184.3 ypg) led by RB Yonus Davis (984 rushing, 7 TDs) and efficient work of QB Adam Tafralis (170-of-258, 2,075 passing, 18 TDs, 7 ints.). S Dwight Lowery (led nation with 9 ints.), LB Matthew Castelo (third in nation with 147 tackles), are far and away the best of an otherwise shaky defense (75th in nation in total defense, 352.7 ypg). Lobos do have big edge in kicking with senior Kenny Byrd (led WAC with 18 FGs) compared to Spartans Jared Strubeck (9-of-12 on FGs)
TULSA (8-4) vs. UTAH (7-5)
What: Armed Forces BowlSite: Fort Worth, TexasGame time: 8 p.m.TV: ESPNCoaches: Steve Kragthorpe (29-21 in fourth year at Tulsa) and Kyle Whittingham (14-10 in second year at Utah).Payout: Each school receives 750,000.Bowl records: Tulsa is 5-8. Utah is 8-3.Last bowl appearance: Tulsa beat Fresno State, 31-24, in last year's Liberty Bowl. Utah beat Georgia Tech, 38-10 in last year's Emerald Bowl.Series history: Tulsa leads, 2-1.Last meeting: Tulsa won, 21-13, in 1997.Last game: Tulsa beat Tulane, 38-3, on Nov. 24. Utah lost at home to BYU, 33-31, on Nov. 25.Stat that matters: Since 1999, Utes have won five straight bowl games by combined score of 117-39.Game facts: Working at school with smallest enrollment in Division I, Kragthorpe has done terrific job in guiding Golden Hurricane to first consecutive bowl trips since UT went to five straight bowls from 1941-45. But this year ended on down note as 3-game losing streak in November cost Hurricane chance to defend its Conference USA title. After somewhat inconsistent efforts, QB Paul Smith played well in last two games (36-of-50, 445 passing, 2 TDs, 72 rushing, TD run). Defense also settled down vs. Tulane after giving up 102 points in costly losses to Houston, Rice and SMU. Utes have proven tough in bowls with wins over USC, Pitt and Ga. Tech in recent years. But this year's group didn't shine with only win over No. 24 TCU as a significant achievement. Brett Ratliff (2,471 total offense, 22 TD passes, 8 ints.) is one of best QBs you've never heard of, while WRs Derrek Richards, Brent Casteel have combined for 15 TDs out of 81 catches. CB Eric Weddle (10th in nation with 6 ints.) also sees time on offense where he ran for 116 yards, 3 TDs in last three games and also threw a TD on a trick play.
Scripps Howard