College Bowl Schedule: 12-31
12/31/2013ADVOCARE V100 BOWL
Arizona vs. Boston College
■ Time: 12:30 p.m.
■ Records: Arizona is 7-5. Boston College is 7-5.
■ TV: ESPN
■ Favorite: Arizona by 7.
■ Series: First meeting.
■ What’s at stake: Arizona is trying to end coach Rich Rodriguez's second season on a positive note. The Wildcats started with a 6-2 record, but lost three of four to end the regular season. Boston College hopes to put an exclamation point on a remarkable turnaround. First-year coach Steve Addazio is trying to lead the Eagles to an eighth win after a 2-10 season in 2012.
■ Key matchup: The game features two of the premier running backs in the country — Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey and Boston College's Andre Williams. Both were named first-team AP All-Americans while Williams edged Carey for the Doak Walker Award. Williams has rushed for 2,102 yards this season while Carey has 1,716.
SUN BOWL
Virginia Tech vs. No. 17 UCLA
■ Time: 2 p.m.
■ Records: Virginia Tech is 8-4. UCLA is 9-3.
■ TV: CBS
■ Favorite: UCLA by 7.
■ Series: First meeting.
■ What’s at stake: UCLA is seeking its first 10-win season since the 2005 campaign and hasn't won a bowl game since the 2009 season. Bruins head coach Jim Mora already has set a program record for most victories by a head coach in his first two seasons, but he's looking to push that number to 19. Virginia Tech has never won a game against a Pac-12 team (0-3). The Hokies are making their second trip to the Sun Bowl in program history, but their last trip to El Paso was in 1947. Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer has his team in a bowl game for the 21st consecutive year. He's one of four coaches in history to go to 20 consecutive bowls.
■ Key matchup: Virginia Tech's defensive line against UCLA's offensive line. The Bruins start three freshmen on their offensive line: Scott Quessenberry (5 starts) at left guard, Alex Redmond (9 starts) at right guard, and Caleb Benenoch (8 starts) at right tackle. They line up against a Hokies defense that is No. 8 in the nation in rushing defense and No. 5 in sacks. Tech's 4-2-5 defense features ends James Gayle and J.R. Collins and tackles Derrick Hopkins and Luther Maddy, the lone junior among three seniors.
LIBERTY BOWL
Mississippi State vs. Rice
■ Time: 4 p.m.
■ Records: MSU is 6-6. Rice is 10-3.
■ TV: ESPN
■ Favorite: MSU by 7.
■ Series: Rice leads 1-0. Mississippi State beat Rice 28-14 on Oct. 11, 1975, but later forfeited the game.
■ What’s at stake: Rice is seeking its first 11-win season in school history and is attempting to win bowl games in back-to-back years for the first time. The Owls beat Air Force 33-14 in last year's Armed Forces Bowl. Mississippi State is attempting to clinch a fourth straight winning season.
■ Key matchup: Rice running game vs. Mississippi State run defense: Rice leads Conference USA with 240.2 yards rushing per game, an average that ranks 16th among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Mississippi State has allowed 4.4 yards per carry this season, but the Bulldogs limited Ole Miss to 3.3 yards per rush in their regular-season finale.
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
Texas A&M vs. Duke
■Time: 8 p.m.
■ Records: Texas A&M is 8-4. Duke is 10-3.
■ TV: ESPN
■ Favorite: Texas A&M by 12½
■ Series: First meeting.
■ What’s at stake: Texas A&M is playing to win bowl games in three straight years for the first time in school history. The Aggies' past two bowl wins came against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl following the 2012 season and Northwestern in the 2011 Texas Bowl. Duke, playing in bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time, is looking for its first bowl win since 1961.
■ Key matchup: Duke defensive ends Justin Foxx and Kenny Anunike against Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel. Duke's defense is concerned about two "plays" on each snap — the play that is called and then what Manziel can create with his ability to run and extend the play. Anunike, who led Duke with 13½ tackles for loss and six sacks, and Foxx will try to put pressure on Manziel without allowing him to break and create big gains.