BOWL CAPSULES
NEW MEXICO BOWL
BRIGHAM YOUNG (6-6) VS. TEXAS-EL PASO (6-6)
■ WHEN: 11 a.m. today
■ WHERE: University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M.
■ TV: ESPN (30) (Bob Wischusen, play-by-play; Brian Griese, analyst)
■ LINE: BYU -11½; total 50
■ RECORDS VS. BOWL TEAMS: BYU 2-5, UTEP 1-2
■ NCAA SCHEDULE STRENGTH: BYU 57th, UTEP 118th
■ BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RANKINGS: Both teams unranked
■ COACHES: BYU, Bronco Mendenhall (3-2 in bowls); UTEP, Mike Price (3-4)
■ WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: It's the first bowl of the season, which gives it some cachet. It's also BYU's last game as a Mountain West Conference member, which means it's historic. Still, neither team is that good, and starting/finishing your Christmas shopping should take priority.
■ KEY STATS: BYU is 46th nationally in rush offense (163.8 ypg), and the Cougars have run the ball well in the season's second half (182.7 ypg in the past six games, including four games with more than 200 yards). UTEP is 90th nationally in rush defense (181.2 ypg). In addition, BYU comes in hot (five wins in its past seven games), and UTEP comes in cold (one win in its past six games).
■ X-FACTOR: WR Marlon McClure could be huge for the Miners -- if he gets a chance to return kickoffs. K Riley Stephenson's ability to put the ball into the end zone on kickoffs could take away UTEP's biggest advantage in this game.
■ BYU WILL WIN IF: As long as the Cougars can run effectively, they should win comfortably. BYU does not want a shootout or a game in which freshman QB Jake Heaps has to win it with his arm.
■ UTEP WILL WIN IF: The Miners have to hit big plays in the passing game. WR Kris Adams is a big-time deep threat, and he and QB Trevor Vittatoe need to hook up often. Defensively, UTEP has to hold BYU to fewer than 150 yards rushing. McClure also needs to come up big in the return game.
■ PREDICTION: BYU 35, UTEP 17
MIKE HUEGENIN/RIVALS.COM
HUMANITARIAN BOWL
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (10-3) VS. FRESNO STATE (8-4)
■ WHEN: 2:30 p.m. today
■ WHERE: Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho
■ TV: ESPN (30) (Justin Kutcher, play-by-play; David Diaz-Infante, analyst)
■ LINE: Northern Illinois -1; total 59
■ RECORDS VS. BOWL TEAMS: Fresno State 1-3, Northern Illinois 1-2
■ NCAA SCHEDULE STRENGTH: Fresno State T-81st, Northern Illinois 116th
■ BCS RANKINGS: Both teams unranked
■ COACHES: Fresno State, Pat Hill (4-6 in bowls); Northern Illinois, Tom Matukewicz (0-0)
■ WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Northern Illinois RB Chad Spann and Fresno State's pass rush are worth watching. Spann has run for 1,293 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, though he was held under 100 yards in each of his past four games. Fresno State has two double-digit sack providers in E Chris Carter (11 sacks) and T Logan Harrell (10.5).
■ KEY STATS: Fresno State ranks sixth nationally with an average of 3.08 sacks per game, while Northern Illinois has allowed an average of one sack per game, which leads the Mid-American Conference and ranks 14th in the nation.
■ X-FACTOR: This game could come down to which team handles adversity better. Northern Illinois is adjusting to an interim coach after the departure of Jerry Kill to Minnesota, while Fresno State is without three suspended players.
■ FRESNO STATE WILL WIN IF: The Bulldogs can't allow NIU to run wild. The Bulldogs have a good shot at winning if they can take an early lead and contain Northern Illinois' ground attack well enough to make their pass rush a factor.
■ NORTHERN ILLINOIS WILL WIN IF: The Huskies need Spann to outperform RB Robbie Rouse. It's tough to imagine the Huskies winning if Rouse outrushes Spann.
■ PREDICTION: Fresno State 27, Northern Illinois 24
STEVE MEGARGEE/RIVALS.COM
NEW ORLEANS BOWL
OHIO (8-4) VS. TROY (7-5)
■ WHEN: 6 p.m. today
■ WHERE: Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
■ TV: ESPN (30) (Mark Neely, play-by-play; Robert Smith, analyst
■ LINE: Troy -3; total 57
■ RECORDS VS. BOWL TEAMS: Ohio 1-2, Troy 1-3
■ NCAA SCHEDULE STRENGTH: Ohio 107th, Troy 115th
■ BCS RANKINGS: Both teams unranked
■ COACHES: Ohio, Frank Solich (2-5 in bowls); Troy, Larry Blakeney (1-3)
■ WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: It all depends upon how bored you are on a Saturday night. While some good individual talent will be on the field, most notably Troy WR Jerrel Jernigan, these teams won a combined two games over teams with winning records; both of those wins were over Miami (Ohio).
■ KEY STATS: Ohio is 39th nationally in rush offense at 169.2 yards per game; Troy is 80th in rush defense, allowing 170.8 yards per game.
■ X-FACTOR: Ohio QB Boo Jackson did not make the trip with the team to New Orleans on Monday because of academic issues, and a school spokesman has said his final status for the game probably won't be known until today. If he can't go, the Bobcats' offense takes a big hit because backup QB Phil Bates -- who began his career at Iowa State -- scares no one as a passer.
■ OHIO WILL WIN IF: The Bobcats have to run effectively in order to win, especially if Jackson can't play. Ohio has a physical rushing attack, and the Bobcats' offensive line needs to control the game. Defensively, Ohio can't give up big plays in the passing game. A lot of completions are fine, just not huge chunks of yardage.
■ TROY WILL WIN IF: The Trojans have to sell out to stop the run. They can't let Ohio control the ball and the clock. The Trojans also need a big game -- at least 300 yards -- from QB Corey Robinson, who set a national high school record with 91 TD passes as a senior at Paducah (Ky.) Lone Oak in 2008 (that's right, 91 TD passes in a season, against just four interceptions).
■ PREDICTION: Ohio 31, Troy 27
MIKE HUGUENIN/RIVALS.COM
