TODAY’S GAMES

Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl MICHIGAN (7-5) VS. KANSAS STATE (7-5) TIME/TV 9:15 p.m. Central (ESPN) WHERE Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

LINE Kansas State by 5.

SERIES RECORD First meeting.

KEY MATCHUP Michigan’s rushing offense against Kansas State’s defense. The Wolverines will be starting a quarterback who has attempted nine career passes, so they’ll need to find some kind of run game to take the pressure off. Michigan was dreadful running the ball during the regular season, finishing 101st in the FBS with 130.8 yards per game, its worst season rushing in more than a decade.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Michigan Quarterback Shane Morris. The freshman will be thrust into the spotlight with starter Devin Gardner out because of a toe injury. Morris played just four games as a senior in high school because of mononucleosis and saw limited action his first college season, getting in three games for mop-up duty. Kansas State Defensive end Ryan Mueller. A disruptive force on the line, he finished sixth nationally with 11 sacks and seventh in tackles for loss at 18 ½. If he can get to Morris a couple of times early, it could be a long day for the Wolverines.

NOTEWORTHY Michigan is playing in a bowl for the 37th time in 39 years, including four consecutive. … Kansas State is in its fourth consecutive bowl game but looking for its first postseason victory since the 2002 Holiday Bowl. … Michigan wide receiver Jeremy Gallon is a big-play threat who racked up a Big Ten-record 369 yards receiving against Indiana on Oct. 19. … Kansas State led the Big 12 and was among the national leaders in converting third downs at 47 percent. … Michigan’s Devin Funchess had 727 yards receiving this season, the most ever by a Wolverines tight end. … Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett led the Big 12 and was 14th nationally with an average of 151.4 all-purpose yards per game.

Pinstripe Bowl NOTRE DAME (8-4) VS. RUTGERS (6-6) TIME/TV 11 a.m. Central (ESPN) WHERE Yankee Stadium, New York LINE Notre Dame by 14.

SERIES RECORD: Notre Dame 4-0.

KEY MATCHUP Notre Dame wide receivers TJ Jones and DaVaris Daniels and tight end Troy Niklas against Rutgers’ secondary. The Scarlet Knight’s pass defense has been among the worst in the country, suffering through a combination of inexperience and injuries. Rutgers is tied for 100th in yards per pass, 103rd in completion percentage allowed and 122nd in yards passing allowed per game. It’s bad, and Notre Dame’s receivers are very good.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Notre Dame Defensive end Stephon Tuitt. The junior could be playing his final college game, with the NFL in his future. Tuitt wasn’t quite as good this season as he was in 2012, but he still lead the team with six sacks and had 13 quarterback hurries. Rutgers Defensive end Darius Hamilton. The talented sophomore has improved as the season has gone on and leads the team with 10 tackles for loss. Hamilton’s ability to get pressure on quarterback Tommy Rees is the Scarlet Knights’ only hope to stop the pass.

NOTEWORTHY Rutgers has allowed at least 400 passing yards four times this season. … Notre Dame is 16-6-3 at Yankee Stadium. All but two of those games were against Army. … The Fighting Irish beat five teams that reached bowl games this season. The Scarlet Knights have no victories against teams that reached six victories. … Notre Dame is playing with two interim coordinators. Mike Denbrock runs the offense after Chuck Martin left for Miami, Ohio. Kerry Cooks took over the defense after Bob Diaco became head coach at UConn. … Rutgers has an interim defensive coordinator. Special teams coordinator Joe Rossi took over after Dave Cohen was fired … Rutgers running back Paul James needs 167 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, despite missing four games.

Belk Bowl CINCINNATI (9-3) VS. NORTH CAROLINA (6-6) TIME/TV 2:20 p.m. Central (ESPN) WHERE Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.

LINE: North Carolina by 2 ½ .

SERIES RECORD North Carolina leads 2-0.

KEY MATCHUP North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron vs. Cincinnati’s secondary. Few teams have a tight end as their leading receiver like the Tar Heels. Ebron is a tough matchup and has caught 55 passes for 895 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. Cincinnati’s defense has limited opponents to an average of 19.5 points per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH North Carolina Defensive end Kareem Martin has been tough to slow down. He has 11 sacks and 78 tackles with 20 of those for a loss. Cincinnati Quarterback Brendon Kay, the game’s MVP last year after throwing four touchdown passes, has thrown for 3,121 yards and 22 touchdowns this season with 11 interceptions.

NOTEWORTHY Kay was granted a sixth year of eligibility last year after NCAA approved his request for an extension of his eligibility waiver. Kay has missed multiple games during his Cincinnati career. … Wide receiver Chris Moore has a team-high nine touchdown catches for Cincinnati. … Kicker Tony Milano is only 6 of 15 on fieldgoal attempts. … The Bearcats are averaging 33.3 points per game. … Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams has thrown for 14 touchdowns and run for six since taking over for Bryn Renner. He is also the team’s leading rusher with 490 yards. … North Carolina is only the sixth team since the regular season expanded to 12 games in 2006 to begin the season 1-5 and earn a bowl bid.

Russell Athletic Bowl MIAMI (9-3) VS. NO. 18 LOUISVILLE (11-1) TIME/TV 5:45 p.m. Central (ESPN) WHERE Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.

LINE: Louisville by 3 ½.

SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 9-1-1.

KEY MATCHUP Louisville passing attack vs. Miami secondary. Louisville’s offense has thrived primarily on the arm of Bridgewater, who threw for 28 touchdowns and more than 3,500 yards. The Cardinals’ passing offense ranks 18th in the nation (302.9 yards per game) and averages 13 yards a completion. Miami has at times been vulnerable defending the pass, allowing just 233.4 yards per game through the air, which ranks 71st in the country.

PLAYERS TO WATCH Miami The Hurricanes have players capable of disrupting the Cardinals’ passing attack. It starts with linebacker Denzel Perryman, who leads the team with 104 tackles and defensive lineman Shayon Green, who has 10 ½ tackles for a loss. Cornerback Tracy Howard (four interceptions) also will be called upon to have a big game. On offense Miami will look to quarterback Stephen Morris, who has thrown for more than 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns. Louisville It starts with Bridgewater who, in addition to posting his second consecutive 3,500-yard passing season, had a touchdown pass in all but one game in 2013. One of his favorite targets, wide receiver DeVante Parker, also managed to post a career-high 46 catches for 743 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensive ends Marcus Smith has had at least one sack in each of the Cardinals’ past four games and seven of their past eight.

NOTEWORTHY Louisville has scored at least 20 points in 28 consecutive games. … Louisville has 26 players on its roster from the Miami area. … The Cardinals are 1-2 all-time against ACC teams under Coach Charlie Strong (Batesville, University of Central Arkansas). … Bridgewater (28 TDs in 2013) is approaching Brian Brohm’s single-season school-record of 30 set in 2007. … Miami enters the Russell Athletic Bowl after the school’s first nine-victory season since 2009.