New Orleans Bowl
NORTH TEXAS (9-4) VS. TROY (10-2)
SITE Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans TIME (TV) Noon (ESPN) LINE Troy by 7 SERIES Troy leads 8-2 WHAT’S AT STAKE Troy, which won the Sun Belt Conference, seeks an 11-victory season for the first time since the Trojans moved from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2001. North Texas seeks its third victory in nine bowl appearances, as well as its second New Orleans Bowl crown. KEY MATCHUP North Texas QB Mason Fine, who set school records with 3,749 yards and 28 TDs passing, against a play-making Troy defense that racked up 36 sacks and 15 interceptions this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH NORTH TEXAS Listed at 5-10, 180 pounds, Fine is defying critics who’ve held his relatively small stature against him. He is on pace to finish the season with more than 4,000 yards passing. TROY DB and KR Marcus Jones was named Sun Belt freshman of the year after returning three kickoffs and an interception for TDs.
Cure Bowl
GEORGIA STATE (6-5) VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY (6-6)
SITE Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla. TIME (TV) 1:30 p.m., (CBS Sports Network) LINE Western Kentucky by 6½ SERIES Western Kentucky leads 1-0. WHAT’S AT STAKE Western Kentucky seeks to win bowl games in four consecutive seasons for the first time. The Hilltoppers are one of eight FBS teams — along with Clemson, Georgia, Louisiana Tech, Stanford, Utah, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin — with victories in each of the past three seasons. Georgia State is in the Cure Bowl for the second time in three seasons, aiming for the first postseason victory in the Panthers’ eight-year history. KEY MATCHUP Hilltoppers QB Mike White and WKU’s potent passing attack against a Panthers’ defense that’s allowed 391 yards per game — 242 passing and 149 rushing. White has thrown for 300-plus yards in seven consecutive games and ranks third nationally in passing efficiency and yards per completion.
PLAYERS TO WATCH GEORGIA STATE WR Penny Hart led the Sun Belt Conference in receiving with 73 catches for 1,094 yards and 8 TDs. The 5-8 sophomore has 152 receptions for 2,254 yards and 17 TDs in 26 career games. WESTERN KENTUCKY White has thrown for 3,826 yards, 24 TDs and 7 INTs. The Hilltoppers have five players with at least 34 catches.
Las Vegas Bowl
NO. 25 BOISE STATE (10-3) AT OREGON (7-5)
SITE Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas TIME (TV) 2:30 p.m., (ABC) LINE Oregon by 7 SERIES Boise State leads 2-0. WHAT’S AT STAKE The Broncos will try to end a three-game losing streak against Power 5 opposition. Mario Cristobal leads the Ducks in his first game since being promoted to head coach Dec. 8 after Willie Taggart took the Florida State job. KEY MATCHUP Oregon QB Justin Herbert vs. Boise State’s pass defense. Oregon averaged 52.1 points in the seven games Herbert started this season. Herbert, who has thrown 32 TD passes against 7 INTs in 2 seasons as a starter, faces a Boise State secondary that allowed 172 yards passing and no touchdowns through the air in the Mountain West championship game against Fresno State.
PLAYERS TO WATCH BOISE STATE WR Cedrick Wilson averaged 17.7 yards per catch, best among Mountain West receivers with at least 35 receptions, on the way to finishing with 1,290 yards receiving. OREGON LB Troy Dye has 103 tackles in his sophomore season, 48 more than the next closest Oregon defender. Dye’s 13.5 tackles for loss are tied for fourth in the Pac-12.
New Mexico Bowl
COLORADO STATE (7-5) VS. MARSHALL (7-5)
SITE Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M. TIME (TV) 3:30 p.m., (ESPN) LINE Colorado State by 3½ SERIES First meeting WHAT’S AT STAKE Colorado State is playing in its fifth consecutive bowl game but has lost in its past three postseason appearances. Marshall is 5-0 in bowl games since 2009 and has a 10-2 overall bowl record. KEY MATCHUP Colorado State’s highly ranked offense vs. Marshall’s aggressive defense. The Rams are led by quarterback Nick Stevens, who threw for 3,479 yards and 27 touchdowns this season. Colorado State also is ranked 10th in the FBS in yards per game with 501.1. The Thundering Herd rank 18th in scoring defense and 24th in total defense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH COLORADO STATE Senior running back Dalyn Dawkins leads the Rams with 1,349 rushing yards and is ranked 16th in the country. MARSHALL Tight end Ryan Yurachek, who is the son of University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek, is the Thundering Herd’s active leader in career receptions and has caught a pass in 41 consecutive games. In addition, he has 25 career TD receptions