Monday's Bowl Previews
BY Associated Press
Monday, December 31, 2012
12/31/12 at 4:01 AM
MUSIC CITY BOWL
North Carolina State (7-5) vs. Vanderbilt (8-4)
11 a.m.
At LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.
TV: ESPN-25
Line: Vanderbilt by 7 1/2
Series record: Vanderbilt 1-0
What's at stake
Vanderbilt can beat a team with a winning record and notch the program's first nine-win season since 1915. N.C. State can make up for a season that cost coach Tom O'Brien his job by winning its third straight bowl.
Key matchup
Wolfpack QB Mike Glennon and WRs Quintin Payton and Bryan Underwood against Vanderbilt's defense. They are why N.C. State ranks 20th nationally, averaging 304 yards. Vanderbilt features the nation's fifth-stingiest pass efficiency defense and ranks 10th in the country by holding opponents to 175.8 yards per game.
Players to watch
N.C. State: Glennon is considered one of the top quarterbacks available in the NFL draft. He is 295-of-511 for 3,648 yards with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He was sacked 36 times.
Vanderbilt: QB Jordan Rodgers, younger brother of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. A year ago he was benched in a Liberty Bowl loss. He rallied for his senior season by completing 59.5 percent of his passes and averaged 221 yards per game with 13 TDs and only five interceptions.
SUN BOWL
Southern California (7-5) vs. Georgia Tech (6-7)
1 p.m.
At Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas
TV: KOTV-6
Line: USC by 7 1/2
Series record: USC leads 2-1
What's at stake
For a team coming off a two-year bowl ban that entered the season ranked No. 1, the Sun Bowl is a consolation prize for USC. And it will have to play without QB Matt Barkley, who is out with a shoulder injury. But as much as the Trojans want to get a win, Georgia Tech may actually be the more desperate team. The Yellow Jackets are bowl eligible for the 16th consecutive season, but they've lost their last seven bowl games.
Key matchup
USC QB Max Wittek vs. Georgia Tech's defense. Wittek has a lot of weapons at his disposal and has had extra time to prepare for Georgia Tech's No. 53-ranked defense, but he'll be making just his second college start.
Players to watch
USC: WR Marqise Lee, the Pac-12 offensive player of the year and Biletnikoff Award winner who finished fourth in the Heisman voting, leads the nation in catches (95), is second in yards (1,764) and second in yards per game (147).
Georgia Tech: QB Tevin Washington, the ACC's all-time leader in QB rushing TDs (37), has passed for 1,764 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 638 and 19 TDs.
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
No. 9 LSU (10-2) vs. No. 14 Clemson (10-2)
6:30 p.m.
At Georgia Dome, Atlanta.
TV: ESPN-25
Line: LSU by 5 1/2
Series Record: LSU leads 2-0
What's at stake
Clemson is trying to reach 11 wins for only the fourth time in school history and the first time since a 12-0 finish in its 1981 national championship season. LSU, which one year ago was preparing for the national championship game, is hoping for a top-five finish and to close with four straight wins.
Key matchup
LSU freshman cornerbacks Jalen Mills and Jalen Collins, who have had prominent roles since the dismissal of Tyrann Mathieu before the season, will be challenged to contain DeAndre Hopkins, who is second in the nation with 16 TD catches, and Sammy Watkins. Mills and Collins have combined for four interceptions.
Players to watch
LSU: LB Kevin Minter, a second-team All-American who leads the Tigers with 111 tackles, will be a key to LSU's hopes of containing 1,000-yard rusher Andre Ellington and QB Tajh Boyd's runs on QB keepers to make Clemson's offense one-dimensional.
Clemson: Watkins has only three TD catches, a big drop from his 12 as a freshman last season. He could be ready for a strong finish after missing three games early in the season.
