TODAY’S BOWL GAMES

MUSIC CITY BOWL

ALABAMA (6-5) vs. MINNESOTA (6-5)

* Site, time: Nashville, 9 a.m. (ESPN).

* Line: Pick.

* Series record: First meeting.

* Bowl records: Alabama 29-19-3, Minnesota 4-5.

* Last bowl appearance: Alabama beat Iowa State, 14-13, in the 2001 Independence Bowl. Minnesota beat Oregon, 31-10, in the 2003 Sun Bowl.

* What to watch: Minnesota averages 255 yards rushing a game, more than Alabama’s defense has given up in total offense, on average. Minnesota running backs Marion Barber III and Laurence Maroney each had 1,000-yard seasons and combined for 211 yards rushing a game. The task of stopping the duo falls largely to Crimson Tide linebackers Cornelius Wortham and DeMeco Ryans, as well as safety Roman Harper. The Gophers’ running game gives quarterback Bryan Cupito some room to work, and big plays to receiver Ernie Wheelwright tend to keep defenses honest.

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SUN BOWL

PURDUE (7-4) vs.

No. 21 ARIZONA STATE (8-3)

* Site, time: El Paso, 11 a.m. (Ch. 2).

* Line: Purdue by 7.

* Series record: First meeting.

* Bowl records: Purdue 7-5, Arizona State 10-9-1.

* Last bowl appearance: Purdue lost to Georgia, 34-27, in OT in the 2004 Capital One Bowl. Arizona State lost to Kansas State, 34-27, in the 2002 Holiday Bowl.

* What to watch: Arizona quarterback Andrew Walter separated his throwing shoulder in Arizona State’s season-ending loss to Arizona. Sophomore Sam Keller will start in his place. Purdue still has quarterback Kyle Orton, who has perked up after a dreadful four-game stretch in which he threw five interceptions and only four touchdown passes. He’s still the nation’s eighth-ranked passer, with 2,809 yards and 28 touchdowns. He’ll look to receiver Taylor Stubblefield often.

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LIBERTY BOWL

No. 10 BOISE STATE (11-0) vs.

No. 7 LOUISVILLE (10-1)

* Site, time: Memphis, Tenn., 12:30 p.m. (ESPN).

* Line: Louisville by 11.

* Series record: Boise State leads, 1-0.

* Bowl records: Boise State 4-0, Louisville 4-6-1.

* Last bowl appearance: Boise State beat Texas Christian, 34-31, in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl. Louisville lost to Miami (Ohio), 49-28, in the 2003 GMAC Bowl.

* What to watch: Boise State’s average of 511.6 yards a game is second only to Louisville’s 536.7. The teams also average a total of exactly 100 points a game. Both teams feature playmaking quarterbacks. Louisville’s Stefan LeFors is the top-rated passer in the nation, having completed 74% of his passes for 2,403 yards and 18 TDs, with only two interceptions. He’s complemented by three running backs -- Eric Shelton (862 yards rushing, 19 TDs), Michael Bush (638 yards, 7 TDs) and Lionel Gates (365 yards, 7 TDs).

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PEACH BOWL

No. 14 MIAMI (8-3) vs.

No. 20 FLORIDA (7-4)

* Site, time: Atlanta, 4:30 p.m., (ESPN).

* Line: Miami by 3 1/2 .

* Series record: Miami leads, 27-25.

* Bowl records: Miami 16-12, Florida 14-17.

* Last bowl appearance: Miami beat Florida State, 16-14, in the 2004 Orange Bowl. Florida lost to Iowa, 37-17, in the 2004 Outback Bowl.

* What to watch: For the second season in a row, Miami will face an in-state rival in a bowl game, after defeating Florida State in last season’s Orange Bowl. Miami lost three of its last five games. Hurricane quarterback Brock Berlin will end his career against his former team. He transferred from Florida after the 2001 season, and after leading a comeback win over the Gators early last season, celebrated ostentatiously in front of his former fans.