LITTLE ROCK — NEW ORLEANS BOWL
East Carolina (8-4) vs. La.-Lafayette (8-4)TIME/TV 11 a.m. Central, ESPN LINE Louisiana-Lafayette by 5 WHERE Superdome, New Orleans SERIES RECORD Louisiana-Lafayette leads 6-4.
WHAT’S AT STAKE East Carolina seeks its first bowl victory since defeating Boise State 41-38 in the 2007 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Pirates also seek their ninth victory of the year, which would be the program’s second-highest single-season victory total. Louisiana-Lafayette seeks a second consecutive season capped by a postseason victory under second-year Coach Mark Hudspeth. With a victory, the Ragin’ Cajuns also would give the Sun Belt Conference a fourth consecutive winning representative in the New Orleans Bowl.
KEY MATCHUP Louisiana-Lafayette’s deep and dynamic running game, which averages 187.3 yards per game, against East Carolina’s defensive front. The Pirates have been yielding 145.7 yards per game rushing and will be tested against the Ragin’ Cajuns, who are also proficient in the passing game, making it difficult for opposing defensive backs to help against the run.
PLAYERS TO WATCH EAST CAROLINA RB Vintavious Cooper, a former junior college quarterback, has rushed for 1,030 yards this season and has averaged 114.4 yards rushing in his past five games, including a career-high 172 yards against Alabama-Birmingham. LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE QB Terrance Broadway has accounted for 266.4 yards per game, including 55.5 yards per game on the ground and 210.9 yards per game through the air.
FACTS & FIGURES East Carolina and Louisiana-Lafayette have not met since 1990, when the Pirates beat the Ragin’ Cajuns 20-10 in Lafayette. ... Now in its 12th year, the New Orleans Bowl will be played during the afternoon for the first time following 11 night kickoffs. ... Last year’s New Orleans Bowl marked the Ragin’ Cajuns’ first postseason victory as a Division I FBS program, and it came on a 50-yard field goal by Brett Baer as time expired, lifting Louisiana-Lafayette to a 32-30 triumph over San Diego State. ... East Carolina is playing in its sixth bowl game in the past seven seasons. ... A team from Conference USA has won the New Orleans Bowl four times, with Memphis winning in 2003 and Southern Miss in 2004, 2005 and 2008. ... Sun Belt teams are 6-5 in the New Orleans Bowl. ... East Carolina and Louisiana-Lafayette had a common opponent this season. The Pirates beat Tulane 28-23 in New Orleans and the Ragin’ Cajuns beat Tulane 41-13 in Lafayette. ... East Carolina’s first appearance in a Division I modern era bowl came in 1978, and also in Louisiana, when the Pirates beat Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport. ... Both teams enter the game riding three-game winning streaks.
LAS VEGAS BOWL
Boise State (10-2) vs. Washington (7-5) TIME/TV 2:30 p.m. Central, ESPN LINE Boise State by 5 1/2 WHERE Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas SERIES RECORD Washington leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE Boise State looks for its third consecutive Las Vegas Bowl victory. Unlike its previous two appearances, though, there is no talk about the No. 20 Broncos being in a BCS game. Washington looks to end the year on a positive note after having a four-game winning streak snapped by Washington State in the regular-season finale.
KEY MATCHUP Boise State RB D.J. Harper didn’t have huge numbers, but did score 15 touchdowns for the Broncos. He will go up against a Washington defense that has struggled against the run this year. Washington QB Keith Price saw his touchdown passes drop from 18 as a junior to 11 this season and will face a Boise State defense that ranked ninth nationally.
PLAYERS TO WATCH BOISE STATE QB Joe Southwick struggled at times this season after taking over from Kellen Moore, but finished strong with eight touchdowns against no interceptions in his final three games. WASHINGTON DE Josh Shirley had three sacks in a high scoring loss to Baylor last year in the Alamo Bowl, and played well late in the year, recording four sacks in Washington’s last three games.
FACTS & FIGURES This is the first of two consecutive games between the schools, who will meet next August in their season openers in the newly renovated Washington stadium. This could also be the last year for Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl, which takes the Mountain West champion as one of its teams. The Broncos are scheduled to play in the Big East beginning next season. ... Boise State Coach Chris Petersen leads active major college coaches with a record of 83-8 (.912). ...The Broncos are playing in the postseason for the 11th consecutive year. ... Price threw for four touchdowns and ran for three more last year as Washington lost to Baylor 67-56 in the highest-scoring regulation bowl game ever.
Sports, Pages 26 on 12/22/2012