Meineke Bowl
North Carolina (8-4) vs. West Virginia (8-4)
Site: Charlotte, N.C.
Time/TV: 1 today, ESPN.
About the game: The Tar Heels are on the rise, while the Mountaineers took a step back under first-year coach Bill Stewart after last season's Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.
Keep an eye on: West Virginia quarterback Pat White, who is playing the final game of a productive career.
Player goodies: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Fossil watch, Fossil sunglasses, Armor Gear backpack
Bowl rating: 3-star.
Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (7-5)
Site: Orlando, Fla.
Time/TV: 4:30 today, ESPN.
About the game: The Badgers seem to turn games like this into slugfests. The matchup here is Wisconsin's running game against the Seminoles rushing defense.
Keep an eye on: Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill, who got lost in the Big Ten shuffle with Iowa's Shonn Green and Michigan State's Jevon Ringer, but went for 1,021 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Player goodies: Party at Best Buy, commemorative watch, $400 of spending at Best Buy.
Bowl rating: 3-star.
Emerald Bowl
Miami, Fla. (7-5) vs. California (8-4)
Site: San Francisco.
Time/TV: 8 tonight, ESPN.
About the game: The seventh Emerald Bowl gets its first local team, so it's an away game for Miami. The last Hurricanes bowl trip to California produced the 2001 national championship.
Keep an eye on: Have you heard of Cal running back Jahvid Best? He's rushed for 1,394 yards and averages 8 yards per attempt.
Player goodies: Sony noise-canceling headphones, Fossil watch, cap, Armor Gear rolling duffel bag.
Bowl rating: 2-star.
— Kansas City Star
Meineke Bowl
North Carolina (8-4) vs. West Virginia (8-4)
Site: Charlotte, N.C.
Time/TV: 1 today, ESPN.
About the game: The Tar Heels are on the rise, while the Mountaineers took a step back under first-year coach Bill Stewart after last season's Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma.
Keep an eye on: West Virginia quarterback Pat White, who is playing the final game of a productive career.
Player goodies: Pure Digital Flip mini-camcorder, Fossil watch, Fossil sunglasses, Armor Gear backpack
Bowl rating: 3-star.
Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State (8-4) vs. Wisconsin (7-5)
Site: Orlando, Fla.
Time/TV: 4:30 today, ESPN.
About the game: The Badgers seem to turn games like this into slugfests. The matchup here is Wisconsin's running game against the Seminoles rushing defense.
Keep an eye on: Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill, who got lost in the Big Ten shuffle with Iowa's Shonn Green and Michigan State's Jevon Ringer, but went for 1,021 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Player goodies: Party at Best Buy, commemorative watch, $400 of spending at Best Buy.
Bowl rating: 3-star.
Emerald Bowl
Miami, Fla. (7-5) vs. California (8-4)
Site: San Francisco.
Time/TV: 8 tonight, ESPN.
About the game: The seventh Emerald Bowl gets its first local team, so it's an away game for Miami. The last Hurricanes bowl trip to California produced the 2001 national championship.
Keep an eye on: Have you heard of Cal running back Jahvid Best? He's rushed for 1,394 yards and averages 8 yards per attempt.
Player goodies: Sony noise-canceling headphones, Fossil watch, cap, Armor Gear rolling duffel bag.
Bowl rating: 2-star.
— Kansas City Star
