Today’s bowl games

TEXAS TECH (9-2) vs. ALABAMA (9-2)

8 a.m. PST, Channel 11, Dallas

*--* COTTON BOWL

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* Line: Texas Tech by 3.

* Update: Texas Tech’s high-scoring offense carried the Red Raiders to a strong season, with losses only to Texas and Oklahoma State. The key to the attack is quarterback Craig Hodges, who ranked second in the nation in passing yards with 4,042. Hodges, first nationally in total offense at 378.8 yards a game, also threw for 30 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Quarterback-turned-receiver Robert Johnson is second in the Big 12 Conference in catches per game (5.82) and receiving yards per game (81.7). Free safety Dwayne Slay was the Big 12 defensive player of the year after setting a conference record with eight forced fumbles. Behind All-American linebacker DeMarcus Ryans, Alabama’s defense is first in the nation in points allowed (10.7) and second in yards given up per game (248.3). The Crimson Tide held opponents to two touchdowns or less eight times, and in four games Alabama kept an opponent from reaching the end zone entirely. Quarterback Brodie Croyle, a four-year starter, is the Crimson Tide’s career leader in passing yards (6,107), completions (469) and touchdown passes (40). Wideout D.J. Hall is a big target, who caught 48 passes for 676 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Kenneth Darby led the team in rushing with 1,161 yards and averaged 5.5 yards a carry.

* Facts: Mike Leach has led Texas Tech to bowl appearances in all six seasons he has coached the Red Raiders. Alabama began the season 9-0 but has lost two consecutive games.

*--* OUTBACK BOWL

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IOWA (7-4) vs. FLORIDA (8-3)

8 a.m., ESPN, Tampa

* Line: Pick.

* Update: Thanks to the emergence of Albert Young, who rushed for 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns, Iowa’s offense has balance. Drew Tate completed 63% of his passes for 2,482 yards and 19 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Tate’s top receiver is senior Ed Hinkel, who despite suffering a broken arm, caught 31 passes for 431 yards and five touchdowns. Linebackers Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway combined for more than 220 tackles. The Hawkeyes, who have won five of their last seven games, also have kicker Kyle Schlicher, who made 14 of 17 field-goal attempts. Under first-year Coach Urban Meyer, Florida has won three of its last four games, including a 34-7 decision over Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State. Quarterback Chris Leak had an up-and-down season but still threw for 2,361 yards and 19 touchdowns. DeShawn Wynn and Markus Manson led the team in rushing but neither back gained more than 600 yards. Wideout Chad Jackson has 81 catches for 824 yards and nine touchdowns. Linebacker Brandon Siler and end Jeremy Mincey lead the Gator defense.

* Facts: Coach Kirk Ferentz led Iowa to a victory over Florida in the Outback Bowl two years ago. Florida defensive coordinator Greg Mattison’s son, Bryan, plays defensive end for Iowa. Florida is making its 14th straight bowl appearance.

*--* GATOR BOWL

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LOUISVILLE (9-2) vs. VIRGINIA TECH (10-2)

9:30 a.m. Channel 4, Jacksonville, Fla.

* Line: Virginia Tech by 8 1/2 .

* Update: Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell will get his second start in place of Brian Brohm, who suffered a late season knee injury. Cantwell, who led the Cardinals to a victory over Connecticut in their last game, will be aided by a healthy Michael Bush, who sat out two games in November because of a foot injury. Bush, the nation’s leading scorer, has 24 touchdowns and 1,049 rushing yards in nine games. The Cardinals have the nation’s third most-productive offense, averaging 494 yards and 45.2 points a game. The Louisville defense is led by Elvis Dumervil, the Bronco Nagurski Award winner as college football’s top defensive lineman. Dumervil set NCAA records for forced fumbles in a season (10), sacks in a game (six) and consecutive games with a sack (nine). Virginia Tech, upset by Florida State in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, is 2-2 in its last four games after an 8-0 start. The jury is still out on quarterback Marcus Vick, who has good statistics but did not get the job done against Miami and Florida State. Vick has completed nearly 62% of his passes for 2,190 yards. Virginia Tech’s running game is suspect with Cedric Humes leading the team with 639 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Hokies are ranked third in the country in defense, giving up 239 yards and 12 points a game.

* Facts: Louisville, which finished second in its first season in the Big East Conference, is 29-7 in three years under Coach Bobby Petrino. Virginia Tech is making its fifth appearance in the Gator Bowl.

*--* CAPITAL ONE BOWL

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WISCONSIN (9-3) vs. AUBURN (9-2)

10 a.m., Channel 7, Orlando

* Line: Auburn by 10 1/2 .

* Update: This will be the final game for Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez, who is stepping down after the season. The Badgers are led by running back Brian Calhoun, who gained 1,423 yards and has 21 touchdowns. Calhoun, who also caught 52 passes, sets up play-action passes for quarterback John Stocco, who has 19 touchdown passes with nine interceptions. Brandon Williams led the Badgers in receiving with 53 catches for 922 yards and five touchdowns. If the Badgers are to pull off an upset, their defense has to step up after a shaky regular season. Despite losing running backs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown, quarterback Jason Campbell and cornerback Carlos Rogers to the NFL, Auburn earned a share of the Southeastern Conference West Division title. The Tigers, who lost two games by a combined 12 points, are averaging 34 points and 426 yards a game. Senior Kenny Irons led the SEC in rushing with 1,205 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Irons has rushed for more than 100 yards in six consecutive games. Auburn, which has given up only six touchdown passes, has a strong defensive line, led by ends Quentin Groves and Stanley McGover.

* Facts: Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas, a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, which goes to college football’s top lineman or linebacker, will also play defense because of injuries to ends Matt Shaughnessy and Jamal Cooper. The last time these teams met was in the 2003 Music City Bowl, which Auburn won, 28-14.

*--* FIESTA BOWL

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NOTRE DAME (9-2) vs. OHIO STATE (9-2)

2 p.m., Channel 7, Tempe, Ariz.

* Line: Ohio State by 4 1/2 .

* Update: First-year Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis made protecting the quarterback a priority and Brady Quinn responded with 3,633 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. His top target is wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, who led the team with 72 receptions for 1,215 yards and 15 scores. Wideout Maurice Stovall also had more than 1,000 yards receiving in 60 catches. Darius Walker led the team in rushing with 1,106 yards and his six touchdowns helped the Irish average 38.2 points a game. Notre Dame’s defense does a good job of making big plays but gives up a lot of yards and points. Ohio State counts on quarterback Troy Smith to make big plays running and passing. Smith passed for 1,940 yards and 14 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also ran for 545 yards and 11 scores. Tailback Antonio Pittman is the team’s leading rusher with 1,195 yards. The Buckeye defense is led by Lombardi Award-winning linebacker A.J. Hawk. Ohio State ranks among the top 10 nationally in yards (275.3) and points (14.8) given up per game.

* Facts: Notre Dame has lost its last seven bowl games. Ohio State is playing in the Fiesta Bowl for the third time in four seasons.

*--* SUGAR BOWL

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WEST VIRGINIA (10-1) vs. GEORGIA (10-2)

5:30 p.m., Channel 7, Atlanta

* Line: Georgia by 7.

* Update: West Virginia, which has won six consecutive games, won the Big East Conference championship and lost only to Virginia Tech. The Mountaineers, who average 31.5 points a game, are led by redshirt freshman quarterback Pat White, who had more rushing yards than passing yards. White gained 875 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns, and threw for 708 yards and seven more scores. West Virginia has the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the nation, led by true freshman Steve Slaton, who had 924 yards and 14 touchdowns. Safety Mike Lorello led the team in tackles and forced fumbles. Georgia earned a Sugar Bowl bid with a 34-13 victory over Louisiana State in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The Bulldogs are led by senior quarterback D.J. Shockley, who passed for 2,311 yards and 21 touchdowns. One of Shockley’s favorite targets is tight end Leonard Pope. Running backs Thomas Brown and Danny Ware combined for more than 1,200 yards rushing. Georgia’s secondary is led by safety Greg Blue and cornerbacks Tim Jennings and DeMario Minter, who helped the Bulldogs rank fifth nationally in fewest points allowed. West Virginia has the third-worst passing attack in the nation at 116.2 yards a game.

* Facts: The Sugar Bowl was moved to the Georgia Dome because of damage to the Superdome caused by Hurricane Katrina.

-- Lonnie White