Friday’s college football bowl games

OUTBACK

Northwestern (8-4) vs. Auburn (7-5)

* Kickoff: 8 a.m., Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.

* TV: ESPN.

* About Northwestern: The Wildcats, whose only postseason victory came in the 1949 Rose Bowl, haven’t been to a Jan. 1 bowl since 1997. This season Northwestern was 5-4, including losses to Syracuse and Minnesota, before finishing with three straight victories, including at Iowa and versus Wisconsin.

* About Auburn: Quarterback Chris Todd and running back Ben Tate led a strong offense early in the season (5-0 start) before Auburn lost five of six Southeastern Conference games.

* Bowl records: Northwestern 1-7; Auburn 19-13-2.

* Previous meetings: None.

* Worth noting: The past 14 Outback Bowls have pitted the Big Ten against the SEC, with the SEC holding an 8-6 edge.

* Prediction: Auburn 33, Northwestern 27.

CAPITAL ONE

LOUISIANA STATE (9-3) VS. PENN STATE (10-2)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m., Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.

* TV: Channel 7.

* About LSU: Quarterback Jordan Jefferson has had an up-and-down season in his first

as a starter. Running back Charles Scott is in doubt for the game. The Tigers lost to fellow SEC powers Alabama and Florida, but Coach Les Miles took the blame for allowing the clock to run out in a devastating loss to Mississippi.

* About Penn State: Daryll Clark could be the most underrated quarterback in the nation. He is 21-4 as a starter, and this season set school records with 2,787 yards passing and 23 touchdown passes. Navorro Bowman leads the stout defense

* Bowl records: LSU 21-18-1; Penn State 26-13-2.

* Previous meetings: Penn State leads the series, 1-0.

* Worth noting: Penn State has a 10-win season for the 21st time under Coach Joe Paterno.

* Prediction: Penn State 21, LSU 20.

GATOR

FLORIDA STATE (6-6) VS. WEST VIRGINIA (9-3)

* Kickoff: 10 a.m., Jacksonville (Fla.) Municipal Stadium.

* TV: Channel 2.

* About Florida State: Bobby Bowden will be coaching his team for the final time -- which is what made FSU attractive to the Gator Bowl in the first place. The Seminoles are nearly as good as they used to be offensively, but their defense has fallen far. FSU will have to play one of its best games of the season to have a chance in Bowden’s finale.

* About West Virginia: Junior running back Noel Devine, one of the most exciting players in the nation, eclipsed the 100-yard mark in half of his team’s games this season. The Mountaineers’ defense, which ranks 34th nationally, finished the season strong and held opponents to a little more than 17 points per game during the final four games.

* Bowl records: Florida State 21-14-2; West Virginia 12-10-1.

* Previous meetings: Florida State leads the series, 2-0.

* Worth noting: Bowden has guided his team to bowls in each of the past 28 seasons -- a streak that began as it will end: in the Gator Bowl against West Virginia. The Seminoles beat West Virginia, 31-12, in the 1982 Gator Bowl to begin the nation’s longest active bowl streak.

Prediction: Florida State 38, West Virginia 35.

SUGAR

FLORIDA (12-1) VS. CINCINNATI (12-0)

* Kickoff: 5:30 p.m., Superdome, New Orleans.

* TV: Channel 11.

* About Florida: The Gators are playing for pride after this year’s expectation was national championship or bust. Despite the country’s best defense and the SEC’s best rushing attack at 225 yards per game, the Gators got embarrassed, 32-13, against Alabama in the conference title game. Quarterback Tim Tebow does not want to end his storied career with two straight losses.

* About Cincinnati: The Bearcats overcame quarterback injuries and former coach Brian Kelly’s Notre Dame distraction to creep within one Texas field goal of a chance at the national title game. Cincinnati has a potent passing attack that averages 326.5 yards -- almost 100 more than Florida’s -- thanks to quarterback Tony Pike and Mardy Gilyard’s 1,150 receiving yards.

* Bowl records: Florida 17-19; Cincinnati 5-5.

* Previous meetings: Florida leads the series, 1-0.

* Worth noting: The last time a Big East team appeared in the Sugar Bowl, West Virginia upended the SEC’s Georgia, 38-35, in 2006.

* Prediction: Cincinnati 34, Florida 27.

-- Orlando Sentinel