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Friday's bowl games

 
Published Jan. 2, 2015

Today's bowl games

Armed Forces

Pittsburgh (6-6, 4-4 ACC) vs. Houston (7-5, 5-3 AAC), Fort Worth, Texas, noon

TV/radio: ESPN; 620-AM

Line: Pittsburgh by 3

Notable: The Panthers have ACC player of the year James Conner, who ran for 1,675 yards and set a conference record with 24 rushing touchdowns even while hindered by a hip injury the last two games. … The Cougars counter with running quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1,736 yards passing, and 481 rushing), along with junior running backs Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson, who have combined for 1,531 yards with 17 touchdowns and eight 100-yard rushing games.

TaxSlayer

Tennessee (6-6, 3-5 SEC) vs. Iowa (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten), Jacksonville, 3:20 p.m.

TV/radio: ESPN; 620-AM

Line: Tennessee by 3

Notable: The Hawkeyes plan to play both their QBs, Jake Rudock and C.J. Beathard, in the first quarter but haven't said who will start. … Volunteers sophomore QB Josh Dobbs is 3-1 since taking over the starting job, and Tennessee is averaging 35 points and 424 yards with him at the helm. … Iowa left tackle Brandon Scherff, a finalist for the Outland Trophy, could have his hands full with Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett, who set a school record for true freshmen with 10 sacks and 20½ tackles for a loss.

Alamo

No. 11 Kansas State (9-3, 7-2 Big 12) vs. No. 14 UCLA (9-3, 6-3 Pac-12), 6:45 p.m., San Antonio, Texas

TV/radio: ESPN; 620-AM

Line: UCLA by 11/2

Notable: UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley, who plans to enter the NFL draft as a junior, threw for 3,019 yards and posted a strong 155.4 efficiency rating. But Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters has been just as good, with 3,163 yards and a 157.8 rating. … Wildcats WR Tyler Lockett, who has four straight games of 100 or more receiving yards, faces a Bruins secondary that has shut down top-flight receivers such as USC's Nelson Agholor (three catches, 24 yards) and Colorado's Nelson Spruce (six, 63).

Cactus

Washington (8-5, 4-5 Pac-12) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6, 4-5 Big 12), 10:15 p.m., Tempe, Ariz.

TV/radio: ESPN; 620-AM

Line: Washington by 61/2

Notable: Huskies RB/LB Shaq Thompson has four TDs on defense and two on offense. The All-American was a full-time running back for three games then went back to the defensive side exclusively for the final three. … Cowboys QB Mason Rudolph, who replaced Daxx Garman in November, has overcome a few freshman mistakes with some big plays. He'll need to be on his toes against a Washington defense that was third nationally with 3.77 sacks per game, led by OLB Hau'oli Kikaha's NCAA-best 18.

Times wires