Today’s bowl games

Music City Bowl

Alabama vs. Minnesota

Where: The Coliseum, Nashville.

Time: 9 a.m. TV: ESPN

Records: Alabama 6-5, Minnesota 6-5.

Key stats: Minnesota is sixth in the nation in rushing offense (255.1 ypg). Alabama is second in the nation in total defense (235.9 ypg).

About Alabama: Think of this as an old-fashioned Tide team, one that wins with defense and the running game. LBs Cornelius Wortham and DeMeco Ryans will be key in stopping Minnesota’s powerful ground game. Alabama’s passing attack is rancid (112th at 132.4 ypg), so everything on offense revolves around the run. But starting TB Kenneth Darby (stomach muscle) may not play.

About Minnesota: The Gophers have an excellent 1-2 punch at tailback in Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III (a combined 2,325 yards and 22 TDs), but this will be the quickest defense the Gophers have played against this season. If those guys are stymied (say, less than 180 combined yards), Minnesota will be hard-pressed to win.

The buzz: These teams combined to win 12 games, but only two of those came against teams that finished with winning records.

The line: Alabama by 1.

Sun Bowl

Arizona State vs. Purdue

Where: Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas.

Time: 11 a.m. TV: CBS

Records: Arizona State 8-3, Purdue 7-4.

Key stats: Both teams throw the ball well (Purdue is fourth nationally in passing offense at 324.8 ypg, Arizona State fifth at 312.6 ypg), and neither is particularly good against the pass (Purdue is 79th in pass defense at 228.1 ypg, Arizona State 83rd at 231.9 ypg).

About Arizona State: The Sun Devils will be without star QB Andrew Walter, who was injured in the season finale against Arizona. That means sophomore Sam Keller makes his first start. He needs to come up big because the Sun Devils’ running game is brutal. TE Zach Miller and WR Derek Hagan are big-time targets. The defense is solid in the front sevenbut iffy in the secondary.

About Purdue: The Boilers started 5-0 before hitting the skids. QB Kyle Orton cooled considerably in the second half of the season, but still finished with 2,809 yards, 28 TDs and five picks. WR Taylor Stubblefield (Yakima’s Davis High) is the leading receiver in NCAA history (309 catches) and could add another 10 or so today.

The buzz: This would’ve been one of the top three or four bowls had Walter played.

The line: Purdue by 7.

Liberty Bowl

Boise State vs. Louisville

Where: Liberty Bowl, Memphis.

Time: 12:30 p.m. TV: ESPN

Records: Boise State 11-0, Louisville 10-1.

Key stats: These teams rank first and second in the nation in total offense and scoring offense – Louisville at 536.7 ypg and 50.3 ppg, Boise at 511.6 ypg and 49.7 ppg.

About Boise State: The Broncos have scored at least 55 points in four consecutive games. QB Jared Zabransky (248.0 ypg, 15 TDs, 11 picks) has been steady in his first season as the starter, and he is ably complemented by 5-7 TB Lee Marks (82.0 ypg, but just two TDs) and WRs T.J. Acree and Drisan James. The run defense has been great (fourth nationally at 83.5 ypg), but the pass defense is awful (103rd at 255.6 ypg).

About Louisville: The Cardinals have scored at least 55 points in five consecutive games and have been incredibly balanced (10th in rushing at 243.3 ypg, ninth in passing at 293.5 ypg). QB Stefan LeFors has 18 TD passes and just two picks, and WR J.R. Russell is his favorite target. The Cards use three tailbacks: Michael Bush, Lionel Gates and FSU transfer Eric Shelton; that trio has combined for 33 TDs. The Cards are small but quick on defense.

The buzz: Louisville coach Bobby Petrino’s flirtations with LSU have removed some of the spotlight from this game, which is a shame considering the teams are a combined 21-1.

The line: Louisville by 11 1/2 .

Peach Bowl

Florida vs. Miami

Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

Time: 4:30 p.m. TV: ESPN.

Records: Florida 7-4, Miami 8-3.

Key stats: Florida is 21st nationally in total offense (428.8 ypg). Miami is 67th nationally in rushing defense (156.0 ypg).

About Florida: The Gators hope to control the ball with TB Ciatrick Fason, who is turning pro after this game. If he runs effectively, the passing game becomes more dangerous. But if Fason is shut down, UF is in trouble. A deep corps of receivers, led by Andre Caldwell, could have success against a UM defense that sometimes is too aggressive for its own good. Teams that have made it a priority to run on UF have been able to do so. Florida, which has not had a good pass rush this season, needs to find a way to pressure UM QB Brock Berlin, who makes mistakes when he’s under the gun.

About Miami: Berlin guided UM to a come-from-behind victory over UF last season and would like nothing better than to go out with another big game against the Gators. Look for UM to try to get TB Frank Gore involved early. UM likes to use its tight ends, but the top two are out for this game. The Hurricanes have struggled to stop the run, and their best linebacker, Roger McIntosh, will miss this game. CB Antrel Rolle heads a good secondary, but those guys need the front four to get consistent pressure on UF QB Chris Leak, who will hit some big plays if he has time to throw.

The buzz: Mindset for the teams is going to be huge. Florida is amid a coaching change and Miami players don’t really want to be here.

The line: UM by 3 1/2 .

– Orlando Sentinel