Independence, Pinstripe, Foster Farms, Texas bowls kick off Wednesday
![Arizona Wildcats quarterback Khalil Tate (14) explodes for a 82-yard run in the second quarter of the college football game between the Washington State Cougars and the Arizona Wildcats on October 28, 2017, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. (Carlos Herrera / Associated Press)](https://thumb.spokesman.com/uO6q6eDqVn9RLDznlEJuDvMVKgE=/600x0/media.spokesman.com/graphics/2018/07/sr-loader.png)
A look at college football bowl games for Wednesday, Dec. 27:
Independence Bowl
Southern Mississippi (8-4) vs. Florida State (6-6) at Shreveport, Louisiana, 10:30 a.m. TV: ESPN Line: FSU by 16 1/2
Key matchup: Southern Miss running back Ito Smith against Florida’s State’s short-handed defense. Smith will finish his stellar career Wednesday and has ran for 100 yards in 23 games in his career and has 6,344 career all-purpose yards. He will go up against a Seminoles defense that will be playing without several top players, including second-team AP All-American safety Derwin James, who declared for the NFL draft and opted not to play in the bowl game.
Pinstripe Bowl
Iowa (7-5) vs. Boston College at New York, 2:15 p.m. TV: ESPN Line: Iowa by 3
Key matchup: Boston College: running back AJ Dillon against Iowa’s rushing defense. Dillon was named the ACC rookie of the year and had 1,432 yards rushing and 13 TDs. He will lead the Eagles against a tough Hawkeyes rushing defense, which surrendered only nine touchdowns on the ground all season.
Foster Farms Bowl
Arizona (7-5) vs. Purdue (6-6) at Santa Clara, California TV: Fox 28 Line: Arizona by 3
Key matchup: Arizona’s star quarterback Khalil Tate against Purdue’s defense. Tate took over the Wildcats’ offense in week five and rushed for 1,353 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 1,289 yards and nine TDs. The Boilermakers allowed only 3.6 yards per carry this season, but struggled against another dual-threat quarterback, 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, in their opener.
Texas Bowl
Texas (6-6) vs. Missouri (7-5) at Houston TV: ESPN Line: Missouri by 2
Key matchup: Missouri quarterback Drew Lock against Texas’s defense. Lock threw for 3,695 yards and a nation-high 43 touchdowns to set school and SEC records. The Longhorns allowed only 21.7 points per game this season, but will be missing safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Holton Hill, who both declared for the draft and are sitting out.