Arkansas vs. Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl: This might be the most physical game of all the bowls. Freshman tailback P. J. Hill leads the Big Ten and is No. 5 nationally in rushing yards per game with 127. Offensive lineman Joe Thomas (6-8, 313), is Wisconsin’s first Outland Trophy winner. Tight end Travis Beckum leads the nation at his position with 821 yards receiving on 56 catches.

Michigan and Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl: USC quarterback John David Booty has 25 touchdowns and nine picks. Running back Chauncey Washington has 739 yards. Receivers Steve Smith has 64 catches for 975 yards and Dwayne Jarrett has 58 catches for 773 yards.

Michigan’s Chad Henne has 2199 yards with 20 scores and 7 interceptions. Tailback Mike Hart, who said he will return next season, has 1,515 yards. Receiver Steve Breaston has 51 catches for 555 yards. Michigan has the best run defense nationally allowing only 43 yards per game. USC is No. 17 in rush defense allowing only 97 yards per game and No. 12 in scoring defense allowing only 14 ppg. Southern Cal has been shaky on punt returns and special teams. The punting and the field goal kicking has been average. Breaston is one of the more dangerous kick returners.

Wake Forest vs. Louisville in the Orange Bowl: Cardinal quarterback Brian Brohm has thrown for 16 scores and five picks. Tailback Kolby Smith has 780 yards. Receiver Harry Douglas has 60 catches for 1100 yards. The Cardinal defense is No. 41 in total defense and No. 75 against the pass. Cardinal kicker Art Carmody is 20 of 23 in field goals. Louisville cornerback Gavin Smart broke his leg in practice Thursday and will miss the game. Wake’s Riley Skinner has 1780 yards with eight scores and four picks. Tailback Kenneth Moore had 434 yards. Receiver Nate Morton has 34 catches for 555 yards.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma State in the Independence Bowl on Thursday: The Tide lost to Oklahoma State for their seventh defeat of the season. State’s Jason Ricks kicked a 27-yard field goal with eight seconds left to win the game. OSU tailback Dontrell Savage ran for 112 yards. Alabama’s Javier Arenas took a punt back 86 yard in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Alabama recovered. A few plays later, Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson tossed a lateral to offensive lineman Andre Smith for a two-yard scoring play to tie the game. OSU outgained Alabama 419 yards-276. Wilson was 18- of- 33 for 168 yards.

John Brown (6-2, 290), a four-star defensive tackle from Lakeland, Fla., said he is down to Alabama, LSU, Florida and Florida State.

Kentucky vs. Clemson in the Music City Bowl: The Wildcats won four of their last five games and should have beaten Tennessee. Kentucky coach Rich Brooks has been given an extension. Terms of the extension have yet to be announced. Quarterback Andre Woodson threw 28 scores and 7 interceptions. Kentucky will have to find a way to block defensive end Gaines Adams. Wildcat Receiver Keenan Burton has 72 catches and 1,006 yards. Woodson can take advantage of the Clemson secondary with the loss of Duane Coleman, due to a suspension. Kentucky is No. 5 in turnover margin while Clemson is No. 41. Kentucky is in a bowl game despite being outgained by over 1,000 yards.

Clemson lost three- of -it’s last four games. The Tigers defense allows only 270 ypg and 15 ppg. Tailback James Davis has a shoulder injury that should be rested and C. J. Spiller is struggling with an ankle injury. Clemson’s big offensive line should be able to take advantage of the smaller Kentucky defensive line.

South Carolina vs. Houston in the Liberty Bowl: South Carolina is 3-11 in bowl games and Houston has lost its last five straight. Houston is No. 6 in total offense 439 ypg and No. 66 in total defense allowing 339 ypg. South Carolina is No. 22 in scoring defense allowing 17 ppg and Houston is No. 52 allowing 22 ppg. Houston is No. 75 in turnover margin while South Carolina is No. 14. South Carolina has to control quarterback Kevin Kolb (27 scores and three picks), receiver Vincent Marshall and running back Anthony Alridge (10 ypc). The Cougars are on a six game win streak. South Carolina is 7-1 when they run for more than 150 yards. Coach Steve Spurrier had to send redshirt freshman running back Taylor Rank and defensive end Dakota Walker home for unspecified reasons.

The Gamecocks could sign Carlos Dunlap (6-7, 250), a five-star defensive end from North Charleston, S.C. He is the No. 1 defensive end prospect and the No. 7 overall player at his position. Chris Culliver (6-1, 190), the No. 7 rated safety prospect from Garner, N.C., is close to making a verbal to South Carolina since the Gamecocks have offered to make him a receiver and kick returner. He originally committed to N C State then appeared to be going to Clemson. Florida and Clemson want to put him at defensive back. William Brimfield (6-6, 310), a defensive tackle from Neeses, S.C., favors the Gamecocks over Tennessee, North Carolina and Clemson. He originally committed to North Carolina but changed his mind after John Bunting was fired.

Tennessee vs. Penn State in the Outback Bowl: The Vol defense has to contain State running back Tony Hunt who ran for 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has seven 100-yards games this season. Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli completed only 53% of his passes throwing 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Receivers Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood caught 45 and 41 passes respectively. The Vols have a recent commitment from Rolando Melancon (6-2, 260), a defensive tackle from Lutcher, La. Arkansas, Michigan and Nebraska offered him.

LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will likely be leaving after the bowl game. If so, there are rumors that Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Larry Fedora could one of the possibilities to replace him.

Florida already has commitments from five Rivals100 players. Last year they had six total. They are being mentioned in the top two-three choices with 15 Rivals100 prospects such as Dunlap (No. 7), Terrance Toliver (6-4, 185), a receiver from Hempstead, Texas (No. 23), Allen Bailey (6-4, 255), a defensive end from McIntosh County Academy in Georgia (No. 36), Deonte Thompson (6-0, 180), a receiver from Belle Glade Glades High in Florida (No. 38), Brown (No. 61), Brandon Hicks (6-3, 205), a linebacker from Forrest High in Jacksonville, Fla. (No. 85) and Culliver (No. 90).

The Gators are now involved in Ahmad Paige (6-3, 175), a receiver from Sterlington, La., who is a Florida State verbal. FSU, Florida, USC and Tennessee are his top four. He has already visited Florida and Tennessee. He plans on visiting USC and FSU in January. He also said that he will take his parents to Gainesville for them to visit. Gator sophomore receiver Nyan Boateng is transferring.

Ole Miss had a signing from junior college guard Mark Jean-Lewis (6-3, 330) from Palm Beach, Fla. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Receivers coach Matt Lubick has left to accept a position on the Arizona State staff. Tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis was given credit for an extra yard in the Auburn game that puts him at 1,000 for the season.

Georgia vs. Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl: This could easily be a defensive struggle after the Hokies lead the nation in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense. Georgia is No. 9 in total defense. Georgia must block linebackers Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall, who led the ACC with 115 tackles. This will be an interesting chess match between new named offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and Tech’s Bud Foster. Virginia Tech and Southern Cal are the only two teams to have won at least 10 games in the past three seasons. The Bulldogs face Virginia Tech with only six scholarship offensive linemen after the suspensions of Seth Watts and Ian Smith.

Miami vs. Nevada in the MPC Computers Bowl on the blue carpet in Boise: Miami and Nevada have three combined wins over bowl teams. Nevada cornerback Joe Garcia, who has six picks, will be eager to face quarterback Kirby Freeman in his fourth start. Nevada is No. 22 in rushing offense averaging 177 ypg. The Wolfpack held six teams to 10 points or less.

Tray Herndon (5-10, 166), a receiver from The Bolles School, has an offer from the Canes. He will visit Troy, Indiana and Miami. Auburn, Louisville and Kentucky have also offered him. Graig Cooper (5-11, 185), a running back from New Berlin Milford Prep in New York, said he is down to Miami, North Carolina and Oklahoma State. Cooper was ready to announce his Dec. 30, but moved the date to Jan. 15. Josh Miller (6-3, 185), an athlete from Palatka has received an offer from Miami. He has already visited Louisville and Bowling Green. He wants to visit UCF and South Florida. Miller played quarterback in high school, but will play receiver or defensive back in college.

Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia in the Gator Bowl: Before last year’s win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, the Mountaineers had lost 11- of -12 previous bowl games. West Virginia is 0-5 in the Gator Bowl. Coach Rich Rodriguez is 1-3 in bowl games. The Mountaineers are 9-1 in their last 10 road games. Tailback Steve Slaton, who has a deep thigh bruise, has 1733 yards.

Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will have had plenty of time to prepare for West Virginia’s spread offense. Tailback Tashard Choice ran for 1304 yards. Receiver Calvin Johnson caught 67 passes for 1016 yards.

Florida State vs. UCLA in the Emerald Bowl: Seminole tailback Lorenzo Booker ran for 91 yards and caught five passes for 117 more yards in FSU’s win over UCLA. FSU scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. UCLA’s Patrick Cowan threw for 240 yards and running back Chris Markey ran for 144 yards. Nole linebacker Lawrence Timmons returned a blocked punt by Dekoda Watson 25 yards for a touchdown and defensive back Cornerback Tony Carter returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown. FSU coach Bobby Bowden has reportedly talked to West Virginia offensive line coach Rick Trickett about a staff position.

Chris Little (6-5, 342), a three-star guard from Twiggs County, Georgia, is down to FSU, Georgia and Notre Dame. He said that he is 80% leaning toward FSU. Marvin Austin (6-2, 291), a five-star defensive tackle from Washington, D. C., Ballou, said his favorite teams are Southern Cal and FSU then North Carolina and Tennessee and Maryland.

Maryland vs. Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl: Purdue’s defense is No. 114 nationally averaging 433 ypg. Maryland won six games by less than six points. The Terps had 23 turnovers this season including seven in the past two games. Maryland is No. 101 in turnover margin. Purdue’s Curtis Painter is No. 6 nationally averaging nearly 300 yards per game. Maryland needs to be able to run for 200 yards with Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore and control the clock in order to win. Purdue turned the ball over 29 times and fumbled 10 times in its last three games. Purdue has the better offense, if it can keep the ball.

The Terps have a possibility to pick up a big transfer from former Southern Cal safety Antwine Perez (6-1, 195), who is from Woodrow Wilson High in NJ. He played in seven games for USC as a freshman. Perez said his decision is down to Maryland or Michigan.

Boston College vs. Navy in the Car Care Bowl: BC is on the verge of its first 10 win season since 1984. Navy is looking for its second ten win season in three years. The Midshipmen are No. 1 in rushing offense averaging 327 yards per game. BC is No. 2 in turnover margin and allows only 90 yards per game rushing. The Eagles haven’t allowed more than 170 yards rushing this season (Clemson ran for 136 and Wake Forest for 160) and Navy is the worst passing team in the nation.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FLA., HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON ESPN 1460 ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS ON THE RUMBLE WITH MIKE DEMPSEY AND TOM MCMANUS.