COLLEGE FOOTBALL / TODAY’S OTHER BOWL GAMES

COTTON BOWL: BYU (13-1) vs. Kansas State (9-2)

* Time: 10:30 a.m. TV: Channel 2. Site: Dallas

The No. 5 Cougars are out to prove they and the Western Athletic Conference belong in the bowl alliance and whipping a Big 12 Conference team like No. 14 Kansas State (9-2) before a national television audience would help. BYU will be up against a purple army of 40,000 Kansas State fans who bought all the tickets they could get then snapped up BYU’s leftover supply. “I can’t tell you [the fans] will be an advantage although I hope it will be,” Wildcat Coach Bill Snyder said. “I hope it’s a big advantage.” BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian will try to shoot holes in one of college football’s best defenses. Kansas State is led by All-America cornerback Chris Canty, and the Wildcats have said they will throw mostly man-for-man coverage at BYU and Sarkisian, who passed for 4,027 yards this year. “We like to see man-to-man,” said Cougar offensive coordinator Roger French. “But then again, they’re good football players so maybe we won’t like it.”

GATOR BOWL: North Carolina (9-2) vs. West Virginia (8-3)

* Time: 9:30 a.m. TV: Channel 7. Site: Jacksonville, Fla.

West Virginia comes in with the nation’s No. 1 defense, giving up 217.5 yards per game. Meanwhile, No. 12 North Carolina has the nation’s top scoring defense (10.0 points per game) and is No. 2 in total defense. “I think the key word here is patience,” said North Carolina Coach Mack Brown. “We have to take some deep shots, they will take some deep shots, but I don’t think you will see either offense try to go crazy and throw it every time.” North Carolina better hope it doesn’t come down to a battle of quarterbacks. The Tar Heels will be without all-Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback Chris Keldorf, who broke an ankle in the regular-season finale against Duke. Sophomore Oscar Davenport will get his first start against the No. 25 Mountaineers, who recorded a school-record 54 sacks this season. “It’s the No. 1 defense, what else could a quarterback ask for?” said a confident Davenport. The Tar Heels feature consensus All-American defensive back Dre’ Bly, who led the nation with 11 interceptions.

OUTBACK BOWL: Alabama (9-3) vs. Michigan (8-3)

* Time: 8 a.m. TV: ESPN. Site: Tampa, Fla.

This is the finale for Alabama Coach Gene Stallings, who said he will step down after this game, which matches his 16th-ranked Crimson Tide against No. 15 Michigan. Unlike Stallings, Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr hasn’t spent the week talking about past glory. He has been too busy trying to settle the debate over whether Scott Dreisbach or Brian Griese should start against Alabama. Griese came off the bench in the regular-season finale to help the Wolverines ruin Ohio State’s bid for a perfect season after Dreisbach, who had started every game, suffered a concussion. Carr has said both quarterbacks will play. He has told Dreisbach and Griese who will take the first snap, but won’t reveal the decision. “Maybe more people will watch the game to find out,” Carr joked.