California (8-4)
            vs.
    Miami (7-5)

Date: Dec. 27

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: San Francisco

Television: ESPN

Payout: $850,000

Last result: Oregon State 21, Maryland 14

2008 results: California; Miami

2008 statistics: California; Miami

Tickets: Buy them here

Coaches: Jeff Tedford (California); Randy Shannon (Miami)

Bowl history/last appearance: California 9-8-1 (won 42-36 over Air Force in '07 Armed Forces); Miami 18-13 (won 21-20 over Nevada in '06 MPC Computers)

Series: Miami leads 2-1 (California 9-7 in '64; Miami 31-3 in '89, 52-24 in '90)

What California must do to win: Disappointed that their bowl trip only consists of a drive across the Bay Bridge, the Golden Bears need to shake that off and focus properly on the dangerous Hurricanes. Going up against inexperienced quarterback Jacory Harris — Robert Marve was suspended for academic reasons — means California should be in prime position to add to its hefty total of 23 interceptions.

With QB problems of their own, the Golden Bears are best when they throw as little as possible. Cal attempted only 11 passes in a 37-16 victory over archrival Stanford on Nov. 22.

What Miami must do to win: After allowing nearly 700 rushing yards in their last two games, the Hurricanes have to improve their run defense in a hurry. Golden Bears sophomore speedster Jahvid Best is coming off a 311-yard, four-touchdown performance in the regular-season finale. It would have been more impressive if it came against a team other than woeful Washington, but Best needed only 19 carries to do all that damage. 

On offense, Miami needs some of its younger players who now have a full season under their belts to start playing like upperclassmen.

Who the NFL is watching: Cal’s Alex Mack is regarded as the best center in the draft; The youthful Miami roster is filled with pro prospects, but they’re still a year or two away.

Opening point spread: California by 7.5 (49.5)

Prediction: California 31, Miami 20

MVP: California RB Jahvid Best

Live vote: Who will win?

BOWL BREAKDOWNS Click on each game for a recap of the action                                             BCS GAMES    1/8: Championship — No. 1 Florida 24, No. 2 Oklahoma 14    1/5: Fiesta — No. 3 Texas 24, No. 10 Ohio State 21    1/2: Sugar — No. 7 Utah 31, No. 4 Alabama 17    1/1: Orange — No. 21 Virginia Tech 20, No. 12 Cincinnati 7    1/1: Rose — No. 5 USC 38, No. 6 Penn State 24                                           OTHER BOWLS    1/6: GMAC — Tulsa 45, No. 23 Ball State 13    1/3: International — Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20    1/2: Liberty — Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19    1/2: Cotton — No. 20 Mississippi 47, No. 8 Texas Tech 34    1/1: Capital One — No. 16 Georgia 24, No. 19 Michigan State 12    1/1: Gator — Nebraska 26, Clemson 21    1/1: Outback — Iowa 31, South Carolina 10 12/31: Chick-fil-A — LSU 38, No. 14 Georgia Tech 3 12/31: Insight — Kansas 42, Minnesota 21 12/31: Music City — Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14 12/31: Sun — No. 24 Oregon State 3, No. 18 Pittsburgh 0 12/31: Armed Forces — Houston 34, Air Force 28 12/30: Holiday — No. 15 Oregon 42, No. 13 Oklahoma State 31 12/30: Texas — Rice 38, Western Michigan 14 12/30: Humanitarian — Maryland 42, Nevada 35 12/29: Alamo — No. 25 Missouri 30, No. 22 Northwestern 23, OT 12/29: PapaJohns.com — Rutgers 29, North Carolina State 23 12/28: Independence — Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10 12/27: Emerald — California 24, Miami 17 12/27: Champs Sports — Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13 12/27: Meineke Car Care — West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30 12/26: Motor City — Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21 12/24: Hawaii — Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21 12/23: Poinsettia — No. 11 TCU 17, No. 9 Boise State 16 12/21: New Orleans — Southern Miss 30, Troy 27, OT 12/20: Las Vegas — Arizona 31, No. 17 BYU 21 12/20: St. Petersburg — South Florida 41, Memphis 14 12/20: New Mexico — Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35 12/20: EagleBank — Wake Forest 29, Navy 19

MORE FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College football Section Front

USC, LSU, Miami alive for BCS at-large bids Bowl Projections: Penn State in BCS picture Predictions 101: Get picks to week's key games CFT: Michigan St. players allegedly part of ‘mass assault’ Weis turning focus to finale at Stanford Kelly says job speculation not a problem CFT: ‘By the Numbers’ — LSU batting .467 Out of Bounds: Easy win for Ole Miss over KKK CFT: USC’s leading WR doubtful to play vs. UCLA Black and blue affair for Tebow's home finale College football Section Front   Add College football headlines to your news reader: