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Today's bowl game
STORY TOOLS 
More from CollegeEast Carolina (7-5) vs. No. 24 Boise St. (10-2)
Hawaii Bowl, 5 p.m., ESPN
PAYOUT: Each school receives $750,000.
FAVORITE: Boise State by 11.
COACHES: Skip Holtz (19-17 in third year at East Carolina) and Chris Petersen (23-2 in second year at Boise State).
BOWL RECORD: East Carolina is 7-6. Boise State is 5-2.
LAST GAME: East Carolina beat Tulane, 35-12, on Nov. 24. Boise State lost at No. 14 Hawaii, 39-27, on Nov. 24.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Broncos are fifth in nation in scoring (42.7 points per game) while Pirates are 80th in scoring defense (29.7 ppg).
GAME FACTS: Just getting Pirates to second straight bowl is accomplishment for Holtz, son of former Notre Dame coach Lou — especially after ECU lost top passer, rusher and receiver from last year's 7-6 team. Explosive Broncos aren't likely to be as fired up as in last year's epic OT upset of Oklahoma in Fiesta Bowl. Still, Fiesta Bowl-hero RB Ian Johnson (1,030 rushing, 17 TDs) and freshman Jeremy Avery (603 rushing, 9 TDs) should find plenty of room to run. In last 10 games. QB Taylor Tharp has 27 TD passes vs. only 6 ints.
— Scripps Howard News Service
