TODAY

HOUSTON BOWL

Navy (8-4) vs. Texas Tech (7-5), 1:30 p.m., ESPN -- They say opposites attract, and the Houston Bowl is a prime example. The Midshipmen are No. 1 running the ball (326.8 yards a game), and the Red Raiders are No. 1 in passing (473.5). Navy’s go-to guy in the option attack is junior fullback Kyle Eckel, a throwback player who rumbled for 1,178 yards and 10 touchdowns. To say Eckel is a tough customer would be an understatement. He injured his left shoulder in a Sept. 20 game against Eastern Michigan and will undergo an MRI exam after this game. For now, the best he can do is to keep his left arm in a sling when he’s not playing. Texas Tech’s headliner is quarterback B.J. Symons, who has 48 touchdown passes. If he is sharp, the Red Raiders should have an easy time of it. Examining how each team reached Houston is a telling factor: Navy played one bowl team, and Texas Tech played seven.

-- Jay Christensen