Cincinnati @ Vanderbilt preview

LIBERTY BOWL STORYLINES

1. Cincinnati senior QB Zach Collaros, who passed for 1,860 yards and 14 touchdowns with eight interceptions in nine games, appears likely to play despite breaking his right ankle against West Virginia on Nov. 12. Collaros has returned to practice and is doing all the drills, yet says he still feels pain in the injured ankle.

2. Vanderbilt first-year coach James Franklin restored hope in Nashville, tripling the win total to six and giving Georgia and Arkansas legitimate scares. This is only the fifth bowl game in Commodores history.

3. These teams have two common opponents. Both beat UConn at home and lost at Tennessee. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series against Cincinnati 4-3, but they haven’t played since 1994.

TV: ABC. LINE: Vanderbilt -2.5

ABOUT CINCINNATI (9-3, 5-2 Big East): Coach Butch Jones has agreed on a contract extension through 2017, eliminating any potential distraction. He’s only 13-11 in two seasons, but the team won a share of the Big East title this season. If Collaros is limited, look for the Bearcats to rely on RB Isaiah Pead, who ran for 1,110 yards and 11 TDs while averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Senior DT Derek Wolfe (9.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss) leads a defense that led the nation with 3.6 sacks and 8.9 tackles for loss per game. The Bearcats are allowing 20.0 points per game, eight fewer than last year. They rank seventh nationally in rush defense, allowing 92.6 yards per game.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (6-6, 2-8 SEC): Junior Zac Stacy averaged 6.2 yards per carry while running for 1,136 yards and 13 TDs. QB Jordan Rodgers, younger brother of Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers, took over as the starter in Week 5. He threw for nearly 1,500 yards with nine TDs and nine interceptions. WR Jordan Matthews ranks fourth in the SEC in receiving yards (722) and first in yards per catch (19.5). The defense kept Vandy in games against SEC powers. The Commodores allow 20.8 points and 324.6 yards per game, which ranks 19th nationally.

PREDICTION – Cincinnati 27, Vanderbilt 20: Collaros’ speedy return bodes well for the Bearcats’ offense, and the fifth-year senior goes out a winner.