LAS VEGAS -- Houston (9-3, AAC) vs. San Diego State (10-3, MWC), Las Vegas, 3:30 p.m. EST (ABC)Line: Houston by 4.Series Record: Houston leads 2-0.WHATS AT STAKEHouston can win 10 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history while also starting the Major Applewhite era on a positive note, as the offensive coordinator and former Texas quarterback was promoted to replace Austin-bound Tom Herman as head coach. A victory by SDSU would tie the school record for wins, first set in 1969 under coach Don Coryell and matched last season by Rocky Long. The winning team is also likely to end the season ranked, something SDSU has not accomplished since the 1977 season.KEY MATCHUPHoustons run defense vs. SDSUs tailback tandem of Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny. In their two marquee games, the Cougars held Oklahoma to 2.7 yards per carry and Louisville to 2.5, but the defensive front was decidedly less effective in their three losses and allowed at least 146 yards rushing in those games. If Pumphrey and Penny can get going early, a duo that rushed for 27 touchdowns this season can not only wear down Houston but keep star quarterback Greg Ward Jr. off the field at the same time.PLAYERS TO WATCHHouston: DL Ed Oliver more than lived up to his lofty billing as a five-star recruit, immediately dissecting the Sooners for two sacks in his collegiate debut. Finishing his freshman season with 19.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles, Oliver could be a one-man wrecking machine in the AAC for years to come.SDSU: Pumphrey couldnt get traction with Heisman voters despite rushing for 2,018 yards this season, but could finish his career as the most prolific runner in FBS history. Pumphrey needs 108 yards to break former Wisconsin running back Ron Daynes record of 6,397 yards rushing. Pumphrey has run for at least that many yards 10 times this season and 30 overall in his outstanding college career.FACTS & FIGURESPumphrey and Penny can become the first teammates in NCAA history to rush for 2,000 and 1,000 yards in the same season. Penny needs just five yards to crack the 1,000-yard mark. . Ward will be the third Houston quarterback to start three bowl games, joining Case Keenum and Kevin Kolb. . San Diego State and Boise State are the only Group of Five teams to play in seven straight bowl games. . Oliver has nine pass breakups, tied with cornerback Howard Wilson for the team lead. . A team from the Mountain West has won the Las Vegas Bowl nine times, but SDSU lost in its only previous appearance in 1998.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Custom Cleveland Cavaliers Jerseys . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Custom Phoenix Suns Jerseys . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. http://www.customjerseysbasketball.com/custom-milwaukee-bucks-jerseys-567y.html . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Custom Brooklyn Nets Jerseys . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Custom Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Taryn Christion threw for 324 yards and a touchdown and South Dakota State bounced back from a loss to Illinois State to beat Missouri State 49-24 on Saturday.Dallas Goedert caught seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, and Jake Wieneke added six grabs for 144 yards for the Jackrabbits (6-3, 5-1 Missouri Valley), the sixth time the duo has simultaneously topped the century mark this season.The game was tight throughout the first half, with South Dakota Statte holding a slim 21-17 lead at the break.ddddddddddddBut the Jackrabbits outscored the Bears 21-0 on consecutive rushing touchdowns by Kyle Paris, Brady Mengarelli, and Isaac Wallace.Brodie Lambert threw for 224 yards for Missouri State (4-5, 2-4), including a 91-yard strike to Zac Hoover in the first quarter. Hoover caught three passes for 113 yards. ' ' '