GMAC BOWL

TEXAS EL PASO (8-3) VS. TOLEDO (8-3) Tonight, 5 PST, Mobile, Ala., ESPN

Line: Toledo by 3.

Update: In his second season at Texas El Paso, Coach Mike Price led the Miners to a second-place finish in Conference USA’s West Division. UTEP can move the ball with the nation’s sixth-ranked passing offense. Quarterback Jordan Palmer, brother of Carson Palmer, has thrown for 3,340 yards and 28 touchdowns but struggled late in the season. In his last four games, Palmer has thrown 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. Former UCLA running back Tyler Ebell, who sat out half the season because of undisclosed medical reasons, is expected to play but will split time with Marcus Thomas, who has four consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

Toledo relies on quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who holds 19 school records and three in the Mid-American Conference. Gradkowski, who has struggled because of injuries this year, has thrown for 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns, including a 298-yard, four-touchdown effort against Bowling Green in his last game. Running back Trinity Dawson ranks 20th nationally in rushing, averaging nearly 107 yards a game, and is coming off a career-high 170-yard performance against Bowling Green. Linebackers Mike Alston, Anthony Jordan and Keon Jackson are the key to the Rockets’ defense, ranked 23rd nationally.

Fact: The teams have never met, but MAC teams have won all four previous GMAC Bowl games. UTEP has won 16 games over the last two seasons and is making consecutive bowl appearances for only the third time in school history.

--LONNIE WHITE