Liberty Bowl

Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn.

Line: Kentucky by 2.5

TV: ESPN

Why you should watch: Because this game will be close. Each of the past four Liberty Bowls have been decided by eight points or less. The game also is typically played in front of a packed stadium, as it has drawn at least 50,000 every year since 1997. East Carolina began the season with high expectations, upsetting Virginia Tech and West Virginia, but losses to North Carolina State and Houston bumped them from Bowl Championship Series buster to afterthought.

But the Pirates want to end the season by making a statement on a national stage, and a win over a team from the Southeastern Conference to cap a 10-win season would be huge for Coach Skip Holtz. East Carolina, which beat Boise State, 41-38, in last year’s Hawaii Bowl, is led by senior quarterback Patrick Pinkney, who has thrown for 2,379 yards with 12 touchdowns.

The Wildcats have lacked bite the past month, as they enter the postseason on a three-game losing streak. Kentucky is led by quarterback Mike Hartline, who has thrown for just 1,462 yards with three touchdowns against seven interceptions this season.

Best fact about Kentucky: The school’s colors were originally blue and light yellow, not royal blue and white.

Best fact about East Carolina: The university is starting an $87 million school of dentistry set to open its doors in 2011.

Did you know this person went to : Ashley Judd, actress in films such as “Kiss the Girls,” “Double Jeopardy” and “High Crimes.”

Did you know this person went to East Carolina: Sandra Bullock, actress in films such as “Speed,” “While You Were Sleeping” and “Crash.” Wow, it’s close. But Bullock did save a lot of people’s lives in “Speed.”

Game comes down to: East Carolina will expose an inept Kentucky offense and turn short fields into points. The Wildcats average just 22.7 points a game and will be lucky to hit that total.

Carey predicts: East Carolina, 27-17

Bimbo predicts: Kentucky