Cotton Bowl Preview

AT&T Cotton Bowl
Mississippi vs Texas Tech
Friday, January 2, 2:00
on FOX
Cotton Bowl - Dallas

Why you should watch:

• If you are off on Friday what else are you going to do?
  
• Texas Tech might pass for 500 yards this game
  
• SEC vs Big 12 argument gets its first taste
  

Why you shouldn't watch:

• If you work you will probably miss almost all of it
  
• It probably won't be a close game
  

Streaks and Scheduling Notes:
Mississippi:

• 8-4 (5-3)
  
• 5th bowl game last 10 years (3-1)
• Won 5 straight games
• 3-2 away from home this season
  

Texas Tech:

• 11-1 (7-1)
  
• 9th straight bowl game (5-3)
  
• Only loss to Oklahoma
  

Key Stats, Figures, and Players:
Mississippi:

• Offensively they are a running team although they can pass the ball with good efficiency. While they are only 58th in passing offense they are 25th in passing efficiency.
  
• Defensively they are great against the run. Unfortunately for them Tech doesn't run much they throw it all the time.
  
• QB Javon Snead has had a solid season. He has over 2,400 yards and 23 touchdowns.
  
• RBs Cordera Eason and Brandon Bolden have combined for over 1,000 yards and 7 touchdowns.
  
• WR Dexter McCluster has 38 receptions for 542 yards and a touchdown. But his real value is running the ball where he has 558 yards and 5 touchdowns.
• Defensively it is a team effort. As a team they lead the country in tackles for loss with 107. 23 different players have recorded one. 19 players have recorded at least 1 sack too.
  

Texas Tech:

• Passing is all this team does. They are the best passing offense in the country with 417 yards per game through the air.
  
• Defensively they are better at stopping the run but aren't really good at anything.
  
• QB Graham Harrell has thrown for more than 4,700 yards this season and has 41 touchdowns to go along with it.
  
• WR Michael Crabtree is the number 1 target on the team. He has 93 catches for over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns.
  
• DE Brandon Williams is the only real force on the defense. He has 12.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks on the season and is far and away the team leader in those categories.
  

Who Wins:

Texas Tech....The only way Ole Miss stays in this game is if Tech doesn't want to be there. They might be bummed about being left out of the BCS and not really into this game. But I think they are going to want to show the country what kind of team they are. If they want to prove they were worthy than they better embarrass the Rebels.