Cotton Bowl Betting

Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-3) vs. Mississippi Rebels (8-4)
Opening Line: Rebels -3 / Cowboys +3 O/U 50.5
Time: 2 PM EST Saturday January 2, 2010 on FOX

In this season's Cotton Bowl the Mississippi Rebels take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a game the pits 2 teams that began the season ranked in the top 10. This game may come down to which rushing defense can play better, as each team has a rushing offense that is ranked in the top 35 in the nation. Ole Miss won 3 of their last 4 games, but lost their season finale to Mississippi State. The Cowboys had a shot to play in a BCS bowl game, but they lost their last game of the season Oklahoma. Mississippi 7-2 with 6 straight wins in bowl games when facing Big 12 opponents and they're 3-1 in the Cotton Bowl. This is the 4th straight season that Oklahoma State has played in a bowl game.

This season OSU was 5-5-1 ATS and Ole Miss was 5-5 ATS.

The Cowboys lost their last game of the season to Oklahoma 27-0 and Ole Miss also lost their season finale 41-27 to Mississippi State.

Mississippi is led by QB Jevan Snead (2.464 20 TD 17 INT), who was an early season Heisman candidate. He has a couple of solid receivers, especially WR Shay Hodge (63 rec 1,023 yds 8 TD), who averaged over 16 yards per reception. Even with Snead the strength of the Rebels is their 33rd ranked rushing offense led by RB Dexter McCluster (985 yds 6 TD), who in this bowl game may become the first SEC player ever with 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving. McCluster also averaged a very impressive 6.7 yards per carry during the season. The OSU defense is solid ranking 33rd in the nation, but they are sort of Jeckyl and Hyde, as while they are great at defending the run (ranked 6th) they are weak at defending the pass (ranked 93rd). Snead may have to move the chains with his arm if the Cowboys can stuff the run.

OSU's offense ranks 92nd in the nation and they are led by QB Zac Robinson (1,966 yds 15 TD 8 INT). The big offensive weapon for the Cowboys is RB Keith Toston (1,177 yds 11 TD), who was 2nd in the Big 12 conference averaging 98.1 rushing yards per game and he averaged 5.4 yards per carry this season. Robinson may have to air it out more in this game, as the Rebels' 23rd ranked defense is better at defending the run than the pass.

The total has gone Under in 5 of the Cowboys last 7 games