Mississippi - Oklahoma State

Cotton Bowl January 2, 2:00pm Arlington, TX

Mississippi (8-4) ___________ SEC _________ 152.02 ____ ____________YPG = 395.7 (110%) → +17% ____________PPG = 27.3 (110%) → +8% dYPG = 319.1 (84%) dPPG = 20.3 (79%) ____ Wk Opponent oPts Score 1 Memphis -278.07 W, 45-14 3 SE Louisiana -507.66 W, 52-6 4 South Carolina 113.85 L, 10-16 5 Vanderbilt -246.01 W, 23-7 6 Alabama 589.24 L, 3-22 7 UAB -71.06 W, 48-13 8 Arkansas 121.91 W, 30-17 9 Auburn 121.93 L, 20-33 10 Northern Arizona -530.16 W, 38-14 11 Tennessee 115.05 W, 42-17 12 LSU 248.45 W, 25-23 13 Mississippi St 14.07 L, 27-41

Oklahoma State (9-3) ______________ Big12 __________ 211.94 ____ YPG = 357.1 (93%) PPG = 27.8 (102%) dYPG = 336.1 (84%) dPPG = 23.2 (79%) ____ Wk Opponent oPts Score 1 Georgia 159.43 W, 24-10 2 Houston 213.71 L, 35-45 3 Rice -295.50 W, 41-24 4 Grambling St -506.34 W, 56-6 6 Texas A&M -11.32 W, 36-31 7 Missouri 116.64 W, 33-17 8 Baylor -105.91 W, 34-7 9 Texas 487.27 L, 14-41 10 Iowa St -19.16 W, 34-8 11 Texas Tech 131.04 W, 24-17 12 Colorado -216.73 W, 31-28 13 Oklahoma 102.05 L, 0-27

Interestingly, these two have performed the same on defense - both allow just 84% of their opponents' average yards and 79% of their opponents' average points. The Rebels have an edge on offense, partly because some of the Cowboys' biggest playmakers have been injured or unavailable for big chunks of the season. Ole Miss should have a bit of a psychological edge too, remembering how last year's Cotton Bowl against Texas Tech went. It might be close, but I think they can do it again.

The Line: Oklahoma State +3

The Call: Mississippi by 7

The Result: Mississippi 21-7

Well, it was close until the Cowboys collapsed after that bad 4th-quarter non-offsides call. Shame that had to completely change the game. But give credit to the Rebels for stepping it up after that and just getting after Oklahoma State, effectively putting the game away by great defensive play.