THE COTTON BOWL
OLE MISS REBELS VS. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
FAIR PARK DALLAS, TEXAS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009 2:00 P.M.
The 73rd Cotton Bowl will be the last to be played at Dallas’s Fair Park. In 2010 the game will be played in Jerry Jones’ state-of-the-art Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas Tech (11-1) enters this year’s game against Ole Miss (8-4) as 4 ½ point favorites with the O/U set at 69.5 points. A lot of scoring is anticipated from these two offensive powerhouses.
OLE MISS: UP: The Rebels were the only team to upend Florida this season, 31-30. The Gators will play in the BCS National Championship Game. Ole Miss has a five game winning streak. None of the Rebels have ever played in a bowl game, so they are hyped up for another big upset. They have averaged almost 31 points per game. QB Jevan Snead has piloted the team to nearly 400 yards per game offensively. The Rebels’ defense yields just 85 yards rushing and 17 ¾ points per game. DOWN: OLB Ashlee Parker will probably miss the game for academic reasons. FB Jason Cook is still experiencing pain in his knee. CB Jeremy McGee is questionable. In its losses this year the Rebels have beat themselves with penalties and turnovers. Pass rush specialist DE Greg Hardy will come against Red Raider protection that is 5th nationally against the sack, which is Hardy’s forte.
TEXAS TECH: UP: With a win the Red Raiders could finish the season in the Top Ten nationally for the first time in school history. PK Matt Williams has kicked 29 of 29 PATs after winning a halftime promo with a 30 yard field goal in an early season game. He was subsequently placed on the team as a walk-on. QB Graham Harrell has 15,429 yards passing and 130 TD passes heading into his last game. He was 4th in Heisman voting this year. FS Darcel McBath had 70 tackles and tied for 5th nationally with 6 interceptions. DOWN: Harrell had surgery on his non-throwing hand after the last game, repairing 9 fractures, but is expected to play. WR Michael Crabtree sprained his ankle in the last game, but is slated to play also. He is expected to declare for the NFL draft after the game. Seventeen Red Raider seniors will play their last game vs. Ole Miss. Tech has given up over 371 yards average to opposing offenses.
KEYS TO THE GAME: In a match-up of outstanding quarterbacks watch the pressure on passing plays. Ole Miss’ defense was able to control the potent Florida offense. The Red Raider offense is used to a free hand, averaging 44.6 points per game. Rebel safety Jamarca Sanford must continue his leadership in the secondary. Red Raider’s front four on defense must pressure Snead continually to avoid their safeties being overwhelmed, as they were against Oklahoma (65-21 loss) and Baylor (320 yards passing).
BY THE NUMBERS: The Rebels are 8-3 ATS and 5-6 O/U. The red Raiders are 5-4-1 ATS and 7-3 O/U. As a favorite this year Texas Tech is 8-0 SU and 4-3 ATS. As underdogs Ole Miss is 2-2 SU and 4-0 ATS. In bowl games since 1993 the Rebels are 6-1 SU and 5-1 ATS. Over the same time period the Red Raiders are 6-7 SU and 4-9 ATS. The Cotton Bowl should provide enough fireworks to satisfy any football lover.