The Ole Miss Rebels (8-4) return to the AT&T Cotton Bowl game today for the second straight year and will play the Oklahoma State Cowboys (9-3) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cotton Bowl matches up teams from the SEC and Big 12 Conference. This FOX televised game kicks off at 2 p.m. ET.
Entering the 2009 college football season, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State were annointed as teams with potential to vie for the 2010 BCS championship. In Week 1, the AP had the Rebels and Cowboys ranked 8th and 9th respectively in its poll. Fast forward to today and only Oklahoma State is still ranked at 17th. Ole Miss fell from the polls after suffering four losses including a loss to rival Mississippi State to end its regular season.
College Bowl oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com have installed Ole Miss as slight 3-chalk ATS and -155 moneyline favorites versus Oklahoma State with a 50 1/2 total. OSU backers are getting +135 odds as underdogs on the Sportsbook moneyline.
All-purpose back/receiver Dexter McCluster has become the face of the Ole Miss offense this year. McCluster is bidding to become first player in SEC history with 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in same season. He needs 15 more rushing yards and 25 more receiving yards in the bowl game. McCluster is averaging 219.6 all-purpose yards and 164.2 rushing yards with eight TDs responsible for (four rushing, two receiving, one passing) over the last five SEC games. He has posted at least 145 all-purpose yards in each outing. With his 96 receiving yards at Mississippi State, Shay Hodge established the Ole Miss single-season record for receiving yards and became the first 1,000-yard receiver in school history with 1,023. Hodge is currently the SEC leader in receiving yards (85.2 ypg) and receptions (5.3 rpg).
The Cowboys boast the Big 12’s top rushing attack at 191.75 ypg. Senior RB Keith Toston has totaled 1,177 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. Led by All-American LT Russell Okung, the State offensive line has surrendered just 10 sacks, which tops the conference and is sixth in the NCAA. Okung leads all Oklahoma State players with 46 consecutive starts entering the Cowboys' Cotton Bowl date with Ole Miss and through 12 games this season, he has 127 knockdown blocks and 58 domination blocks. Also earning Big 12 honors were first team fullback Bryant Ward and QB Zac Robinson, who received honorable mention.
College Bowl Picks: Both Ole Miss and Oklahoma State showed periods of inconsistency. When they were good they were very good – however, when bad they were terrible. If each team brings its A-Game to the Cotton Bowl the public will be treated to a very good game. We like Ole Miss to show up and cover as a 3-chalk favorite. They possess more balance of offense and defense that do the Pokes.
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