| AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic: Auburn Tigers vs. Nebraska Huskers |
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| Written by Benton Vale | |||||||
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Sunday, 31 December 2006
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 The No.10 Auburn Tigers of the SEC and No. 22 Nebraska Huskers of the Big 12 meet in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic football game in Dallas, Texas from the Cotton Bowl Stadium with kickoff at 11:30 a.m. (EST)The Huskers are coming off a tough loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 2. The setback dropped Nebraska to 9-4 overall, after finishing Big 12 Conference play as the North Division champions with a 6-2 league record. Despite the loss, Nebraska remained in the final regular-season national rankings, checking in at No. 22 in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls. The Huskers have the opportunity to record the 25th 10-win season in school history with a victory in the Cotton Bowl. The Huskers will be at full strength offensively, in both the backfield and on the line. Coach Callahan said that all four I-backs, juniors Brandon Jackson and Kenny Wilson and sophomores Cody Glenn and Marlon Lucky, senior left guard Greg Austin and sophomore right tackle Matt Slauson will be available for Monday’s game. This bodes well for the Nebraska offense, ranked ninth nationally in total offense at 428.8 yards per game and 13th nationally in scoring offense at 31.9 points per game. Bet on College Football at BetRoyal and receive 50% in sign-up bonuses! Nebraska is also at full strength on the defensive side with no players injured heading into the game another positive for the Huskers facing a potent Auburn attack that averages 25.4 points per game and 332.8 yards per game. Offensively, Auburn has relied on a solid running attack that ranks 43rd nationally and fourth in the SEC, averaging 155 yards per game. The Tigers are 68th nationally in total offense at 332.8 yards per game and rank 87th in passing offense. The strength of the Auburn offense has been its success in the Red Zone. The Tigers have converted 36-of-42 trips inside the 20 into scores, including 23 touchdowns and 13 field goals. Running back Kenny Irons paces the Auburn running game, ranking 37th nationally and third in the SEC at 82.1 rushing yards per game. A 5-11, 203-pound senior, Irons has three 100-yard rushing games this season and has totaled better than 2,100 career rushing yards. Junior quarterback Brandon Cox is in his second season as the Auburn starter and has led his team to an 18-5 record. Cox ranks 30th nationally in passing efficiency and has four 200-yard passing games this season. Cox has completed 61 percent of his passes, with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Auburn is favored over Nebraska by -2.0 points across the board in most offshore sports books and Las Vegas. The total in Las Vegas is sitting at 46 but is a point less offshore at 45.                        |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 01 January 2007 ) | |||||||