Mississippi heads to the Cotton Bowl for the second consecutive season

Oklahoma State offensive lineman Russell Okung, left, and Mississippi running back Dexter McCluster.

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press, left; Bruce Newman/Oxford Eagle, via Associated Press Oklahoma State offensive lineman Russell Okung, left, and Mississippi running back Dexter McCluster.

Mississippi heads to the Cotton Bowl for the second consecutive season, hoping to follow up last January’s satisfying win over Texas Tech with another upset over a potentially explosive Big 12 opponent. To be fair, Oklahoma State does not have the same firepower as the 2008 Red Raiders — at least this season. However, whatever points the Cowboys have lost on offense has been made up for by a shockingly aggressive, opportunistic defense. Yes, you read that right: Oklahoma State can play some defense. O.S.U. will be tested by the Rebels, whose team speed rivals anything the Cowboys have seen this season.

Cotton Bowl

Saturday, 2 p.m., Fox

Oklahoma State
There is nothing wrong with finishing second in the Big 12 South, even in a year when Oklahoma struggles through an atypical seven-win season. There is no question that a season-ending loss to the Sooners was severely disappointing to the O.S.U. fan base, but a 6-2 record in conference play marked another improvement for a program rapidly rising into perennial top 25 status. As has been the case since Mike Gundy took over five years ago, the Cowboys continued to feature a strong offense. This year’s unit — which has slipped to 30.2 points per game from more than 40 in 2008 — may have struggled at times, but that everything to do with a hobbling injury to running back Kendall Hunter and the suspension of all-American receiver Dez Bryant more so than an over all ineffectiveness. However, losing two superior skill players like Hunter and Bryant allowed opposing defenses to key in on quarterback Zac Robinson. His numbers have taken a sizable dive from 2008, both in yards (from 3,064 to 1,966) and touchdowns (25 to 15). The happiest improvement seen from these Cowboys has come from the defense, which ranks 35th nationally in scoring (21.8 points per game); O.S.U. has not allowed so few in a season since 1994.

Mississippi
A loss to rival Mississippi State to end the season left the Rebels with a very sour taste in their mouths entering bowl season. Maybe Houston Nutt should put a digital clock in the Ole Miss locker room counting down the days until the 2010 Egg Bowl? I suppose it speaks volumes about how rapidly Nutt has reversed the losing mentality imbued by his predecessor, Ed Orgeron, that some are disappointed in an 8-4 regular season. Just to put his success into perspective, take note that Mississippi has not won at least eight games in back-to-back season since Billy Brewer did so from 1989-90; that’s six coaches and six losing seasons ago. My lone dissatisfaction with these Rebels are the game they lost: one to Alabama — eminently excusable — but three to South Carolina, Auburn and the Bulldogs, albeit all three on the road. Perhaps I could also find fault with the play of quarterback Jevan Snead, whose decision making has often been puzzling. With only one game left to play in the season, it may be time for the Ole Miss coaching staff to continue to ride running back Dexter McCluster (985 yards rushing on 6.7 yards per carry), who has received at least 20 touches in each of his last five games after being criminally underused over the first half of the year. Oklahoma State will also have its hands full with Mississippi’s front seven, which features game-changers like Jerrell Powe, Patrick Trahan and Kentrell Lockett.

Know Your Sponsor

AT&T, Inc.
Don’t let Verizon and its pesky maps fool you: AT&T remains a major power in all things telephone while providing useful Internet and television service. The company has roughly 150 millions customers, more than of which use AT&T wireless service. The Cotton Bowl is one AT&T’s three college football-related sponsorships, joining the annual Red River Rivalry and Texas Tech’s outdoor stadium. The company also lends its name to a number of PGA tournaments, such as the Champions Classic, the National and the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Pick ‘Em

Pete: Missi. Oklahoma State has been too flaky for me this year.
Thayer: Mississippi. At least Oklahoma State is finally playing in a stadium large enough to hold Mike Gundy’s hair.
Paul: Mississippi. The Rebels love playing at the Cotton Bowl.
Fred: Mississippi. This is likely the day’s best game and this is a tough pick. Taking Mississippi only because the Cowboys looked so bad against the Sooners in their season finale.
Connor: Mississippi. I think Oklahoma State has been overlooked all season, but I still think the Rebels will pull this one out.