No. 8 Texas Tech (11-1)
                   vs.
No. 20 Mississippi (8-4)

Date: Jan. 2

Time: 2 p.m. ET

Location: Dallas

Television: FOX

Payout: $3 million

Last result: Missouri 38, Arkansas 7

2008 results: Mississippi; Texas Tech

2008 statistics: Mississippi; Texas Tech

Tickets: Buy them here

Coaches: Houston Nutt (Mississippi); Mike Leach (Texas Tech)

Bowl history/last appearance: Mississippi 19-12 (won 31-28 over Oklahoma State in '04 Cotton; Texas Tech 10-20-1 (won 31-28 over Virginia in '08 Gator);

Series: Tied 2-2 (Mississippi 20-17 in '86 Independence, 35-18 in '88 Independence; Texas Tech 42-28 in '02, 49-45 in '03)

What Mississippi must do to win: Although easier said than done, the Rebels need to get some pressure on Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell. The Red Raiders have allowed just 11 all season, while attempting a national-high 604 passes.  But Ole Miss doesn’t necessarily need to bring Harrell down for a loss of yards.  Getting him off his usual rhythm would be enough.

Houston Nutt’s pass rush is certainly capable, ranking first in the SEC and fifth in the nation with 37 sacks. Since Harrell and Co. will make their connections, the key is to limit their yards after catch. Recapturing the magic that saw the Rebels limit Florida to only one third-down conversion in 11 attempts on Sept. 27, would also go a long way. 

What Texas Tech must do to win: The Red Raiders need to maintain their focus and keep doing what they do. Ole Miss hasn’t faced an offense that bares any resemblance to Texas Tech’s all season. Florida’s mix of athleticism and big-play threats comes closest. Although the Gators lost that contest 31-30, Tim Tebow did complete 24-of-38 for 319 yards.

On the flipside, the Red Raider defense needs to get QB Jevan Snead off his game. In his last two outings — victories over LSU and Mississippi State — Snead is a combined 30-of-44 for 487 yards and six touchdowns (with only one interception).

Who the NFL is watching: Ole Miss OT Michael Oher is a rock solid Top 10 prospect. It’ll be interesting to see how junior DE Greg Hardy does against Texas Tech’s front wall; Since there’s no such thing as a “system wideout,” NFL teams are dying to get their hands on Michael Crabtree, the Red Raiders’ super soph.

Opening point spread: Texas Tech by 7 (71)

Prediction: Texas Tech 34, Mississippi 24

MVP: Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell

Live vote: Who will win?

BOWL BREAKDOWNS Click on each game for a recap of the action                                             BCS GAMES    1/8: Championship — No. 1 Florida 24, No. 2 Oklahoma 14    1/5: Fiesta — No. 3 Texas 24, No. 10 Ohio State 21    1/2: Sugar — No. 7 Utah 31, No. 4 Alabama 17    1/1: Orange — No. 21 Virginia Tech 20, No. 12 Cincinnati 7    1/1: Rose — No. 5 USC 38, No. 6 Penn State 24                                           OTHER BOWLS    1/6: GMAC — Tulsa 45, No. 23 Ball State 13    1/3: International — Connecticut 38, Buffalo 20    1/2: Liberty — Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19    1/2: Cotton — No. 20 Mississippi 47, No. 8 Texas Tech 34    1/1: Capital One — No. 16 Georgia 24, No. 19 Michigan State 12    1/1: Gator — Nebraska 26, Clemson 21    1/1: Outback — Iowa 31, South Carolina 10 12/31: Chick-fil-A — LSU 38, No. 14 Georgia Tech 3 12/31: Insight — Kansas 42, Minnesota 21 12/31: Music City — Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14 12/31: Sun — No. 24 Oregon State 3, No. 18 Pittsburgh 0 12/31: Armed Forces — Houston 34, Air Force 28 12/30: Holiday — No. 15 Oregon 42, No. 13 Oklahoma State 31 12/30: Texas — Rice 38, Western Michigan 14 12/30: Humanitarian — Maryland 42, Nevada 35 12/29: Alamo — No. 25 Missouri 30, No. 22 Northwestern 23, OT 12/29: PapaJohns.com — Rutgers 29, North Carolina State 23 12/28: Independence — Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10 12/27: Emerald — California 24, Miami 17 12/27: Champs Sports — Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13 12/27: Meineke Car Care — West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30 12/26: Motor City — Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21 12/24: Hawaii — Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21 12/23: Poinsettia — No. 11 TCU 17, No. 9 Boise State 16 12/21: New Orleans — Southern Miss 30, Troy 27, OT 12/20: Las Vegas — Arizona 31, No. 17 BYU 21 12/20: St. Petersburg — South Florida 41, Memphis 14 12/20: New Mexico — Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35 12/20: EagleBank — Wake Forest 29, Navy 19

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