Arkansasvs
Missouri
11:30 a.m. Dallas, Texas FOX
This was almost the match-up of Heisman runner-ups that never happend. From the night bowls were announced this was looked upon as THE game outside of the BCS bowls. Darren McFadden vs Chase Daniel. Then news broke that McFadden had gotten a new car in a shady manner and would be held out of the Cotton Bowl. Luckily for college football fans, and for Arkansas, McFadden has been cleared of any wrongdoing and will play in the New Year's Day bowl. Now we can get the offensive showcase we had hoped for since early December.
Arkansas comes into this game with a few different emotions. On teh high end, the Razorbacks won their final game of the season against rival LSU for The Boot. Knocking off the top ranked Tigers, and at the time what looked like ruining their chances for a naitonal title, have to have the Razorbacks fired up coming into the Cotton Bowl. On the other end of the spectrum of emotions, Arkansas has since fired head coach Houston Nutt, who is now the head man down at Ole Miss. Arkansas then went out and hired Bobby Petrino away from the NFL, but Petrino won't be coaching this game and probably never will get a chance to coach McFadden and fellow superstar RB Felix Jones. Petrino might get lucky to have Jones come back, but McFadden is sure to jump to the next level at the conclusion of his junior season.
Missouri also has had a rollercoaster of emotions. The Tigers lost their only game of the regular season to Oklahoma in a game they led in the 4th quarter. Missouri then went on to beat undefeated Kansas in the Border War to earn a spot in the Big 12 Title Game. Missouri was #1 in the nation and needed only a victory over Oklahoma in that Big 12 Title Game to earn a spot in the BCS and the National Championship Game. Instead, Missouri was not able to avenge that previous loss and got blown out by the Sooners in San Antonio. The dreams of the NCG were gone, and on December 2nd so were their dreams of the BCS as Kansas got the invite as the Big 12 at-large.
Arkansas will try and stop Missouri RB Tony Temple. When the Missouri ground game has struggled has been when Chase Daniel has struggled in the passing game. If Arkansas can slow down the running attack they can force Daniel into some ill-advised throws. That and let Darren McFadden do his magic. If McFadden and Jones run wild, Missouri might not be able to catch up.
For Missouri, let 2008's early Heisman favorite not named Tim Tebow control this game. Focus on getting the ground game going early, but let Daniel show why he was invited to New York. Also continue to get pressure on QB Casey Dick and try and make him beat you. McFadden and Jones will get theirs, but if Dick is forced to beat the Tigers then Missouri will have to like their chances. If Arkansas has their way, Casey Dick won't have to decide much. McFadden will go off in his last chance to impress NFL scouts and to make him the top pick in April's draft.
Line: Missouri -3.0, Total 67.0
Arkansas comes into this game with a few different emotions. On teh high end, the Razorbacks won their final game of the season against rival LSU for The Boot. Knocking off the top ranked Tigers, and at the time what looked like ruining their chances for a naitonal title, have to have the Razorbacks fired up coming into the Cotton Bowl. On the other end of the spectrum of emotions, Arkansas has since fired head coach Houston Nutt, who is now the head man down at Ole Miss. Arkansas then went out and hired Bobby Petrino away from the NFL, but Petrino won't be coaching this game and probably never will get a chance to coach McFadden and fellow superstar RB Felix Jones. Petrino might get lucky to have Jones come back, but McFadden is sure to jump to the next level at the conclusion of his junior season.
Missouri also has had a rollercoaster of emotions. The Tigers lost their only game of the regular season to Oklahoma in a game they led in the 4th quarter. Missouri then went on to beat undefeated Kansas in the Border War to earn a spot in the Big 12 Title Game. Missouri was #1 in the nation and needed only a victory over Oklahoma in that Big 12 Title Game to earn a spot in the BCS and the National Championship Game. Instead, Missouri was not able to avenge that previous loss and got blown out by the Sooners in San Antonio. The dreams of the NCG were gone, and on December 2nd so were their dreams of the BCS as Kansas got the invite as the Big 12 at-large.
Arkansas will try and stop Missouri RB Tony Temple. When the Missouri ground game has struggled has been when Chase Daniel has struggled in the passing game. If Arkansas can slow down the running attack they can force Daniel into some ill-advised throws. That and let Darren McFadden do his magic. If McFadden and Jones run wild, Missouri might not be able to catch up.
For Missouri, let 2008's early Heisman favorite not named Tim Tebow control this game. Focus on getting the ground game going early, but let Daniel show why he was invited to New York. Also continue to get pressure on QB Casey Dick and try and make him beat you. McFadden and Jones will get theirs, but if Dick is forced to beat the Tigers then Missouri will have to like their chances. If Arkansas has their way, Casey Dick won't have to decide much. McFadden will go off in his last chance to impress NFL scouts and to make him the top pick in April's draft.
Line: Missouri -3.0, Total 67.0
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