Mississippi Statevs
Central Florida
Dec. 29 / 4:30 p.m. ESPN
In 1988 Barry Sanders rushed for 2,628 yards (averaging 7.6 yards per carry and over 200 yards per game) and 37 touchdowns on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy in only 11 games. He then added 222 yards and 5 more touchdowns in Oklahoma State's Holiday Bowl victory over Wyoming. Many have said this was the greatest season in college football history. On Saturday, UCF junior running back Kevin Smith enters the game with 2,448 yards and 29 touchdowns. Now that seasons are twelve games in length and bowl game statistics are included in single season records (the 222 yards aren't included in Sanders' stats or he would have finished with an astounding 2,850 yards and 42 touchdowns!) Smith is only 180 yards away from breaking Sanders' record. Getting those yards won't come easy against a Mississippi State team that has lived by its defense this season and will be pumped being in a bowl game for the first time since 2000.
Some suggested early in the season this could be the final year of the Sylvester Croom experiment at Mississippi State. After getting blasted 45-0 by LSU to start the season on ESPN the Thursday before the season started didn't help quiet those rumors. All Croom and the Bulldogs did was go out and win 4 of their next 5 on their way to 7 win season that included wins over Auburn, Kentucky, and Alabama. Their Egg Bowl win over rival Ole Miss ended the career of Ed Orgeron and guaranteed the Bulldogs their first bowl game since the snow filled Independence Bowl against Texas A&M in 2000.
UCF is one of the biggest teams in CUSA right now and the conference could really use a win over a BCS opponent. Sure Mississippi State is one of the weakest bowl teams from the SEC, but all casual observers will see is a CUSA team beating an SEC team if George O'Leary and the Knights pull it off. UCF is sure to ride the horse that got them here, and that means a steady dose of Kevin Smith behind his stellar offensive line that have done a great job of making the holes for Smith to run through. Of course, getting to 180 yards isn't going to be easy. Mississippi State gave up 127 yards and 89 yards to West Virginia's Steve Slaton and Pat White respectively, 139 to Arian Foster from Tennessee, and Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden of Arkansas only got 88 yards on the ground.
Mississippi State will also look for their offensive from the running game, this time in the form of sophomore Anthony Dixon. He's a big, fast back that will be one of the top rushers UCF has seen. If MSU can key on Smith and limit his big plays that will be huge. If the Bulldogs get a lead they will be able to key on UCF QB Kyle Israel. He did a decent job against CUSA competition, but had troubles against better defenses. If MSU can get a couple of turnovers they can definitely pull out the win.
MSU hasn't been great on offense this season, but most teams aren't against SEC opponents. They will be so fired up going into this game I think they get a few early scores and are able to contain Smith just enough to get the win.
Line: UCF -3.0, Total 55.5
Some suggested early in the season this could be the final year of the Sylvester Croom experiment at Mississippi State. After getting blasted 45-0 by LSU to start the season on ESPN the Thursday before the season started didn't help quiet those rumors. All Croom and the Bulldogs did was go out and win 4 of their next 5 on their way to 7 win season that included wins over Auburn, Kentucky, and Alabama. Their Egg Bowl win over rival Ole Miss ended the career of Ed Orgeron and guaranteed the Bulldogs their first bowl game since the snow filled Independence Bowl against Texas A&M in 2000.
UCF is one of the biggest teams in CUSA right now and the conference could really use a win over a BCS opponent. Sure Mississippi State is one of the weakest bowl teams from the SEC, but all casual observers will see is a CUSA team beating an SEC team if George O'Leary and the Knights pull it off. UCF is sure to ride the horse that got them here, and that means a steady dose of Kevin Smith behind his stellar offensive line that have done a great job of making the holes for Smith to run through. Of course, getting to 180 yards isn't going to be easy. Mississippi State gave up 127 yards and 89 yards to West Virginia's Steve Slaton and Pat White respectively, 139 to Arian Foster from Tennessee, and Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden of Arkansas only got 88 yards on the ground.
Mississippi State will also look for their offensive from the running game, this time in the form of sophomore Anthony Dixon. He's a big, fast back that will be one of the top rushers UCF has seen. If MSU can key on Smith and limit his big plays that will be huge. If the Bulldogs get a lead they will be able to key on UCF QB Kyle Israel. He did a decent job against CUSA competition, but had troubles against better defenses. If MSU can get a couple of turnovers they can definitely pull out the win.
MSU hasn't been great on offense this season, but most teams aren't against SEC opponents. They will be so fired up going into this game I think they get a few early scores and are able to contain Smith just enough to get the win.
Line: UCF -3.0, Total 55.5
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