Cotton Bowl Game Preview

Explosive offense collides with stifling defense in the classic Cotton Bowl Game in Dallas, Texas.

Cotton Bowl Game Overview:
The Ole Miss Rebels and Texas Tech Red Raiders shocked the college football world with victories over the Florida Gators and Texas Longhorns, respectively. Even the most hopeful of the Ole Miss faithful could have seen new coach Houston Nutt carry the team to a fantastic 8-4 record in the elite SEC. The defense really stepped up to supplement the spread offense, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders went 11-1, one win away from the BCS National Championship Game. Fans with Cotton Bowl tickets in Dallas, Texas, will see a classic meeting of contrasting styles.

Ole Miss Rebels Offense:
Former Texas Longhorns QB Jevan Snead proved his mettle against the toughest teams in college football. With great mobility and a big arm, Jevan Snead has become a true leader in the huddle. LT Michael Oher will probably be the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and holds down the blindside better than any lineman in the NCAA. WR Shay Hodge commands a solid corps of receiving weapons and allows Jevan Snead a chance to dish the ball around through all types of coverage. RB Cordera Eason will impress fans with Cotton Bowl tickets thanks to great toughness.

Ole Miss Rebels Defense:
The Ole Miss Rebels defense is the key to their success and has ruled the line of scrimmage all year. Cotton Bowl tickets will feature DT Peria Jerry, who is the defensive captain and penetrates the line on both runs and passes. DE Greg Hardy will be the best pass rusher on the field, and his presence teamed with Peria Jerry puts fear into the hearts of QBs and offensive linemen alike. OLB Ashlee Palmer is a playmaker in the linebacking corps, and the stout line in front of him gives him shots on the QB and RBs. S Jamarca Sanford is a fast mover and heavy hitter in the secondary.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Offense:
The Texas Tech Red Raiders’ spread offense will cause fans with Cotton Bowl tickets to drop their jaws in disbelief as the yards and points rack up. QB Graham Harrell runs the system to perfection and is basically a mistake-free thrower. This is easy when he has the best WR in college football, Michael Crabtree, as his go-to guy. The chemistry between Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree borders on the supernatural and is nearly unstoppable. RB Baron Batch is a master of the draw and helps slow the pass rush. LT Phil Loadholt leads an impressive O-line.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Defense:
The Tampa-2 style 4-3 system has done wonders for the Texas Tech Red Raiders defense and forces a slew of turnovers. Fans with Cotton Bowl tickets will see DEs Brandon Williams and Daniel Howard in action, both of whom are pure speed rushers that focus solely on getting after the QB. The linebacking corps is small but uses speed and hard hits to make up for their bulk. Like all schemes under the Tampa-2 umbrella, the Texas Tech Red Raiders defense relies on zones and quickness to stop the big play. Safeties Darcel McBath and Daniel Charbonnet are fast and lay the wood like no safety duo in the NCAA.

Ole Miss Rebels Strategy:
Because of the deadly offense of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, fans with Cotton Bowl tickets know that controlling the ball becomes the biggest key to the Cotton Bowl. The Texas Tech Red Raiders are quick but weak at the point of attack. With LT Michael Oher leading the way on the left side and FB Jason Cook clearing a path at the second level, RB Cordera Eason should have plenty of running room. QB Jevan Snead does not turn the ball over often, and he has to keep this careful strategy when facing the complex zones and interception-hungry DBs of the Texas Tech Red Raiders when he has to move the chains.

Fans with Cotton Bowl tickets know that the only way any team beats the Texas Tech Red Raiders is when they rush QB Graham Harrell consistently and put hits on him. The Ole Miss Rebels have a great chance to do this with DT Peria Jerry and DE Greg Hardy. The Ole Miss Rebels cannot abandon their assignments and go after the passer right away because the shotgun draw will burn them if they do. WR Michael Crabtree must not get free release from the line, or he will run wild in the open field. S Jamarca Sandford will be busy trying to corral all the WRs, but he needs to deck Michael Crabtree if he comes over the middle.

Texas Tech Red Raiders Strategy:
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have not seen a pass rush like the Ole Miss Rebels before and controlling it will determine the outcome of the game. LT Phil Loadholt and LG Louis Vasquez will have to work together to stop DE Greg Hardy from collapsing the pocket. DT Peria Jerry is another threat to sack the QB from his three-technique spot. To slow down the pass rush, the draw and sweep with RB Baron Batch early will be key. After two quarters of solid running, QB Graham Harrell should have time to dissect the Ole Miss Rebels secondary thanks to play action.

Texas Red Raiders fans with Cotton Bowl tickets will see their team come out victorious if the defense can crush the run early. The Ole Miss Rebels know that they can exploit the small size of the defense up front and control the clock. To counter this, the Texas Tech Red Raiders will bring their talented duo of safeties into the box. S Darcel McBath is especially dangerous in close quarters. Stopping the run will make Jevan Snead throw into the zone coverage of the Texas Red Raiders, and that plays right into the defense’s strength. Jevan Snead cannot be allowed to escape the pocket.

Cotton Bowl Game Outlook:
Fans with Cotton Bowl tickets will see two teams that are pretty close to polar opposites. The Ole Miss Rebels offense pounds the football and crushes the QB on defense. The Texas Tech Red Raiders like to toss the ball around the yard to four or more WRs, and their defense lives to force mistakes. These two styles have clashed for decades in football from high school to the NFL, and it always makes for interesting viewing and can even encourage a debate about the varying styles among football fans.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are playing with a major chip on their shoulder. At 11-1, many feel that they should have had a shot at the BCS National Championship Game. Since that is now out of reach, the offensive war machine of the Texas Tech Red Raiders will take its frustrations out on the Ole Miss Rebels. Fans with Cotton Bowl tickets will see a close contest that will be a brawl all game long. But as the last game with Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree together, the Cotton Bowl will fall the way of the Texas Tech Red Raiders.