A win over Oklahoma in the regular season finale could have assured the Oklahoma State Cowboys a spot in the College Football Playoff. But a loss didn’t seem too bad considering they got a New Year’s Six game, meeting the Ole Miss Rebels in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The Rebels won’t be pushovers, though. They enter this bowl game on the heels of a 9-3 season. They’ll also be fired up to make up for last year’s disappointing bowl appearance, losing 42-3 to the TCU Horned Frogs in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Read on for everything you need to know heading into this game. For more college football bowl action, check out our complete previews for the Outback Bowl’s Northwestern vs. Tennessee and the Alamo Bowl’s TCU vs. Oregon.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Ole Miss Rebels Preview
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
When: Friday, January 1, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Oklahoma State Cowboys (+7) vs. Ole Miss Rebels (-7); total 67.5 – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-2)
The Oklahoma State Cowboys have been stellar in the postseason, winning four of their last five bowl games under head coach Mike Gundy. They’re gunning for a big win over Ole Miss this year, utilizing the nation’s seventh-best aerial onslaught (357.3 yards per game).
[sc:NCAA240banner ]The Cowboys love throwing the football with quarterbacks Mason Rudolph or J.W. Walsh. Rudolph is Oklahoma State’s primary signal-caller, leading the team with 3,591 yards with 21 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Walsh has been the team’s red zone quarterback with 663 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception.
The quarterback duo has plenty of talent in the receiving corps to utilize. James Washington leads the team with 1,077 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns, including a long 75 yarder. David Glidden is a step behind with 807 yards and three scores, while Marcell Ateman has 696 yards and five touchdowns.
While the Rebels have a solid left tackle, Laremy Tunsil, Oklahoma State has pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah lining up across him. It’s going to be a matchup NFL scouts will be drooling over this bowl season. Ogbah has played an All-American-caliber season with 61 tackles, 13 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss. He’s heading into this game hot after racking up four sacks in the last three games of the regular season.
The total has gone over in the Cowboys’ last six games.
Betting on the Ole Miss Rebels (9-3)
It’s going to be head coach Hugh Freeze’s first chance for a 10-win season when the Ole Miss Rebels head to the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma State. The Rebels may also bid farewell to some of their stars in pro prospects wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, tight end Evan Engram and safety Tony Conner. Putting on an impressive performance is of utmost priority.
Of Ole Miss’ pro-ready prospects, Nkemdiche leads the way as the star of the Rebels defense. He’s been the anchor of a solid rushing defense, which has allowed just 3.4 yards per carry and seven touchdowns this season. But the Cowboys won’t run the ball too much. They’re more of a passing team after all. The Rebels have just the man to engage Oklahoma State in a shootout with quarterback Chad Kelly.
Kelly led the SEC with 3,740 yards passing, throwing for 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The picks have gone recently as Kelly threw for seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the last three games of the regular season. He’ll have wide receiver Treadwell catching most of his passes. Treadwell led the team with 1,082 yards and eight touchdowns in the regular season.
It’s not all Treadwell, though. Quincy Adeboyejo, Cody Core and Damore’ea Stringfellow were also solid, combining for 1,637 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Rebels have all the tools they need to exploit Oklahoma State’s vulnerable passing defense, ranking 92nd in the FBS with 244.3 yards allowed per game.
The Rebels are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five games.
Writer’s Prediction
Ole Miss and Oklahoma State engage in a shootout to push to total to go over 67.5. The Cowboys (+7) walk away the winners after Mason Rudolph throws a long go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. Create a betting account now and dive deep into plenty of exciting bowl action.
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