GAME NOTES: The seventh-ranked Missouri Tigers of the Big 12 and the 25th- ranked Arkansas Razorbacks of the SEC will meet on New Year's Day in the Cotton Bowl, a game played in Dallas, Texas. Missouri won the Big 12 North Division, and although the team's only two losses came against an outstanding Oklahoma squad, the Tigers were denied a bid to a BCS Bowl. Still, they are making their first appearance in a New Year's bowl game since 1970, an accomplishment that should not go overlooked. Missouri played in the Cotton Bowl on only one previous occasions, way back in 1946 in a game that resulted in a loss to Texas. The Tigers are making their third straight bowl appearance and fourth in the last five seasons under coach Gary Pinkel, who was recently give a hefty raise and a contract extension. The team's current success is significant because the program had gone to only two bowl games in a span of 19 years from 1984-2002. Overall, Mizzou has been to 24 bowl games, posting a 10-14 record. Since the final game of the regular season, Arkansas has made plenty of headlines off the field. First, Houston Nutt decided to leave his post as head coach and take over at Ole Miss, another SEC program. Then, on December 11th, Bobby Petrino resigned as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons to fill the void left by Nutt. Petrino led the Falcons to a 3-10 record before returning to the college game where he achieved tremendous success at Louisville. While it is being said that defensive coordinator Reggie Herring will still coach the Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl, that could certainly change after Petrino meets with the staff. Arkansas is set to play in its 11th Cotton Bowl and owns a 3-6-1 record in 10 previous appearances. The Razorbacks, who won five of their last six regular season games and are coming off a triple-overtime victory over LSU, are 11-21-3 all-time in bowl games. The all-time series between Arkansas and Missouri is tied at 2-2, and the Razorbacks won the most recent meeting in the 2003 Independence Bowl by a 27-14 final.

Missouri is averaging 40.0 ppg and 492.7 total ypg, and the offense has scored 59 touchdowns in 13 games. The Tigers are loaded with stars at the skill positions. Start with quarterback Chase Daniel, who was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and finished fourth in the balloting. Daniel has completed 69.7 percent of his passes this season for 4,170 yards with 33 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. Daniel has also run for 284 yards and four scores, and he shows great toughness as a runner. There are also two First Team All-Americans on offense in tight end Martin Rucker and all-purpose threat Jeremy Maclin. Rucker has 81 catches for 815 yards and eight touchdowns. As for Maclin, who has 77 receptions for 1,023 yards and nine touchdowns, he has also rushed for 349 yards and four scores while returning two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns. Tony Temple paces the UM ground attack with eight touchdowns and 758 yards, adding yet another weapon.

While Daniel and the offense have put up big numbers in almost every game this season, the Missouri defense has proven to be a bit inconsistent. Sure, the Tigers have been dominant at times, as they held Nebraska, Colorado and even explosive Texas Tech to 10 or fewer points. But the club has also been shaky on defense at times, especially in the two losses to Oklahoma. Opponents are averaging 24.5 ppg against Mizzou, which is yielding 380.3 total ypg. The Tigers have been solid against the run, limiting foes to 118.8 ypg and 3.6 ypc. As for the pass defense, opposing quarterbacks have thrown for 261.5 ypg and 18 touchdowns against 16 interceptions. With 28 takeaways and 27 sacks, Missouri has made its fair share of impact plays. An area that can certainly stand some improvement is the team's play on third downs, as foes are making good on 44 percent of their conversion attempts. Sean Weatherspoon leads the Tigers with 124 total tackles, while William Moore has made 104 stops to go along with seven interceptions.

Arkansas possesses the best duo of tailbacks in the nation in Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, as both players are capable of taking over a football game with their explosiveness. McFadden has finished second in the Heisman voting in each of the last two seasons, and while he is just a junior, the talented tailback is expected to enter April's NFL Draft. He was named the 2007 Walter Camp Player of the Year and also captured his second straight Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top running back. The First Team All- American ran for 1,725 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games while also throwing four scoring passes and catching a touchdown. As for Jones, a Second Team All- American, he ran for 1,117 yards and 11 scores on only 123 rushing attempts, a staggering average of 9.1 ypc. Jones also ran back a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns. The team's quarterback, Casey Dick, is simply asked to manage the game, but he has thrown 18 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. Fullback Peyton Hillis has five receiving touchdowns and a pair of rushing scores.

Arkansas is not a dominant defensive team, as it is allowing 25.6 ppg and 357.8 total ypg. But while the defense has struggled at times, plenty of strong performances have been turned in by the unit. The Razorbacks surrendered more than 30 points in each of the final four regular season games but still found a way to win three of those tilts. There was a stretch from September 29th through October 27th in which Arkansas allowed just 49 total points in five games, which is one more point than the team surrendered in the season finale against LSU. Still, it should be pointed out that the competition during that five-game stretch was rather weak. Considering the explosiveness of the Missouri offense, the Razorbacks figure to have their hands full. There is not a star player on the defensive roster for Arkansas, but many individuals have made positive contributions. Matt Hewitt leads the club with 118 total tackles, while both Ernest Mitchell and Malcolm Sheppard have posted 10.5 TFLs.

Fans both attending this game and watching it on television will be treated to a tremendous offensive display, as standouts such as McFadden and Daniel will put up huge numbers. Give a narrow edge to Missouri, as it is eager to get back on the field after being slighted by the BCS.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Missouri 41, Arkansas 34