2015 Bowl Games: Picking all 41 college bowls and championship game against the spread

Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) celebrates with the Egg Bowl trophy after the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Allstate Sugar Bowl
Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss
New Orleans | Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Jan. 1, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Ole Miss gets to represent the SEC in the Sugar Bowl for the first time since 1970, and while this season may not have gone as planned for the Rebels, they have to look at being here against a team like Oklahoma State as a win.

The Cowboys were another Big 12 team who was in the hunt right down to the wire, and their two end of season losses to Baylor and Oklahoma did them in. They get the joy of facing the only team to beat Alabama this season.

Oklahoma State will want to air it out, and they have the guns in their holsters to do it, coming in throwing for 357 yards per game, seventh nationally. Ole Miss isn’t far behind at number ten in passing offense, tossing it around for 334 yards per game.

So which team can defend the pass best? Neither were very good this season, with the Cowboys giving up 244 pass yards per game, and the Rebels giving up 255. Rushing and rushing defense don’t show a lot of distance between these two teams either (although if Ole Miss is without Robert Nkemdiche, that could prove to be a difference. Right now he looks to be playing.)

Who makes the least number of mistakes and who protects their quarterback best will tell the tale here.

Line: Ole Miss, -7

Ole Miss had 12 less sacks than Oklahoma State this season, but the Cowboys allowed more sacks per game. Turnover margin in favor of Okie State. Cowboys may not win the game, but they’ll beat the spread.

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