Primetime College Football: Progressive Gator Bowl
This game goes down on the ESPN2 network and it features the University of Michigan Wolverines taking on the Mississippi State University Bulldogs in the 48th annual Progressive Gator Bowl at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Mississippi State, 8-4, 4-4 SEC, Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen team halted a two game skid by winning the season finale against in-state rival University of Mississippi. The Bulldogs are a solid offensive football team, as the club is averaging 27 ppg and 394.3 total ypg. The Bulldogs have scored 39 offensive touchdowns, 24 of which have been on the ground.
Vick Ballard has made the most of his attempts gaining 892 yards to go along with 16 rushing touchdowns. MSU’s quarterback Chris Relf has run for 683 yards and 4 touchdowns. As a passer, Relf has only connected on 56.3 percent throws for 1,508 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Chad Bumphis is the top receiver on the roster, as he has 44 catches for 634 yards and 5 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs have 26 takeaways and 26 sacks on the season.
Michigan, 7-5, 3-5 Big Ten, in now in its third season with head coach Rich Rodriguez who saw a major improvement in 2010. Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, the 2010 Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year is a true dual threat. Robinson has rushed for 1,643 yards and 14 touchdowns at 6.7 yards per carry, and he has thrown for 2,316 yards and 16 scores. In large part because of their versatile signal-caller, the Wolverines are racking up 34.3 ppg and 500.9 total ypg.
Robinson’s top target is Roy Roundtree, who has posted 882 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns on 63 receptions. As for the ground attack, Robinson does get some help from the likes of Vincent Smith and Michael Shaw. Smith has run for 588 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Shaw has 9 to his credit.
This showdown marks the first ever meeting between Mississippi State and Michigan
PICK: University of Michigan Wolverines



