The 2023 Cotton Bowl features the 10-2 Missouri Tigers against the 11-1 Ohio State Buckeyes. Here is the 2023 Cotton Bowl Preview.
Missouri Tigers (10-2)
Missouri won 10 games to make their fourth straight bowl game. They defeated four bowl-eligible teams this season: Kansas State, Memphis, Kentucky and Tennessee. Both of their losses were to bowl-eligible teams.
The Tigers score 34.1 points per game, ranking 25th in the country. They pass for 273.5 yards (ranked 30th) and rush for 169.4 yards per game (ranked 53rd).
Brady Cook has had a fantastic year for the Tigers at quarterback. He has passed for 3,189 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions on 66.4 percent completion. Four players have at least 300 receiving yards on the season. Missouri has a star in Luther Burden, who has 83 catches for 1,197 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Former Oklahoma receiver Theo Wease has also had a good season with 45 catches for 639 yards and six touchdowns.
Cody Schrader started his career at the D-II level, but he has proved himself at the SEC level this season. He has 1,489 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Nathaniel Peat provides depth with 317 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Tigers allow 22.3 points per game, ranking them 42nd in the country. They give up 125 rushing yards (ranked 31st) and 222.2 passing yards per game (ranked 62nd). Joseph Charleston leads the team with 59 total tackles. Darius Robinson has a team-high 7.5 sacks. Kris Abrams-Draine has been a standout in the secondary with 11 passes defended and four interceptions.
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1)
Ohio State won 11 games to make their 11th-straight bowl game. They defeated seven teams who are playing in bowl games this season: Western Kentucky, Notre Dame, Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Minnesota. Their lone loss was to Michigan, who is in the CFP.
The Buckeyes score 32.8 points per game, ranking 33rd in the FBS. They pass for 282.7 yards (ranked 22nd) and rush for 142.3 yards per game (ranked 86th).
Kyle McCord was the starting quarterback this season, but he is in the transfer portal. Devin Brown will get the start in this game after passing for 197 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 54.5 percent completion this season. Six players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Marvin Harrison Jr. won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver after catching 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. He hasn’t stated an intention to sit out this game at the time of writing, but if he does, Emeka Egbuka and Cade Stover will provide good targets after having 452 and 576 receiving yards respectively.
TreVeyon Henderson led the team in rushing and has not made a declaration on whether he will play or not yet. He had 854 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Second leading rusher Chip Trayanum is in the transfer portal, while Miyan Williams, the third leading rusher, has declared for the NFL Draft and won’t play. Dallan Hayden could step up after rushing for 110 yards this season.
On defense, the Buckeys allow just 11 points per game, ranking second in the country. They give up 112.5 rushing yards (ranked 22nd) and 147.4 passing yards per game (ranked first). Tommy Eichenberg has led the team in tackles this season with 80. JT Tuimoloau has the team-high with four sacks. Josh Proctor and Denzel Burke have impressed in the secondary with eight passes defended and an interception each this season.
Prediction
Ohio State will have to find a new quarterback for this game, but most of their players still haven’t opted out. For the time being, they should be able to limit Missouri with their stout defense and the offense has enough playmakers to move the ball.
Ohio State Buckeyes 35 Missouri Tigers 27
Make sure to check out our college football page for more content like 2023 Cotton Bowl Preview!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!
- SEO Powered Content & PR Distribution. Get Amplified Today.
- PlatoData.Network Vertical Generative Ai. Empower Yourself. Access Here.
- PlatoAiStream. Web3 Intelligence. Knowledge Amplified. Access Here.
- PlatoESG. Carbon, CleanTech, Energy, Environment, Solar, Waste Management. Access Here.
- PlatoHealth. Biotech and Clinical Trials Intelligence. Access Here.
- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/college-football/2023-cotton-bowl-preview-2/2023/12/15/
