Well, here’s one we didn’t expect at all. The Detroit Free Press reports the Mississippi St. Bulldogs will get the Michigan Wolverines in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on Jan. 1.
Running since 1946, the Gator has never hosted the Bulldogs, though Michigan has played here twice. The Wolverines beat the Mississippi Rebels in 1991 and now aim to complete their set of Egg Bowl victims. That’s a very specific set.
Michigan is 7-5, while MSU is 8-4 — each team has four losses to teams that were ranked at the time. The Dawgs have one win over a team that was ranked (Florida Gators), while the Wolverines have none. Each team also had a two-game losing streak in November.
This matchup pairs one of the nation’s most dynamic players, Michigan QB Denard Robinson, against one of its best defenses. On the flip side, Michigan’s defense is so bad that even Missy State’s ground-and-pound offense should be able to put up some points.