I know it's not the bowl the Red Raiders wanted, but I think they can gain a lot from their Cotton Bowl experience.

Texas Tech needed to beat Oklahoma on the road and win the Big 12 Championship to make it to the National Championship. Neither was accomplished as the Sooners beat Tech 62-21, knocking the Red Raiders out of the BCS bowl picture.

But not all is lost. The Red Raiders have the next best thing, in my opinion, by playing in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. If another bowl were to be annexed into the BCS, the Cotton Bowl would be first in line.

The fact that the game is played in Dallas also helps the program. Recruits from all over the Lone Star State will be attending this game in hopes of someday achieving what this Tech team did. The Red Raiders have a great opportunity to recruit some talented players and invite them to watch this game. They have a good chance at getting a leg up on those teams wanting to try to get some of those Texas recruits.

Of course, money also plays a large factor. With a win, a good amount of money will be given to the university. This plays well for the athletics programs, which in turn bodes well for the football team.

So, things look good for Tech. I wouldn't be surprised to see them recruit well this time around. They have done well in the past, and I look for them to continue on that path.

Most of all, the road to a BCS bowl is rocky, but this program can benefit from their bowl this year in hopes of making a BCS bowl in years to come.