Music City Bowl 2011: Mississippi State Defense Will Smother Wake Forest

Mississippi State had a disappointing regular season, but they'll make up for it by beating Wake Forest in a low-scoring Music City Bowl.

Both teams stumbled into bowl eligibility, finishing with identical 6-6 records. Both also struggle to put up points, leading me to believe that this game will be the opposite of last night's thrilling Alamo Bowl.

Mississippi State rode high expectations into this season after finishing 9-4 last season, but they couldn't repeat their success.

However, there isn't much shame in losing to the level of competition they've faced. Four of the teams they lost to (LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina) are currently ranked in the top 10 of the USA Today coaches poll.

Their other two losses—at Auburn and at Georgia—were a little painful, but those teams do have a combined record of 17-8.

The experience from playing these elite teams will help Mississippi State against Wake Forest. While the Bulldogs were busy battling the best teams in the country, the Demon Deacons were barely surviving against Duke and getting blown out by North Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price has been solid this season, but look for him to struggle with Fletcher Cox and the tough Bulldog defense breathing down his neck.

Mississippi State is 18th in the nation in opponents' points per game, thanks in large part to Cox's disruptive play. The 6'4", 295-pound defensive tackle will likely be a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

The Bulldogs will have a tall task in bottling up Demon Deacon receiver Chris Givens, who led the ACC with 1,276 receiving yards.

If they can contain him, Mississippi State will cruise to victory.