MISSOURI (7-5) VS. TEXAS (6-6)
Site: NRG Stadium, Houston.
Kickoff: Wednesday, 9 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Line: Missouri by 2 ½.
All-time series: Texas leads 15-4.
Last meeting: Missouri 17, Texas 5 (2011).
MISSOURI
Coach: Barry Odom (2nd season, 11-13).
All-time postseason: 15-16.
Last postseason appearance: Beat Minnesota 33-17 in 2014 Citrus Bowl.
Draft spotlight: DE Marcell Frazier. The Oregon native had a monster senior season, leading the SEC in total tackles for loss (13.5) while ranking second in TFLs per game (1.12). Frazier flashes a quick burst and the ability to cover ground in a hurry. Exceptional arm length helps get into a blocker’s frame.
Other Tigers to watch: WR J’Mon Moore, OT Tyler Howell, LB Eric Biesel.
Tiger Tales: Mizzou takes a six-game winning streak into the bowl, where a victory would make the Tigers just the second Power 5 team ever to register eight wins after starting 1-5. … Odom is the first MU coach to reach a bowl game by Year 2 since Warren Powers in 1979. … The Tigers have won their past three bowl appearances, including the 2014 Cotton Bowl.
TEXAS
Coach: Tom Herman (1st season, 6-6; overall 3rd season, 28-10).
All-time postseason: 27-24-2.
Last postseason appearance: Lost to Arkansas 31-7 in 2014 Texas Bowl.
Draft spotlight: DT Poona Ford. Defying recruiters who thought him too small for the college game, the South Carolina native has thrived with work ethic and a move to the middle of the Longhorns’ 3-4 front. Ford was the Big 12’s top defensive lineman, as Texas held four of its last five foes under 100 yards rushing.
Other Longhorns to watch: *G Jake McMillon, LB Malik Jefferson, *P Michael Dickson.
Longhorn Hoofprints: All-American SS DeShon Elliott already has declared for the draft and will sit out the bowl game. … Texas shares the national lead in non-offensive TDs with seven this season, including three in the season opener vs. Maryland. Last year, no UT defender or special-teamer found the end zone. … UT’s 54th bowl appearance ranks No.2 all-time behind Alabama.
* underclass draft prospect