Big 12 South Bowl Matchups

Published Dec. 15, 2010 1:12 a.m. ET

foxsports

By Eddie Middlebrook
FoxSportsSouthwest.com

There are some interesting matchups here, but the Cotton Bowl takes the cake. How will the Aggies offense matchup against the Tigers defense? Will Baylor win a bowl game for the first time since the Bush administration (first George Bush)? Can Oklahoma avoid another BCS upset?

Illinois (6-6) vs. Baylor (7-5) Texas Bowl Dec. 29, 5 p.m.

The Fighting Illini are led by freshman quarterback Nick Scheelhaase (21 total TDs, 815 rushing yards) and junior running back Mikel Leshoure (1,513 yards, 14 touchdowns). Season highs were wins over Penn State and Northwestern at Wrigley Field, but they also lost to Minnesota and Fresno State. They excel at the running game (13th in the country), but are dreadful in the passing game.

The Baylor Bears are in their first bowl game since 1994 and Reliant Stadium should have plenty of Baylor fans there in support of their team. The Bears live and die with sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin III