Miami Gardens, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - A top-10 matchup takes place in the 2014 Orange Bowl, as No. 8 Mississippi State battles No. 10 Georgia Tech at Sun Life Stadium on New Years Eve. Mississippi State had spent a large portion of the season as the No. 1 team in the land, as the Bulldogs sprinted out to a 9-0 start. A tough 25-20 loss to eventual SEC champion Alabama was the teams first defeat, and it also dropped a 31-17 decision to bitter rival Ole Miss in the regular-season finale. As a result, MSU finished with a record of 10-2 overall, 6-2 in conference, finishing second in the SEC West. The Bulldogs own a 10-7 record in bowl games, and this is their third straight bowl appearance, but only their sixth since 2000. Last year, Mississippi State routed Rice in the Liberty Bowl, 44-7, giving the team wins in six of its last seven bowls. MSU has appeared in the Orange Bowl twice previously, splitting bouts back in 1937 and 1941. Georgia Tech went 10-3 this season, which included a 6-2 record against Atlantic Coast Conference foes. The teams league ledger earned it the Coastal Division title, and with it a date against Florida State in the ACC Championship Game. The Seminoles narrowly won, 37-35, ending the Yellow Jackets five-game win streak. Still, it was a highly successful campaign for ACC Coach of the Year Paul Johnson and his team, which is making its 43rd bowl appearance. The Yellow Jackets are 23-19 all-time in bowl games, and this is their seventh trip to the Orange Bowl. Their last appearance in this particular event was in 2010, when it fell to Iowa in a 24-14 final. Overall, Georgia Tech is appearing in its sixth straight postseason tussle, but will be seeking only its second win in the last 10 bowl games. Last season, the Yellow Jackets lost to Ole Miss in the Music City Bowl, 25-17. The Orange Bowl came into existence back in 1935, with Bucknell blanking Miami-Florida, 26-0, and the most recent installment saw Clemson outlast Ohio State in a 40-35 final. Balance was the key to Mississippi States success on offense this season, as the team averaged 239.8 ypg rushing and 266.3 ypg through the air. As a result, the Bulldogs put up 37.2 ppg to rank second in the SEC, and they got impressive individual efforts from guys like RB Josh Robinson (177 carries, 1,128 yards, 11 TDs) and QB Dak Prescott (195 carries, 939 yards, 13 TDs; .612 completion percentage, 2,996 yards, 24 TDs, 10 INTs). Prescott spread the wealth this season, as nine different players logged double-digit catches, led by DeRunnya Wilson (38 rec., 575 yards, seven TDs). The teams defensive effort was on point for the most part, particularly with regard to stopping the run (126.5 ypg) and keeping foes off the scoreboard (19.4 ppg). Swarming to the ball was MSUs strength, as no player had more than Bernadrick McKinneys 61 tackles. Included in that total were eight TFL and three sacks for McKinney, who slotted in with a group of players with multiple sacks, right behind team leader Preston Smith, who tallied 14.5 TFL and the fourth-most sacks of any player in the conference with nine. Overall, the Bulldogs ranked second in the SEC with 36 sacks, and they recorded 15 INTs, three each being credited to Will Redmond and Richie Brown. The task at hand is to get 11 wins and go out with a win in Miami, but at the same time it is my last bowl game and we want to have a little fun while were down here, said MSU offensive lineman Ben Beckwith. You always have the game in the back of your mind with everything you do and every time you do something you think about beating Georgia Tech, but well have fun with it. Beating Georgia Tech isnt going to be easy, as the Yellow Jackets hammer the ball at you from the outset, and they dont give up until youre battered the bruised. They finished the regular season as the No. 2 rushing team in the country, churning out 333.6 ypg and scoring 41 TDs, and they led the ACC in scoring at 37.0 ppg. Tech yielded only 10 sacks, while converting 57 percent of its third-down opportunities and controlling the clock for more than 34 minutes per outing. The team doesnt have a 1,000-yard rusher, although QB Justin Thomas came close in amassing 965 yards, and no player had double-digit TDs, again Zach Laskey tallying nine scores as part of his 788-yard effort. Synjyn Days also got in on the act with 753 yards and six TDs. Thomas added nearly 1,600 yards, 17 TDs and only five INTs when the Yellow Jackets decided to put the ball in the air. DeAndre Smelter led the receiving corps with 35 grabs for 715 yards and seven scores, while Darren Waller finished with five TD catches. Georgia Techs effort on defense wasnt quite up to par with that of the offense this season, but the unit still did not enough to help the team record 10 victories and win a division title. Opponents put up 25.1 ppg, doing so behind typical outputs of 168.8 ypg on the ground and 227.6 ypg via the pass. The teams total defensive allowance of 396.4 ypg ranked it 12th in the 14- team conference. P.J. Davis spearheaded the Yellow Jackets defensive effort with 108 total tackles, 75 of which were solo efforts, while Quayshawn Nealy logged 90 stops. Tech only posted 18 sacks and 57 TFL, but goaded the opposition into 27 turnovers, 17 of which were interceptions. D.J. White and Jamal Golden had four picks apiece. (This is) very exciting, said Thomas. We set our goals and reached them. We did big things this year. Now it is time to finish the job. 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China NFL Jerseys .While Rosberg is coming off a strong victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Hamilton is dwelling on a mistake that ended his streak of five consecutive wins and kept him from increasing his advantage.The big story this week was Jameis Winston moving into the contenders fray at the expense of Tajh Boyd, while Marcus Mariota may have done enough to take the Heisman Watch lead. Winston had perhaps the statement game of the season in Florida States crucial ACC win over Boyd and the rival Clemson Tigers. The redshirt freshman was outstanding in throwing for 44 yards and scoring a combined four touchdowns against the previously third-ranked Tigers. The win vaulted the Seminoles to a surprising second in the first installment of the BCS rankings this season; if Winston continues his strong play Florida State could be playing for their first National Title since 1999. On the other side of the field, Clemsons National Title hopes were all but dashed, along with Boyds Heisman hopes. Boyd played so poorly in the spotlight against FSU, completing less than half his passes for just 156 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, that he likely wont see his name in this column any more moving forward (not that hes looking). Meanwhile out west, Mariota continued his Heisman Trophy caliber season as the Oregon Ducks hammered Washington State. The redshirt sophomore improved his season numbers with nearly 400 combined yards and three combined scores against the Cougars. Mariota has been destroying lesser competition all year but wont be able to lock up the award until he proves he can do it against solid competition. The Ducks weak schedule hasnt been lost on the BCS either, as Oregon was a surprisse No.dddddddddddd 3 in the first rankings behind Alabama and Florida State. The next two weeks are vital to both Mariotas and Oregons chances however, as they host the 12th-ranked UCLA Bruins before traveling to the fifth-ranked Stanford Cardinal. Two more impressive showings and the Heisman Trophy may be won after just 10 weeks of the season. Week 7 was chock full of upsets and while none hurt a players Heisman chances more than Boyds, Louisville and Texas A&M suffered losses damaging Teddy Bridgewaters and Johnny Manziels chances at the most coveted trophy in collegiate sports. Bridgewater had a decent game last weekend, throwing for 341 yards and two touchdowns, and while it was the defence that let the Cardinals down more than anything, Bridgewater needed to be almost perfect all season to have a shot at the Heisman because of Louisvilles weak schedule. Bridgewater cant say hes perfect anymore. Manziel meanwhile is still very much in the race for his second straight Heisman but certainly saw a few players surpass him in the race as the Aggies fell to Auburn in a big SEC clash. Manziel combined for more than 500 yards and five scores before getting injured (hes expected back for Week 8) but the loss hurt his chances nonetheless (not as much as it hurt A&Ms National Title chances however.) Other fringe candidates to keep an eye on moving forward include tailbacks Lache Seastrunk from Baylor and Bishop Sankey from Washington, and QB Derek Carr from Fresno State. ' ' '