MUSIC CITY BOWL | ARKANSAS (9-4) VS. MINNESOTA (7-5)
Monday, Dec. 30 (ESPN, 2 p.m. ET)

Two teams that went in basically opposite directions as the season progressed meet in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl.

Four weeks into the season, the Minnesota Golden Gophers found themselves unbeaten at 4-0, while the Arkansas Razorbacks were 2-2 and coming off a potentially demoralizing overtime loss on the road at Tennessee.

Arkansas QB Matt Jones is a gifted athlete who can make things happen with his legs, keeping defenders on their toes at all times.

Coach Glen Mason's Golden Gophers actually built a record of 7-1, benefiting from a less-than-challenging schedule and an offense that scored 31-plus points in six of their first eight games. Once the competition strengthened, however, Minnesota's record began to slide, with four straight losses to close out the season.

All of those setbacks, which were by an average of 22 points per game, came against bowl-caliber opposition.

Coach Houston Nutt's Razorbacks found themselves in a crossroads-type situation following the draining overtime loss at Tennessee. Normally, teams come up flat the next week, feeling a definite hangover effect from the previous week's setback. Well, that wasn't the case with Nutt's Razorbacks.

The next week, Arkansas came through with a one-for-the-books performance, dominating Auburn 38-17 on the road at Jordan-Hare Stadium. After their 2-2 start, the Razorbacks went 7-2 the rest of the way, with a well-coordinated defense and a consistent running game proving to be the keys to their success.

Razorbacks QB Matt Jones hasn't yet developed into an effective passer on a game-to-game basis, although he made some strides. However, he's a gifted athlete who can make things happen with his legs, keeping defenders on their toes at all times.

In the backfield, senior RB Fred Talley proved to be the team's MVP in a number of games, averaging more than six yards per carry on the season.

Minnesota obviously benefited from its soft early-to-midseason schedule. The Golden Gophers are led by capable QB Asad Abdul-Khaliq, have the necessary depth at running back, and benefit from one of the most skilled special-teams performers in the country, senior WR Jermaine Mays (who has proven to be quite adept at blocking punts).

The Arkansas defense allowed opposing running backs to average just about three yards per carry. But Minnesota struggled late in the season when it came to slowing down the opponent's running game.

When Abdul-Khaliq goes to the air, his timing will have to be precise, since the Razorbacks have a pair of big-play cover men in Lawrence Richardson and Ahmad Carroll.