David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

If you like college football games with teams that spread the ball around all over the place, the Gator Bowl is for you as the 8-4 Mississippi State Bulldogs face the 9-3 Northwestern Wildcats at Noon Eastern in Jacksonville. This should be the closest game on New Year’s Day without a doubt. I think one team has an advantage though.

Northwestern could arguably be undefeated for the season if not for three fourth-quarter meltdowns which leaves them in this game. Mississippi State is looking to get back on the winning track after losing their season finale. The Wildcats love to move the ball around with Kain Colter at quarterback along with being out as a wide receiver. Colter is the definite X-factor in this game. If Northwestern can get Colter going in both parts of his game, the Wildcats should win this game easily. If the Bulldogs though slow Colter down, it will be a long day for Northwestern and should lead to another bowl defeat for the Wildcats.

Northwestern hasn’t won a bowl game since 1949 and the team has grown tired of hearing about that while Mississippi State needed to continue controlling clock and holding on to the ball like they have all season. This is a game that will come down to the final minute or two and a late field goal to win. I’m going to take Northwestern to get that late kick for a 24-21 victory. There will be a sigh of relief for the Wildcats and their fans after many close calls. It is a game that will be hard to turn away from.

Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports or like his Facebook page.