Wake Forest @ Mississippi State preview

MUSIC CITY BOWL STORYLINES:

1. Mississippi State has won its past four bowl appearances, including a 52-14 thrashing of Michigan in last season’s Gator Bowl. But the Bulldogs had to beat arch-rival Mississippi in the regular-season finale just to become bowl eligible after struggling in the rugged SEC West.

2. Whether Chris Relf or Tyler Russell start at quarterback for Mississippi State remains a question. Both are splitting snaps in practice. Relf started the season on top of the depth chart and appeared in 10 games. Russell took over starting duties at midseason and played in nine games.

3. Wake Forest will look to trump a Bulldogs’ defense allowing only 19.9 points per game with the play of quarterback Tanner Price, a sophomore who completed 60.9 percent of his passes and threw for 20 touchdowns. Price’s top target, Chris Givens, caught nine touchdowns and finished with 1,276 receiving yards.

4. The Demon Deacons have not appeared in a bowl game since beating Navy 29-19 in the 2008 EagleBank Bowl.

TV: ESPN, ESPN3.com. LINE: Mississippi State -6.5

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (6-6, 2-6 SEC West): Expectations were high in Starkville following a nine-win season in 2010. But the Bulldogs lost to Auburn and LSU in a five-day span in mid-September and never fully recovered. Whoever plays quarterback will look to running back Vick Ballard to lead the way. Ballard rushed for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns this season, including 144 yards against Ole Miss. The Bulldogs are in a bowl game for the second consecutive season for the first time since 1999-2000, and have won their past four bowl appearances.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (6-6, 5-3 ACC): A 35-30 upset victory over then-No. 23 Florida State on Oct. 8 pushed the Demon Deacons to 4-1 on the season. But Wake would drop five of its final seven, including an ugly 41-7 loss at home to Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale. Price will have to spark the offense as Wake Forest ranks 96th in the nation in rushing offense. Leading rusher Brandon Pendergrass posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games against Clemson (134 yards) and Maryland (125 yards) late in the season.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 24, Wake Forest 20 - The Bulldogs find a way to keep Price in check just enough to pull out a close victory.