Who ya got?  Star Tribune sports personalities predict today's Citrus Bowl

Sid Hartman

The best ray of hope for the Gophers, 4½-point underdogs, is that Alabama scored 42 points against the Tigers on Dec. 6 in the Southeastern Conference championship game, and Florida matched that total on Oct. 18. Mitch Leidner will have a good day throwing the ball to some healthy receivers. Gophers 28, Missouri 23

Patrick Reusse

Arkansas lost to Georgia 30-3 in the 2002 SEC title game. The Razorbacks' next stop was the Music City Bowl, where they failed to show up and were thumped by Glen Mason's run-heavy Gophers. Missouri lost 42-13 in the SEC title game. Next stop is the Citrus Bowl, where it will steal Arkansas' act from a dozen years earlier. Gophers 29, Missouri 14

Jim Souhan

My youngest is studying at Mizzou, my alma mater. Two of my children attended Minnesota. My allegiance is torn, but the pick for today's game is easy: David Cobb, healthy again, runs wild and the Gophers' improved secondary picks off streaky Tigers quarterback Maty Mauk twice. Gophers 29, Missouri 23

Chip Scoggins

Every Gophers coach and player interviewed this month has mentioned, often unprompted, the importance of winning this game. That's not coincidence. The Gophers don't seem content with just playing in a New Year's Day game. The guess here is that the defense shines and a rested David Cobb ends on a high note. Gophers 31, Missouri 28

Michael Rand

Missouri has a better run defense than pass defense, meaning this could be a "prove it" game for Gophers QB Mitch Leidner, who has had an up-and-down season. My hunch is he is out to prove the doubters wrong and that the Gophers are going all out to win their first bowl game in a decade. Gophers 23, Missouri 21