The new “Magnolia Bowl” trophy is the official prize for Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. contest between LSU and Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium.But there are greater rewards at stake for both teams because the outcome could determine which team plays in the 2009 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas on Jan. 2, 2009.Cotton Bowl president Rick Baker is not ready to make that assertion — at least not yet.”I wouldn’t go as far as to say as the loser would fall off of our list,” he said. “We’re very interested in both teams.”Both No. 18 LSU (7-3, 3-3) and Ole Miss (6-4, 3-3) are out of the Southeastern Conference title race and essentially battling for the best possible bowl bid.”I try not to jinx the bowl situation,” said senior defensive tackle Marlon Favorite. “Whatever bowl game we get, we’re going to be happy.”If Favorite isn’t willing to speculate, many others will do the honors. The annual bowl guessing frenzy has kicked into high gear, and many analysts project LSU could face Oklahoma or Texas in the Cotton Bowl. The SEC title game on Dec. 6 pits No. 1 Alabama against No. 3 Florida, with both teams likely getting BCS bowl game bids. The winner could head to Miami for the BCS National Championship, with the loser possibly getting an at-large bid to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.The Capital One Bowl, which features an SEC vs. Big Ten matchup, gets the first SEC pick after the BCS selections are complete.No. 13 Georgia would be a logical choice if the Bulldogs win their final game of the season Saturday against Georgia Tech.The next highest SEC Western Division choice and the first Big 12 choice after BCS selections will go to the Cotton Bowl. The Cotton Bowl also reserves the right to accept Notre Dame instead of an SEC team.If the Tigers lose and drop off the Cotton Bowl’s radar, they could fall to the Chick-fil-A bowl in Atlanta. The Tigers last played in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 2003, when they lost, 35-20, to a Texas team led by quarterback Chris Simms and wide receiver Roy Williams.LSU coach Les Miles is no stranger to the Cotton Bowl, leading Oklahoma State to the bowl game in 2004. The Cowboys lost the game to Ole Miss, 31-28, which marked the last time the Rebels appeared in a bowl game. “Any destination we end up in, hopefully we have a really good opponent, and we get to play our best football,” Miles said. “The game to me is the issue. The Cotton Bowl would be great. I’ve been there. It’s a beautiful event, and I’d certainly like to take part in it again.”Baker said he’s very high on LSU given that the Tigers are wrapping up a post-national championship season.”It would be great for us to have the opportunity to have the defending national champions and the brand recognition that LSU would bring to our game,” he said.Baker and several Cotton Bowl officials visited Tiger Stadium for LSU’s 27-21 overtime loss to Alabama on Nov. 8. “It’s really more of a public relations opportunity to come,” Baker said. “It’s not like we scout the left tackle. It gives us an opportunity to visit with guys like [senior associate athletic director] Herb Vincent and [athletic director] Joe Alleva. It gives us a chance to let them know how interested we are.”Charlie Fiss, vice president of communications for the Cotton Bowl, plans to visit Tiger Stadium on Saturday. Meanwhile, other Cotton Bowl representatives will travel to Oklahoma for the No. 5 Sooners’ game against No. 2 Texas Tech.Though much football is left to be played, it’s hard for LSU fan John Pierce not to be hopeful about the Tigers’ Cotton Bowl chances.Pierce, who is the membership chair for the LSU Alumni Association’s Dallas chapter, is eager to play host to thousands of Tiger fans.”At the 2003 Cotton Bowl, we had a reputation for having the largest tailgate in any Cotton Bowl in history,” he said.But before Pierce rolls out the tailgating tents or stirs up some jambalaya, he needs the Tigers to take care of business in the last two games of the season.”The most important thing they have to do is win Saturday,” he said. “We’d much rather see our Tigers than have to listen to the Rebels.”Sports contributor Rachel Whittaker contributed to this article.—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]