Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze and players take the field during the first half of a game against Arkansas in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
When Thursday night rolls around, there will be plenty to play for, as Ole Miss and Mississippi State gear up for their 110th meeting. The Egg Bowl returns to primetime, as the Rebels and the Bulldogs clash at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. Ole Miss holds the lead in the all-time series, 61-42-6.
Ole Miss rolls into Starkville sitting at 7-4 overall and 3-4 in Southeastern Conference play, while Mississippi State comes in at 5-6 and 2-5 in the SEC, but those records don’t matter. This is a rivalry game, and both coaches know anything can happen.
“Thanksgiving week brings the Egg Bowl, one of the most historic and greatest rivalries in college football,” Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze said in his weekly press conference Monday. “We know the task at hand is going to be a great challenge. Certainly, we’re excited about getting down there and playing.”
Bragging rights won’t be the only thing on the line on Thanksgiving night though. The Bulldogs have to win to gain bowl eligibility, and the Rebels are looking to end their rival’s season with a loss.
“The Egg Bowl is always going to be as high as you get in a given game,” Freeze said. “Certainly with them having to win to go to a bowl like we were last year, if it’s possible to ratchet it up a little more, it’s possible. That’s something that would do it if it’s possible. I don’t think you have to have that to make this game feel emotional. If there’s anything that would make it more, it would be those factors.”
On paper, it looks like Mississippi State has the advantage in the motivation department with the factor of extending their season. However, Ole Miss has plenty to play for, too.
There’s no doubt the Rebels feel like they’re headed in the right direction. Freeze has his team and fan base feeling confident in the future, and who can blame them?
Ole Miss went to a bowl game last season, just one year after finishing 2-10. They had a top-five recruiting class a year after finishing 2-10. That’s remarkable. Since then, they’ve continued to progress. The Rebels have already matched last year’s win total with two more wins possible this season. That’s improvement. And it looks as though they’ll have a pretty good recruiting class as well.
So what does a win in the Egg Bowl do for them? Well for one, it helps put Ole Miss that much more in front of Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs are in year five under head coach Dan Mullen, and they’ve had some pretty good success. Mullen has led them to three consecutive bowl games, but the past year and half hasn’t left the folks in Starkville with the best feeling.
Mississippi State started the season 7-0 last year, but finished the year just 8-5. Now, they’re fighting to get back into the postseason, and the only wins they’ve had this year came from Alcorn State, Troy, Bowling Green, Kentucky and Arkansas.
It’s easy to see who has the momentum in the state of Mississippi, and if Ole Miss can get its first win over Mississippi State in Starkville since 2003 come Thursday night, they’ll take another step into putting the Bulldogs in their rearview mirror.
To get there, Ole Miss will need to rely on their high-powered offense to get into rhythm early and often, and that will rely on the run game.
Senior running back Jeff Scott is expected to be held out of action, so sophomores Jaylen Walton and I’Tavius Mathers have to continue to play big roles for the Rebels. Ole Miss is undefeated this year when they rush for over 150 yards. When they’re held to under that number, they are just 1-4 with the win coming against Arkansas.
“They’re an excellent defense,” Freeze said. “It’s been proven that over the last few games they have improved. We’ll have the same game plan. You have to take care of the ball. They’re great at going and getting turnovers.
“We’ve got to find a way to be balanced so we can be effective in throwing. The last thing you want – with who we are – is knowing you have to throw.
If Ole Miss can establish the run early, junior quarterback Bo Wallace can have a big day against this Mississippi State secondary. The Bulldogs rank seventh in the SEC in pass defense, giving up 216.5 yards per game through the air. However, they are ninth in the conference, giving up 7.2 yards per attempt.
Wallace, who has been dealing with flu-like symptoms since last weekend, has totaled 2,908 yards this season to go along with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. He needs just 92 yards to join Eli Manning and become the second player in Ole Miss history to pass for 3,000 yards in a season.
Defensively, the Rebels will be looking to stop up to three different quarterbacks. Mississippi State’s starter all season has been Dak Prescott, but he has been out the past two games with a shoulder injury and is out this week, according to Mullen.
In his place, the Bulldogs will have Tyler Russell, who is more of a passing threat, taking the snaps. Russell, who has 875 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions this season, has been dealing with a shoulder injury of his own, but he is expected to play. Mississippi State could also insert true freshman Damian Williams, who has seen playing time the past couple of games.
“We’ve got to prepare for all three,” Freeze said. “Fortunately, two of the three are very similar and do the same things. The other is still similar. They’re like watching us on film. They do most of the same stuff that we do.
“You don’t like not knowing. You wish you knew. That’s the situation we’re in.”
On paper, the stats favor Ole Miss. With the game being played in Starkville, recent history favors Mississippi State. But this is the Egg Bowl. Records don’t matter. There’s pride on the line for both teams. For Mississippi State, there’s also bowl eligibility on the line. And for Ole Miss, there’s a chance to possibly bury their rival and take a stranglehold on the state of Mississippi for the years to come.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss football, follow @DavidLCollier and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
— By David Collier
thedmsports@gmail.com
