Ole Miss Football: 5 Reasons Rebels will win 2017 Egg Bowl

OXFORD, MS - NOVEMBER 26: Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs the ball and tries to avoid the tackle of Zedrick Woods #36 of the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Rebels 55-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Ole Miss defense is improved

Since the win over Kentucky, the Ole Miss defense has been better, in particular in the run game. As mentioned, limiting what Nick Fitzgerald can do is a key to win. But to go with that Ole Miss needs to contain the rest of the Bulldog offense. Mississippi State isn’t as much of a passing threat as they are on the ground. Stopping Aeris Williams is just as important as Fitzgerald is in this game.

I certainly don’t think that Ole Miss will outright stop Fitzgerald or Williams but they need to limit them as much as they can and get off the field on third down. This defense cannot get gassed. They’ll need as many three and outs as they can to keep the Rebel offense in this game. Should the defense do better than expected, then who knows how this game turns out.

Ole Miss has nothing to lose which will allow defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff to open up the playcalling and the blitzing. He trusts his defensive backs against the Bulldog receivers. There is really no reason Ole Miss shouldn’t just blitz on every down. Obviously that won’t happen but Ole Miss needs to keep pressure on Fitzgerald and force him to throw, and limit Williams on the ground.

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