Ole Miss Football: Preview, predictions, live stream vs. Mississippi State in Week 13

Ole Miss football and Mississippi State renew their rivalry in the 2017 edition of the Egg Bowl. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Egg Bowl rivalry is one of the best rivalries in football. The only reason it is rarely considered such is because the stakes of the teams in the outcome of the game don’t tend to rival that of Michigan-Ohio State or Alabama-Auburn. Within the SEC, however, Ole Miss-Mississippi State is always a heck of a game involving two very passionate fan bases.

This year’s game won’t be lacking in feelings between the fan bases, however the predominant feeling will be that of hate. Ole Miss and Mississippi State has been at each other’s throats really since Dan Mullen arrived in Starkville and ratcheted things up by calling Ole Miss ‘the school up north.’

Then came this year when State players were given NCAA immunity to testify in the Ole Miss investigation among other aspects of MSU being involved in the Ole Miss case (another story for another day). Given the extra motivation for fanbases, whoever wins this game this year will have some major bragging rights for 365 days.

Here is how you can watch the 2017 Egg Bowl:

Date: Thursday, Nov. 23
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Davis-Wade Stadium
Location: Starkville, Miss.
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN 

Keys to Victory

Most importantly for Ole Miss is containing the Bulldogs’ run game. Not only do the Rebels have to contain quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, but they also need to contain running back Aeris Williams. The Bulldogs’ ground game is a threat to take the ball to the endzone on every touch and Ole Miss has struggled to stop the run throughout 2017.

The Rebels have been better against the run in recent games but this will be the biggest challenge of the night. Linebacker DeMarquis Gates will have to be huge in this game, as well as defensive ends Marquis Haynes and Breeland Speaks. Of course the offense has to do well, too, in particular I think quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has to be larger than life in this game.

For Mississippi State to win the Egg Bowl for the second year in a row, Nick Fitzgerald simply has to play ball. As Fitzgerald goes, so too go the Bulldogs. If Fitzgerald is allowed to have a big game then the Bulldogs will win this one going away.

If Fitzgerald were to be limited by the Rebel defense then Mississippi State’s defense will be counted on to stop the passing game of the Rebels. While Ole Miss running back Jordan Wilkins has been great in the second half of the season, I think the MSU defense is just too good to get much going. In that case Ole Miss might become one dimensional.

Mississippi State will have to match the play of the Ole Miss receivers and keep the passing game contained. In all three of the Bulldogs losses quarterbacks were allowed to pass for over 200 yards and multiple touchdown passes.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round after Week 12

Prediction

Mississippi State gets home field advantage in this game. They’re also good at what the Rebels have the hardest time stopping, running the ball. These reasons are enough to persuade me that Mississippi State will win. However, I don’t think it will be a blow out. I think Ole Miss will fight in this game. They’ll fight for pride and they’ll fight for Matt Luke in his last game as the interim coach. There is just too much going against the Rebels for them to get the win.

Final Score: Mississippi State 42, Ole Miss 35