Mississippi State Football: 5 reasons Bulldogs will win 2018 Egg Bowl vs. Ole Miss
By Zach Bigalke
2. Mississippi State boasts one of the top five defenses in the FBS
Offense will only take Mississippi State so far. The true catalyst for the bulk of their success in 2018 has been due to one of the best defenses in the entire nation. While Joe Moorhead is renowned as an offensive guru, he proved smart enough to realize that the SEC is won and lost by how much attention is paid to developing defensive strength.
Under former Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, Mississippi State has quickly evolved into a top-five unit this season. The Bulldogs rank second in the country in scoring defense, ranking behind only ACC front-runner Clemson at 12.8 points conceded per game. They hold opponents to just 275 total yards of offense on average.
It has been an ingredient for remaining in contests all season long. Even with four defeats on their record, the Mississippi State has yet to give up 30 points in a single contest this season. They also hold opponents to the third-lowest aggregate passing efficiency rating of any defense in the country.
The Rebels are going to have major issues putting points on the board against the Bulldogs. That will prove the Achilles heel for a top-25 offense when they meet their match in a bitter rival on Thanksgiving.