I make no apologies when I tell you I am partial to Mississippi State University when they play Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl.
Being from the suburbs of Chicago, I never had much interest in the SEC growing up. That changed when I moved down south, but athletes themselves drew my interest.
Two former Clarksdale Wildcats have played for the Bulldogs in recent years. Juantavius “J.T.” Gray is currently an NFL free agent and played special teams and in the secondary. Senior Elgton Jenkins has been all over the offensive line. He has been the starting center all year and I believe that is the most important position on the line because you work with the quarterback to make sure everything runs efficiently on offense.
In actuality, aside from the local connections, Mississippi State and Ole Miss actually have very similar stories.
Joe Moorhead is in his first season as head coach of the Bulldogs, while Matt Luke is in his first year as the non-interim head coach of the Rebels.
Both SEC West teams are under .500 in division play as the Bulldogs are 3-4 and the Rebels are 1-6.
When you get to the big picture that is where Mississippi State separates itself.
The Bulldogs are 7-4, ranked 21st in the nation and have won three of their last four games.
The Rebels are 5-6 and on a four-game losing streak.
One big difference in the two longtime rivals comes at the quarterback position.
Senior Nick Fitzgerald is a three-year starter for Mississippi State. He is 120 of 231 passing for 1,504 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions to go with his 901 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs will need a big game from the senior quarterback both in the air and with his legs.
Ole Miss senior quarterback Jordan Ta'amu is in his first full season as the starter. He is 258 of 401 passing for 3,831 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He is not as effective on his feet as Fitzgerald.
Defensively, the Bulldogs will have to keep the Rebels a one-dimension team, let them have their passing yards and stop the run. Ole Miss has 4,005 passing yards and 1,932 rushing yards on the season.
Senior safety Johnathan Abram leads the way for Mississippi State on defense with 80 tackles, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and two pass deflections.
Mississippi State must be balanced offensively and keep Ole Miss’ defense guessing. The Bulldogs have
2,408 team rushing yards and 1,996 passing yards. Five athletes on the team have at least 100 rushing yards led by Fitzgerald’s 901. Sophomore Kylin Hill is second on the team with 583 rushing yards for three touchdowns.
The Bulldogs, just like Jenkins throughout his high school and college career, have shown their versatility. That could very easily be the difference on Thanksgiving Day.
Mississippi State also has a lot more to play for than Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs are likely going to a bowl game. How they perform this week could have a lot of say in where that game is. The players need to keep that in the back of their minds as motivation.
Mississippi State also wants to make amends for losing the Egg Bowl at home last season 31-28.
Whatever happens, the Egg Bowl should be fun and entertaining to watch.
Happy Thanksgiving!
