MSU v Ole Miss

Egg Bowl Edition!


Oops, I Did it Again... - Richard Thompson

So, yeah... oops?  Being on vacation for Thanksgiving totally threw off my concept of time, and as a result I am starting this blog at 9:30 on Friday night.  LSU has already defeated Arkansas, and I totally missed that game, but honestly I would've picked LSU anyway.  It's just not Arkansas' year.  Anyway I picked the song for the obvious reason, and also because I thought it'd be a fun little jab at Ole Miss after we win the Egg Bowl for the fourth straight year!  So, time's a-wastin, let's get down to the good stuff!


LSU v Arkansas

Like I said, I would've picked LSU regardless, but I honestly would've thought they posted more like 28-32 points.  Anyway, hindsight is 20/20 and all that rot...


Georgia Tech v Georgia

Georgia is one of two SEC teams that are squarely in control of their own destiny... and that destiny could include a trip to the National Championship game.  Georgia will need to take care of Georgia Tech, whose triple option offense is no joke, in order to remain in the driver's seat.  After that they will travel to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game against Alabama, who incidentally is the other team in control of their own destiny.  Those destinies will colide in Atlanta, and the winner will punch their ticket to the biggest game of the year...

Georgia Tech 17 - Georgia 27


Kentucky v Tennessee

One of the most important things you'll need to know about this game is that the loser will secure their position as the last place team in the SEC East.  This is also the last game for both coaches, as Derek Dooley and Joker Phillips have already been put on notice that they're being let go at the end of the season... Nothing to play for but pride here, and Tennessee (whether deservedly or not) has a lot more than Kentucky...

Kentucky 14 - Tennessee 24


Auburn v Alabama

LOL.  Seriously?  Do I even need to write out all the reasons that Auburn will lose, Bama will roll, and this is a foregone conclusion?  Well, I'm not gonna...

Auburn 6 - Alabama 27


Florida v Florida State

Now this could be a good game... both teams are ranked (FSU at 10, Florida at 4) and FSU is ranked as the #1 defense against the rush this year.  However Florida's defense is stifling in all facets of the game, so the question becomes who has the more potent offense?  If Jeff Driskell plays (and rumor has it he will) then Florida will have a talented QB who is a legit passing threat on their hands, as well as serviceable in the running game.  If not, the Gators become a bit more one-dimensional, but FSU will have to prove they can score points against the Gator defense no matter who is taking the snaps for Florida.  I think this will be a defensive struggle similar to the Georgia/Florida game from earlier this season, and I think the Gators will come out on top...

Florida 17 - Florida State 14


Vanderbilt v Wake Forest

Vanderbilt will be bowling regardless of the outcome of this game, but another win could only help the Commodores.  On the other side of the ball, Wake Forest would also like to make a bowl game, but will need to win this one to do it.  Vandy's Zac Stacey looks to be a key figure in the offensive game plan for the 'Dores, but wide receiver Jordan Matthews is quietly making a name for himself as well.  The Demon Deacons will find their season coming to a close when this game wraps, but Nashville will be a-rockin as the Vandy fans celebrate 8 wins and an upcoming bowl game...

Vanderbilt 27 - Wake Forest 17


Missouri v Texas A&M

The Aggies play host to the Tigers as the two newest members of the SEC finally square off in what could possibly become a great rivalry, should Missouri ever manage to prove that they deserve to be in the SEC in the first place.   These two teams have played before, it should be noted, and TAMU holds the upper hand at 7-5 in the series.  TAMU stepped in and made a name for themselves in their inaugural SEC season... Mizzou?  Not so much... at least not the kind of name they were hoping for.  As much as the Tigers would like to grab that all-important 6th win, the Aggies are just not going to be team players on this one...

Missouri 14 - Texas A&M 41


South Carolina v Clemson

Now THIS is going to be a grudge match for the ages.  These two teams (both located in South Carolina) have a long and ugly history between them, and the last 3-4 years have only served to heighten the animosity.  Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has no love for Steve Spurrier, and the Ol' Ball Coach ain't exactly brimming over with the ooey-gooey for Dabo, either.  Comments have flown around this rivalry for the last few years, giving each team more locker room poster-board material than either could ever want.  But it's rare that both teams are ranked in the top 15 teams in the nation, and the "losing-est" of the two teams only sports two losses on the season.  There is talent all over the roster, and in the coaching staff, for both teams.  Who's angrier?  Who's meaner?  Who's uglier? Who wants it more?

South Carolina 24 - Clemson 30


Mississippi State v Ole Miss

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for... the Egg Bowl prediction!  First and foremost you need to remember, this is a Mississippi State blog.  I am in no way affiliated with the university or any of it's sports programs, I'm just a humble fan with a computer and the willingness to share my decidedly amateur opinion on SEC football.  Don't get your red and blue panties in a wad when you read what I'm about to write, because you know it's coming...

At the start of the season I picked MSU to go 9-3 with an outside shot at 10-2.  The third loss that WASN'T to a team named Alabama or LSU I had attributed to Arkansas at the time.  Then the dumpster caught fire, and that flame fed my hopes and dreams.  Auburn was dealt with early on in the season, paving the way to a glorious 7-0 run to start the season before a horrible showing against superior competition gave the Bulldogs their first loss at the hands of Bama.  When MSU responded with another horrible outing the next week against TAMU I started to worry what a likely 3 game skid would do to the players' mentalities.  But they showed me they still had some fight in the LSU game, and I knew they would take care of business when Arkansas came to town... which brings us to the Egg Bowl.

The Egg Bowl... the REAL rivalry game.  You'll never catch me (or any sane MSU fan) trying to claim Alabama or LSU, Arkansas or Auburn as our "REAL" rivals.  Rivalry games have history.  Rivalry games have spirit.  Rivalry games have relevance the other 364 days of the year, to BOTH fan bases.  THIS is a rivalry game, and THIS is when you can throw out the records and look at the heart of each team to see who will fight and claw and scratch and rake to get that last yard... that last inch... that last point.

Not many people expected Ole Miss to have 5 wins going in to the last 2 games of the season, considering they only managed to win 2 games all of last season.  Hugh Freeze has light a fire under these players and they have responded with drive and grit.  You can bet the Rebels will be hungry for a win, and there is no shortage of reasons for motivation.  The Rebels should've hit their 6th win against Vandy a few weeks ago but blew a 23-6 lead in the third quarter.  They played LSU down to the wire but lost a heartbreaker.  They are hungry for that 6th win.  They're hungry for bowl eligibility.  They're hungry for tripling their win total from last season... but most of all, they're hungry for that Egg Bowl trophy.  The trophy has spent the last three seasons in Starkville, and Dan Mullen has made sure that the red and blue faithful have not forgotten that fact.  That is a big part of the reason Houston Nutt was shown the door last season...

I expect the Rebels to give the Bulldogs a hell of a fight... both teams will come out swinging, and both defenses will likely need to make adjustments quickly to shore up any weaknesses.  Tyler Russell has proven to be a more efficient QB with only 4 INTs against 21 TDs on the season, whereas Bo Wallace has thrown 22 TDs... and -13- INTs.  That has to be in the back of his mind facing this highly touted MSU secondary.  Look for Banks, Slay and company to reel off at least 2 INTs in this game, likely in the second half, and another turnover in the form of a forced fumble, either from Cam Lawrence or maybe Nickoe Whitley.

Part of me thinks this could be a barn-burner... both offenses have the capacity to put up a lot of points in a hurry.  But there's also the possibility that either or both offenses can stumble and falter, leading to a lower scoring game.  I feel like this game will play out similarly to the Arkansas/MSU game, although with a slightly higher score...  but in the end, you know you can wrap this one in Maroon and White.

Mississippi State 49 - Ole Miss 27



And when that clock starts winding down the final seconds of the game you may just find yourself humming "Oops I Did it Again" and smiling as a few die-hard Bulldogs raise their smuggled cowbells and ring them in triumph.  Damn it feels good to be a Bulldog... I hope you all have a great weekend and week, and check back with us once the bowl games are announced!  The House of Hooch will break down all the SEC bowl games, including the National Championship, and you won't wanna miss that!  Thanks so much for reading, and make sure you stop by our Facebook page and give us a like!

#HailState and #GoDawgs!