Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

By: Pete Fiutak | November 19, 2018 12:31 pm

Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss fearless prediction and game preview.

Broadcast

Date: Thursday , November 22
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
Network: ESPN

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Mississippi State (7-4) vs. Ole Miss (5-6) Game Preview

One Reason Why Mississippi State Will Win

There’s this thing called defense, and Ole Miss doesn’t really like to use it all that much.

The Rebel offense is fun and exciting – it can bomb away on just about anyone not named Alabama – but the defense gives it up just as quickly.

On a four-game losing streak, Ole Miss is getting hit anyway anyone is trying. Some teams like Texas A&M, Auburn, and last week, Vanderbilt, were able to strike a terrific balance. Arkansas ran wild, and South Carolina threw at will.

Nick Fitzgerald can do anything he wants to.

It’s been a year since he suffered a horrific broken leg injury against the Rebels, and now it’s redemption time.

He might not be the most efficient or effective passer, but he hasn’t thrown a pick in four games. As a runner, he’s 93 yards away from hitting the 1,000-mark.

In 2016, he ran all over Ole Miss for 258 yards and two scores. He won’t do that, but in terms of coming full circle from everything that happened, this is his game.

One Reason Why Ole Miss Will Win

It’s a cliché, but it’s true – this is the Rebel bowl game.

It’s been a rocky season, and the NCAA sanctions are keeping Ole Miss from getting to play more football, but winning this for a second year in a row would take on extra meaning. It would be a rivalry win, it would be the high point of the season, and it would be a sixth victory – a nice job done and solid campaign.

To do that, throw, throw, and throw some more.

The Mississippi State defensive line is the truth, but and with star RB Scottie Phillips banged up, assuming he can’t go or is limited, it’s going to be up to Jordan Ta’amu to get this done.

He has thrown for 320 yards or more on everyone but Alabama and LSU, and is coming off a 457-yard day against Vanderbilt. He struggled a wee bit last year against the Bulldogs, but he threw for 247 yards and two scores in the win.

AJ Brown has something to do with all of this.

One of the stars in last year’s game – catching six passes for 167 yards and a score – he’s on a tear, with 115 yards or more in five of the last six games, with a 212-yard effort against Vandy.

Ole Miss has to throw for at least 300 yards just to get into the discussion.

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What’s Going To Happen

Mississippi State will get its revenge.

Fitzgerald will have a good day – he’ll run for 100 yards – but it’ll be the defensive front that gets it done. The Bulldog pass rush will be relentless against the one-dimensional Rebels, and the secondary that’s allowed just five touchdown passes with ten picks will come up large.