Will Mississippi State football beat Ole Miss in Egg Bowl, clinch bowl bid? Our prediction
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STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football season has been full of ups and downs all leading into the Egg Bowl.
The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6 SEC) are hosting No. 6 Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 28 (11 a.m., ABC).
A lot is at stake for both teams in addition to the rivalry bragging rights. MSU can clinch bowl eligibility for the first time since 2022 with a win, but has whiffed in the last two games with consecutive 20-point losses. The 2022 season was also the last time MSU won the Egg Bowl.
A loss for Ole Miss might not knock the Rebels out of the College Football Playoff but could make things complicated — especially with the ongoing coaching saga surrounding Lane Kiffin.
Here is our scouting report and score prediction for the game.
Mississippi State must stop Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy
The Bulldogs’ run defense has struggled to end the season. They are allowing 289.3 rushing yards per game in the last three games. MSU tanked to last in the SEC in run defense after Missouri’s Ahmad Hardy gashed the Bulldogs for 300 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Ole Miss’ boasts’ Kewan Lacy is second in the SEC with 1,136 rushing yards behind Hardy and leads the conference with 19 rushing touchdowns. He tallied a career-high 224 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Ole Miss’ last game against Florida.
“We have not tackled the way we’ve needed to,” Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby said. “That is something that has been very constant. The explosive plays would be the next thing.”
Blake Shapen, Kamario Taylor impact as Mississippi State QBs
Mississippi State has utilized both Blake Shapen and Kamario Taylor at quarterback, but Shapen has been the starter and the main QB. MSU will need both of them to play well against Ole Miss.
Shapen in particular has struggled in the last two games. He completed 29 of 48 passes for 285 yards, with no passing touchdowns and two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in the games against Georgia and Missouri. He also had 31 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The Nov. 1 win at Arkansas was the last time they were both playing at their best. Taylor played most of the third quarter while Shapen was evaluated for a concussion and led the Bulldogs to two touchdowns. Then, Shapen led the Bulldogs to 17 points in the fourth quarter, including throwing the game-winning touchdown pass, in a 14-point comeback win.
Can Mississippi State run the ball with Fluff Bothwell, Davon Booth?
Mississippi State’s rushing offense was a strength earlier in the season with running backs Fluff Bothwell and Davon Booth but hasn’t been the same recently. The Bulldogs haven’t reached 150 rushing yards in a game since Week 5 against Tennessee.
Offensive line issues haven’t helped. Mississippi State has gotten sacked 37 times this season. That hurts the rushing numbers and also has gotten MSU frequently in unfavorable down and distances. Bothwell also got injured against Texas A&M and didn’t play against Florida and Texas.
The Rebels are 13th in the SEC with 140.4 rushing yards allowed per game.
Mississippi State vs Ole Miss score prediction
Ole Miss 33, Mississippi State 24: The Bulldogs’ defense is trending in the wrong direction and it’s hard to see them slowing down Lacy and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State vs Ole Miss prediction for Egg Bowl
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