Ole Miss and Mississippi State first played a college football game against each other in 1901. Since ’44, they’ve played annually, the 10th-longest uninterrupted series in the country. And since ’27, they’ve played for an egg-shaped bronze bowl mounted on a wooden base.
The Golden Egg.
For the Rebels to keep it in Starkville for a second consecutive year, they will have to win a shootout. With these two quarterbacks, it’s possible the loser will score in the 40s, the perfect script for a national ESPN television audience on Thanksgiving Night.
NCAAF · Fri (12/16) @ 11:35am ET
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| Legion Field Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama | ||
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No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels (9-2 SU, 6-4-1 ATS)
In a lengthy social-media farewell, Rebels quarterback Matt Corral announced he’s turning pro after this season. The Egg Bowl likely will be his last sighting in the Ole Miss No. 2 uniform, since such valued draft picks typically avoid bowl games.
He has thrown more touchdown passes than interceptions in every game this season except one, the defeat at Auburn.
He was arguably better as a sophomore, when he threw for 513 and 412 yards, and finished in the 300s on five other occasions (however, he threw six picks at Arkansas, five at LSU).
This season, he’s finished in the 300s four times. He has been banged up often, and that might have something to do with him wanting to get paid for his efforts.
Against the Bulldogs last season, he went 24-for-36 for 385 yards, two TDs and no picks in a 31-24 victory. He played in a reserve role in a 21-20 loss at Mississippi State as a freshman
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Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-4 SU, 7-4 ATS)
As high as we’ve been on Corral this season — and in the interest of full disclosure, we possess a Heisman futures ticket on him at 40-to-1 odds — it’ll be the Bulldogs who push this ‘over’.
They’ve been rolling of late, averaging more than 40 points over their past five games.
In Starkville, it’s all about Will Rogers, who never met a football he didn’t like airing out. He is your national leader in completions (435), attempts (572), and completion percentage (76).
He’s sixth in touchdown passes with 36, trailing Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe (48), Alabama’s Bryce Young and SMU’s Tanner Mordecai (both at 38), and Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett (36 apiece).
In his past three games, Rogers, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound sophomore, has thrown for 15 TDs and had only one pass picked off, among 137 attempts. Makai Polk, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, has caught nine for scores, but Rogers has shared the sugar very well.
At 380 yards per game, the Dogs own the SEC’s most-lethal passing game. And at 392, it’s been even better over their past three games.
Rogers has accumulated more than 400 yards four times, hitting 300 in six other tilts.
Heisman favorite for 2022? Take your place at the back of the betting line.
A year ago against Ole Miss, as a mere pup, Rogers was 45-for-61 for 440 yards, three TDs, and no picks. Thursday, before spotlights and a rousing home crowd, he continues to curry favor for next year’s Heisman.
Ole Miss Vs. Mississippi State Pick
Two of our models predict more than 70 combined points. Matt Corral and Will Rogers figure to put on quite a show, and don’t be surprised if it earns Game of Week 13 honors.
Our Pick: Over 60.5 (BetMGM)
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