Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Football Prediction & Picks: Will the Egg Bowl remain in Oxford for another year?

While the sports spotlight will largely be on the NFL and World Cup on Thanksgiving Day, the college football spotlight will shine fully on Oxford, Mississippi, where Mississippi State and Ole Miss will meet in the only game on Thursday’s schedule.

As the game approaches, many of the headlines are not about the game itself but about if this year’s Egg Bowl matchup will be Lane Kiffin’s last game with the Rebels before he leaves for Auburn.

There is also some speculation about Mike Leach’s future at Mississippi State, but it is far less loud than the speculation that has persisted about Kiffin and Auburn for quite some time now.

When it comes to the matchup itself, the Rebels will be looking to put a disappointing finish behind them with a third straight Egg Bowl win, while the Bulldogs will be aiming to capitalize on potential uncertainty in Oxford to improve their bowl position.

Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Ole Miss Rebels Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-4, 3-4 SEC) vs #20 Ole Miss Rebels (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
• Venue & Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, Mississippi)
• Date: Thursday, November 24, 2022
• Game Time: 7:00 pm ET (6:00 pm local time)
• How to Watch Mississippi State vs Ole Miss: ESPN

Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at 12:45 pm ET. Odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites may also appear in this article.

Spread

• Mississippi State +2.5 (-110)
• Ole Miss -2.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 60.5 (-110)
• Under 60.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Mississippi State +106
• Ole Miss -128

Will Leach’s Rivalry Woes Continue?

For all that Leach has accomplished in his coaching career, rivalry games have not been a positive point on his resume, whether at Texas Tech, Washington State, or Mississippi State.

In his first trip to Oxford, the Bulldogs went down 31-24 two years ago. Then last year in Starkville, the Bulldogs led after the first quarter, but it was all Ole Miss from there as the Rebels went on to win 31-21.

In all of their toughest games this season, Mississippi State’s offense has not shown up. Against LSU, Kentucky, Alabama, and Georgia, the Bulldogs recorded a total of five offensive touchdowns.

Defense is not a strength for Ole Miss, but given the results of the last two meetings, is there any reason to believe that this year’s game will go any differently than the last two?

Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Prediction and Picks

Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Prediction: Ole Miss to win

Mississippi State vs Ole Miss Picks: Ole Miss ML (Best Value: -128 at BetOnline) & Ole Miss team total over (Best Value: over 30.5 @ -121 at BetUS)

The speculation surrounding Kiffin’s future in Oxford isn’t going to go away until the Auburn job is filled by either him or someone else, but will it affect his team as they look to avoid a fourth loss in five games to close out the season?

Perhaps it would against a different opponent, but speculation and all, this is a game that the Rebels will no doubt be up for. Their hope for a New Year’s Six bowl have evaporated in the last couple of weeks, but a nine-win season is not a frequent occurrence in either Oxford or Starkville.

Based on MSU’s performances in other games of this level, it’s pretty difficult to see them making the plays required to pull out the win. Look for Ole Miss to keep the Golden Egg for another year and score at least 31 points against the Bulldogs for the third straight game.

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