Mississippi @ Mississippi State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2010 ) Mississippi State 31, Mississippi 23

THE STORY: Mississippi State hopes to play one more game after Saturday, but to do so, the Bulldogs must win at home against in-state rival Mississippi. The Battle for the Golden Egg finds the Bulldogs one win away from securing bowl eligibility for a second consecutive season. All six of Mississippi State’s losses have come against teams ranked in the top 24 of this week’s BCS standings, including last week’s 44-17 blowout at then-No. 6 Arkansas. It has been a miserable season for Ole Miss, which will play its final game under outgoing coach Houston Nutt. The Rebels have lost 13 SEC games in a row and were throttled 52-3 by top-ranked LSU last week. Ole Miss leads the series 60-41-6, but the Bulldogs have won the past two matchups.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: Mississippi State -17.

ABOUT OLE MISS (2-9, 0-7 SEC West): Beating the Bulldogs would be a big bright spot in what has been a tough year in Oxford, but the Rebels face an uphill climb. Starting quarterback Randall Mackey and running back Jeff Scott were suspended for the LSU game and will not play this week either, Nutt said. Sophomore Barry Brunetti will start at quarterback. The Rebels have been outscored 109-23 in their past three games, losses to Kentucky, Louisiana Tech and LSU.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-6, 1-6): The Bulldogs gave redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Favre (nephew of former NFL great Brett Favre) a chance to play against Arkansas, and he passed for 72 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for a score. Favre and Tyler Russell both are expected to play Saturday, and opening-day starter Chris Relf may see time as well. Senior running back Vick Ballard needs 135 yards rushing to reach 1,000 for the season.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Bulldogs rushed for less than 100 yards in losses to Alabama and Arkansas the past two weeks.

2. Ole Miss senior running back Brandon Bolden will start again for Scott. He rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries last week.

3. Mississippi State has not won three Egg Bowls in a row since winning four straight from 1939-42.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 31, Ole Miss 6 - It doesn’t matter who plays quarterback for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State will earn bowl eligibility by easily handling its downtrodden in-state rival.