The Battle for the Golden Egg: The Matchups

Quarterback: Even

Jeremiah Masoli arrived in Oxford fresh off a Heisman-caliber season at Oregon, but his time with the Rebels has been marred by unexpected defeats (Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt) and less than stellar statistics – 13 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. While Masoli has shown flashes of his playmaking ability in losses to Arkansas and LSU, poor offensive line play early in the year and a young receiving corps hasn’t allowed the dual-threat QB to play like he did in Eugene. If the Rebels have any hope against Mississippi State, Masoli will need a performance ala LSU where the signal caller showcased both his passing and running ability but most importantly sound decision making.

Bulldog QB Chris Relf had a break-out game in last year’s Egg Bowl, throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for 131 yards and a score in MSU’s upset win. The scary part for the Rebels: Relf did this against a star-studded Ole Miss defense as opposed to this year’s unit – a Rebel defense that has given up the most points in school history. Relf, a poor, poor-man’s Cam Newton, runs a well-oiled spread-option attack – kryptonite to Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix. All Relf needs to do to succeed against the Rebels is continue to play within the Bulldogs’ offensive system and avoid turnovers.   

Running backs: Even

The Ole Miss and MSU running back situation has been eerily similar with both the Rebels and Bulldogs relying on a junior power back for the majority of their carries and a speedy freshman as a change of pace back.

After a rough sophomore year, a suave Brandon Bolden emerged as Ole Miss’ No. 1 option at the running back position in ‘10 after improving upon his speed and decision making. Meanwhile, the Rebels have captured lightning in a bottle in true freshman Jeff Scott, a Floridian scat back with elite speed.

The Bulldogs needed a featured back after the graduation of Anthony Dixon and they got exactly what they needed in junior college transfer Vick Ballard who has scored three rushing TDs three separate times this year. Ballard’s running mate has been redshirt freshman LaDarius Perkins, a homegrown slasher from the Mississippi Delta.  

Wide receivers: Ole Miss

Neither team has much to boast about in this department, but the Rebels edge out the Bulldogs in the receiver department even with Melvin Harris suspended for the Egg Bowl. Playing his final game in red and blue is Markeith Summers, a player who never quite lived up to his potential during his stay in Oxford. Nevertheless, Summers leads all Ole Miss receivers with 527 yards and six TDs. Besides Summers, redshirt freshman Ja-Mes Logan has impressed with his solid route-running ability, while shifty sophomore Jesse Grandy has showed some playmaking ability.

In Starkville, the only wideout that has stuck out this season has been elusive sophomore Chad Bumphis with his 590 yards receiving and five scores. Arceto Clark, the Bulldogs’ next best receiver has less than 300 yard receiving on the year.  

Offensive line: Mississippi State

The tackles – Bradley Sowell and Bobbie Massie – have been fine, but the problem up until now has been the week-to-week changes to the interior of the line that once saw three freshmen start at the two guard positions and at center. As it stands now, the Ole Miss O-Line has been a strength of the team with Alex Washington at left guard, AJ Hawkins at center and Jared Duke at right guard.

Left tackle Derek Sherrod – one of the top tackles in the league— and center JC Brignone anchor a Bulldog offensive line that has allowed Relf and Ballard to thrive in Mullen’s option-based attack. MSU doesn’t do much passing, but when they do the Bulldog O-line gives Relf plenty of time to operate.

Tight ends: Even

While both Ole Miss and MSU have been effective offensively in ’10, tight ends for both teams have been utilized primarily as blockers. The Rebels’ starting tight end, Ferbia Allen, has only five receptions and one TD reception to date.

The Bulldogs’ primary tight ends, Brandon Henderson and Marcus Green, have combined for 11 catches but haven’t found their way into their opponent’s endzone.

Defensive line: Mississippi State

ESPN’s Chris Low rated the Ole Miss defensive line tops in the SEC prior to the season, but that prediction went down the drain during the Rebels’ season-opening loss to Jacksonville State. Even before the injury bug started biting – and it bit hard – Ole Miss had a difficult time generating a pass rush while the Rebel rush defense has been middle-of-the-pack all year.

Defensive end Pernell McPhee hasn’t had the season that he had a year ago, but he’s still a force on the outside. Meanwhile, super sophomores Josh Boyd and Fletcher Cox are two future All-SEC talents. The Bulldogs have given up just over 125 yards on the ground, good enough for the fifth best rush defense in the SEC.

Linebackers: Mississippi State

Senior Jonathan Cornell mans the middle for the Rebels and has been a bright spot on what has been a downtrodden defensive unit. Cornell leads the team in three key defensive categories: tackles, tackles for a loss and sacks. Meanwhile, sophomore DT Shackelford has played all over the field for the Rebels – most notably at defensive end – but is nevertheless a natural linebacker. Shackelford will likely take over Cornell’s middle linebacker position next year but has been effective this year on the outside.

The strength of the MSU defense is found at the linebacker position where two seniors and future NFLers Chris White and KJ Wright – No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in tackles, respectively – have been downright nasty this year. White has been unreal with 96 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, six sacks and two interceptions. Wright hasn’t been too shabby either with 84 total tackles.

Secondary: Mississippi State

Ole Miss’ weakest link has been its secondary where the Rebels have the SEC’s No. 10 pass defense. Freshman corner Charles Sawyer has a bright future, but hasn’t fully learned the tricks of the trade to matchup against the league’s elite wide receivers. Junior college transfer Damien Jackson has been a playmaker at free safety when he’s been healthy.

The Bulldog secondary is a young but talented unit with two sophomores starting at the cornerback positions and a redshirt freshman starting at free safety. Corners Jonathan Banks and Corey Broomfield have each intercepted two passes this year. Junior strong safety Charles Mitchell – the lone veteran – is third on the team in tackles.

Intangibles: Ole Miss

The Rebels were punched in the mouth last year in Starkville as the Bulldogs romped over a supposedly superior Ole Miss team 41-27. Since then, MSU coach Dan Mullen has spent a good chunk of his time reminding every one that will listen about the whooping his Bulldogs put on “The School Up North.” Mullen and MSU Athletic Director Scott Stricklin have paraded the Egg Bowl Trophy around the state and even paid homage to the win in the Bulldogs’ spring game attendance – 34,127, get it?  

By all accounts Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt is peaved by Mullen’s theatrics and is putting a premium on defeating MSU in what will be the last game of ’10 for the Rebels. This year, Ole Miss is in the same position that the Bulldogs were in last year – nothing to lose and home field advantage. Nutt has all the motivation in the world to set the tempo for 2011, while Mullen and MSU are destined for a mid to lower tier bowl regardless of the outcome.

Paul’s pick: Ole Miss 35 Mississippi State 31

Jeremiah Masoli looks vintage Oregon against MSU, Brandon Bolden gets his thousand yard season and the Rebels take advantage of what has been a porous Bulldogs’ defense the past couple of weeks. Nutt at least temporarily silences Mullen’s live mouth and both coaches immediately shift their attention to signing day 2011.