Inside the Numbers: Ole Miss looks to derail Mississippi State's season
No. 19 Ole Miss looks to bounce back after a loss at Arkansas at home this week in the 111th edition of the Egg Bowl.
Let’s take a look inside some of the numbers of the Rebels’ contest with the Mississippi State.
The Good
13.5: Ole Miss still leads the nation in scoring defense, allowing just under 14 points per game. Mississippi State has yet to face a defense as good as this Landshark defense. Though injuries have taken a toll, the Rebels are still extremely athletic and disciplined on defense.
6: Rebels quarterback Bo Wallace holds SEC records in six career offensive categories, including touchdowns, passing yards and completions. Wallace missed a few series in last week’s loss to Arkansas due to a sprained ankle. Wallace will play on Saturday afternoon, but it is uncertain whether or not he will be at full health.
104: Ole Miss tops the SEC and ranks ninth in the country having scored 104 points off turnovers. The Landshark defense has forced a nation-best 18 turnovers on the season, and the offense has been good at converting those chances into points. The Rebels need to make takeaways count against the Bulldogs, who do little to beat themselves.
The Bad
4-9: The Rebels’ record against ranked teams under Hugh Freeze. Ole Miss is 2-2 in 2014 against ranked opponents, and Mississippi State is the seventh ranked opponent Freeze’s team will face this season. A fifth win would be huge, not only in avenging last season’s Egg Bowl loss, but also for derailing the Bulldogs’ hopes of a College Football Playoff berth.
6: Ole Miss committed six turnovers in last week’s 30-0 loss to Arkansas. The Rebels must play mistake-free football on Saturday afternoon; with its injury-riddled offense, Ole Miss isn’t good enough to give free points to opponents. Protecting the football will be key to a Rebels win.
39: Mississippi State ranks 11th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 39.0 points per game. Ole Miss’ offense has struggled in recent weeks to put up points, and if this game turns into a back-and-forth affair, advantage Bulldogs. Ole Miss’ defense is good enough to keep it in the game, but the Rebels need to be opportunistic.