Ole Miss and Mississippi State desperately hope to avoid bowl letdowns
Last season was arguably the most successful year for SEC football in the state of Mississippi. For the first time since 1940, Ole Miss and Mississippi State combined to win 19 games.
Mississippi State (10-3) was No. 1 in the first-ever College Football Playoff rankings and Ole Miss (9-4) was No. 4.
Unfortunately, their seasons ended with a dud. Both schools earned major bowl berths, but lost the games.
The Rebels and Bulldogs may be desperate to avoid another letdown this year in the Sugar Bowl and Belk Bowl, respectively.
Desperation, however, can be two-fold. Coaches should want urgency in their team’s play, but too much desperation can lead to mistakes.
Ole Miss had plenty of mistakes in a 42-3 loss to TCU in the Peach Bowl. The Rebels turned the ball over with interceptions on two of their first four drives, allowing the Horned Frogs to take a 14-point lead.
In the second quarter, the Ole Miss defense induced two takeaways, but the offense failed to capitalize. The drives ended in a missed field goal and punt.
After a third TCU touchdown, the Rebels secondary came up with another big play when safety Cody Prewitt intercepted TCU QB Trevone Boykin at the Ole Miss 2-yard line.
But two plays later, Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace threw his third pick. It was returned for a touchdown, giving the Frogs a 28-0 lead at halftime.
Early mistakes also plagued Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech.
On the third play from scrimmage, QB Dak Prescott threw an interception. That set up the Yellow Jackets on the Bulldogs 36. Tech quickly jumped ahead by a TD and led by 14 at the end of the first quarter.
With the help of a “Hail Mary” at the end of the half, Mississippi State pulled within a point, but the Bulldogs never took the lead. Three TDs in the third quarter helped Tech win, 49-34.
Mississippi State had similar problems in the Egg Bowl just over a week ago. Two giveaways in the first quarter — including an Ole Miss TD on an interception return — helped the Rebels score three TDs and lead 28-3 at halftime.
The Bulldogs must avoid early mistakes against N.C. State in the Belk Bowl in Prescott’s final game. The desperation level may be high, but last year’s bowl experience and the recent Egg Bowl should teach Mississippi State how important it is to play well from the start.
Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly cannot draw upon past bowl experiences, but is playing well with 1,149 total yards and 13 total TDs in his last three games.
Bowl victories for Ole Miss (9-3), playing in its first Sugar Bowl in 46 years, and Mississippi State (8-4) would reinforce the perception that the programs are headed in the right direction and tie last year’s mark of 19 combined victories between the two schools.