Ole Miss vs Mississippi State Odds – Picks and Predictions for 2021 Egg Bowl

• No. 12 Ole Miss faces No. 25 Mississippi State in the 2021 Egg Bowl on Thursday, November 25th
• The Bulldogs are listed as short home favorites at Davis-Wade Stadium
• Read below for the Egg Bowl odds, game preview and betting prediction

Egg Bowl week has arrived, and this year’s installment could be one of the best yet. Mississippi State (7-4) hosts Ole Miss (9-2) in the annual battle for the Egg Bowl Trophy on Thanksgiving night (Thursday, November 25th). Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET.

This is the first Egg Bowl since 2015 in which both teams are ranked. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels can lock up a New Year’s Six bowl with a victory, while Mike Leach’s Bulldogs can improve their own bowl prospects with a win.

With bowl implications on the line, what’s the best bet for Ole Miss vs Mississippi State on Thursday night in Starkville?

Ole Miss vs Mississippi State Egg Bowl Odds

Odds as of November 22nd at DraftKings

The 2021 Egg Bowl odds opened with Mississippi State as 2.5-point favorites, but the line has shifted towards a pick’em.

Rebels Are Handling Business

Ole Miss comes into Egg Bowl week having won three straight games against Texas A&M, Liberty and Vanderbilt. QB Matt Corral threw for 306 yards and two TDs in a 31-17 victory over the Commodores last weekend. Mississippi failed to covered the spread as heavy 35.5-point home favorites.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/hlCtC2P0Pb

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 21, 2021

Matt Corral has been the MVP of the Rebels this season, throwing for 3,100 yards and 19 TDs with just three interceptions. The senior pivot is complimented in the backfield by three 500-yard running backs in Henry Parrish Jr., Snoop Conner and Jerrion Ealy. The Rebels are averaging  36.4 points and 517.5 yards per game.

While Ole Miss is an offensive monster under Kiffin, they’ve had their fair share of defensive struggles. In their two losses to Alabama and Auburn, the Rebels struggled to stop the run. Mississippi gave up 200-plus rushing yards to both the Tigers and Tide. On the year, Ole Miss is allowing 25.4 points and 428.5 yards per game.

Bulldogs Are Heating Up

Mississippi State enters Egg Bowl week having won four of its past five games. Mike Leach’s team is one of the hottest programs in the SEC with  recent victories over Vandy, Kentucky and Auburn. The Bulldogs last took the field in Week 12 when they beat up Tennessee State 55-10, covering the spread as 44-point favorites.

Dawgs Win!!!#DawgsWinAgain | #HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/CueomHKlLs

— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) November 20, 2021

QB Will Rogers threw for almost 400 yards against the Tigers, which has become a common theme for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are averaging 390 passing yards per game, but only 62.1 rushing yards per contest. Rogers has been dominant in his sophomore season, throwing for over 4,00 yards with 34 TDs with eight picks.

Mississippi State is also strong defensively, exemplified by Tennessee State managing only 44 first-half yards last weekend. The Bulldogs are allowing just 326.1 yards per game, which is fourth-best in the SEC. MS State has one of the conference’s best linebackers in senior Tyrus Wheat (6 sacks).

2021 Egg Bowl Pick & Prediction

Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State are playing well entering the 2021 Egg Bowl. The Bulldogs are on a different level, however, covering the spread in five straight games. They’ve won four of the last five Egg Bowls and will be hungry for revenge after losing 31-24 to Ole Miss in 2020.

Ole Miss went a perfect 7-0 at home this season, but their performances on the road have been lackluster. Kiffin’s team got dominated at the lines of scrimmage in losses to Alabama and Auburn, while surrendering 467 yards of offense in a close win at Tennessee.

While Ole Miss has more to play for in the 2021 Egg Bowl, it’s hard to bet against what Mississippi State’s Will Rogers is doing. The sophomore has eclipsed 300 passing yards in every game this season and has an NFL-caliber receiver at his disposal in Makai Polk (88 REC, 891 YDS).

The man is just on a different level right now 🔥#HailState🐶 | @Wrogers__2 pic.twitter.com/MNejzppLPw

— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) November 21, 2021

In what’s virtually a coin-flip game between two lethal offenses, back the team with the superior defense and home-field advantage. Mississippi State is only allowing 96 rushing yards and should bottle up Ole Miss’ three-headed rushing monster of Perrish Jr, Conner and Ealy.

This game will come down to a few big throws, and that’s where the red-hot Rodgers will out-duel Corral. Rogers had a huge performance in last year’s Egg Bowl, but came up short. He’ll light up this Ole Miss secondary once again, and this time he’ll get his revenge on the scoreboard Saturday in Starkville.

• Pick: Mississippi State Moneyline (-120)