Egg Bowl Conundrum

[BeastMan]

Ole Miss is currently ranked #24 in the AP poll and not ranked in the coaches. I think they should be ranked in both but I guess other HC don't care for Freeze, I dunno. I just can't figure out why they aren't ranked. ANYWAYS, most MSU fans will be rooting for Mizzou this Saturday. Most will cheer if they beat the Rebs in Oxford. The problem is that the Rebs wouldn't be ranked for the EB and even if the dogs win, folks could still use the "Mullen hasn't beaten a ranked team..."

So would you rather:

(1) Root for Ole Miss to beat Mizzou so they come to Starkville ranked even though that win would help their bowl placement. Mullen could finally get that monkey off his back. This option would bring more positive national attention should MSU win.

(2) Root for Ole Miss to lose to Mizzou and MSU. Screw the "Mullen beating ranked opponent stat". This option has less positive national media exposure if MSU wins.


A classic "your cake and eat it too" situation

[Big4Dawg]

I'd rather them lose to Mizz.

If we win out, and they lose out, we are 6-6, they are 7-5. Not a clear difference.

[Barking 13]

2

[Bo Darville]

Beastman, what movie/tv show is that from?

On the Ole Miss subject. I want Missouri to beat them by 40 and MSU to be Arkansas by 40. Then we whip them big in the Egg Bowl. We finish 6-6 and win a bowl. They finish 7-5 and lose a bowl. Next year we go 12-0, win the SEC championship game, and make the new playoff format. They go 0-12, and their crowds look like something in Hattiesburg.

[BeastMan]

So a few already for #2. Allow me to play devil's advocate. #1 would be shown be pushed as an upset by major sports news outlets (like ESPN) and be displayed more on TV, twitter, Facebook, etc... It would make a bigger national splash. Would look better for recruiting this and next year. It would also be a bigger "mark" against Freeze. If OM is ranked that would be a game he is clearly supposed to win (as far as national perception).

[FISHDAWG]

set your emotions aside then make that choice ... either way, I'm not sure it would help us in either public perception or with recruiting ...... having said that, I would rather see them beat Mizz and remain ranked when we play them

[Coach34]

NEVER....EVAHHHHH....ROOT.....FOR...OLE MISS

Mizzou all the way

[CadaverDawg]

2.

All day, every day

[DawgInMemphis]

So a few already for #2. Allow me to play devil's advocate. #1 would be shown be pushed as an upset by major sports news outlets (like ESPN) and be displayed more on TV, twitter, Facebook, etc... It would make a bigger national splash. Would look better for recruiting this and next year. It would also be a bigger "mark" against Freeze. If OM is ranked that would be a game he is clearly supposed to win (as far as national perception).

It may make a bigger splash if they were ranked when we played them, but (assuming we beat them) them beating a ranked Mizzou team will do more for their recruiting than losing to us will hurt it. I think our cause is helped equally as far as recruiting goes if we beat a #20 ranked UM or an unranked UM.

In other words, I'll take the deuce.

[The Croom Diaries]

I don't really care about whether they were ranked or not, just whether or not they were a good team, re: finished with a winning record. Beating OM would accomplish that - something we haven't done since 2010 (beat a SEC or BCS team that finished the year with a winning record). So root against OM, then beat them and the entire fan base will be pumped and 90% of the hand wringing will go away.

[Madkinmecrazy]

My gut says #2 but my head says #1.

A chance to beat a Top 15 team, at home, on Thanksgiving, would be magical. ESPN would hype the game more if a ranked team is playing, our team would build momentum over a ranked squad before the bowl, and recruits would take notice.

At the end of the day, a ranking is just a number and doesn't count for shit. But I sure would love to beat a ranked team to finish out the regular season. And who cares if they finish 8-4 or 7-5? As long as we beat them, I couldn't care less if they go 11-1.

I don't get the argument about hoping that your rival always sucks. Sure, its good for recruiting, but having a good rival elevates the play on BOTH sides of the rivalry. Stakes are higher, games are better, and the rivalry actually MATTERS to people outside of the fanbases.

I usually am pretty complacent in any OM game that doesn't effect MSU in any way. I have too much other stuff to worry about to cheer against a team that I simply don't care anything about.

[Dawgtini]

Is there a way they can lose twice to MU?

[DownwardDawg]

I hope Missouri crushes them.

[War Machine Dawg]

If Mississippi played Al Qaeda University, I'd root for Al Qaeda University. Go Mizzou!

[Percho]

2

Me 2

[RiverCityDawg]

#2 easy. Ole miss won't be ranked either way if we beat them, so I don't see enough benefit to pull for them against Mizzou. In fact, if we win, most random non-SEC joes watching the game in a turkey comma will probably think we were the team that was supposed to win and goes by the name ole miss or Mississippi state or bulldogs or rebels.

[Percho]

If Mississippi played Al Qaeda University, I'd root for Al Qaeda University. Go Mizzou!

Me 2

[stxdawg]

I can't imagine any scenario where I would root for the bears. They are not a good team. They will lose to Mizzou in a close one, then travel into Davis-Wade and get pounded by us.

[Thick]

I don't give a damn if they win or lose vs Mizzou. I care more about us vs UA. If we lose to the Hogs, will anybody really care about Mizzou vs OM? Every MSU board known to mankind will be blowing up with a vengeance!

I know that the original question is linked to MSU, but none of it will matter if we lose this Saturday.

[cubswillwinitonedaydawg]

#2 all day.
I'll enjoy a win over them at 7-4 just as much. Plus the media would probably find a way to point out how badly they played rather than "wow, MSU with a great game and big upset."
A win over them if they were ranked after beating Missouri would be nice - sure, but then you create the risk of a loss to them to put them at 9-3. That would absolutely suck. If I was more confident in us winning, I might could handle #1 easier. But with our struggles this year and our QB situation, I want to avoid seeing them at 9 wins at all costs. Imagine the offseason and preseason hype they would get. Would be like 08-09 all over again. And this time they don't have Nutt and Snead to make them trip and fall on their faces.
Go Tigers.