In 1980 MSU defeated 2 time defending national champion Alabama 6-3 to mark the programs biggest win in school history. In 1977 Ole Miss defeated Notre Dame who eventually won the national championship 20-13 as its biggest win. A win in either one of these for either school would be the biggest win in each of the schools history. Why? The national media is watching. Sure the national media saw those 2 teams upset their respective schools in the at time but the national media focused on how bad of a loss it was for Alabama or Notre Dame to lose to those 2 schools. This year there has never been bigger exposure for the state or Mississippi. If both Mississippi and Mississippi State win Saturday, then they will be on the top of the SEC West(and solely if LSU wins).

Don't believe just me that this is the biggest weekend. Lets ask CBS who says "The state's two flagship schools are now keeping more of that talent at home. They have to start delivering -- at once, on the national stage."

Or how about ESPN "It's almost too good to be true for a state that treats football as nothing short of a religious experience. Of course, the great irony is that even some of the most impassioned Mississippi State and Ole Miss fans would have guessed that only divine intervention would have positioned both programs to make this kind of noise in the big, bad SEC West."

The fact is we never have had this type of exposure. What a lot of people do not know which I have been very vocal for years(but living in Alabama no one really listens) is that the Egg Bowl is the most intense rivalry in all of College Football. Yes even more than Alabama(they just have more people and the media focuses on them more). In Alabama you only see them talk about Football. In Mississippi Its "Who cares if we lost to you in football we still beat ya'll in baseball". This goes for every sport not just Football And you have seen that with the 1997 fight and probaly the most intense Egg Bowl last year with Ole Miss having the opportunity to spoil MSUs bowl chances but not capitalizing. But this Egg Bowl looks to be even more intense. Now to preview both games:

Mississippi State comes into this weekend fresh off a bye after upsetting number 8 LSU in Death Valley at night. The team is as focused as ever to win this weekend and hopes to defeat the brilliant offense of Kevin Sumlin. Sumlin and Mullen have played each other ever year except for 2011. Sumlin at A&M has won both match ups against MSU and Mullen has won only once at Houston in 2010 47-24. A&M barely gets by Arkansas who was leading 28-14 before allowing 3 straight TDs to let A&M win in OT. Make no mistake Arkansas is good and will prove it later this year wen they defeat Georgia and Missouri. Does A&M have the defense to stop MSU? No. Does MSU have the defense to stop A&M? Yes and No. They will stop A&Ms rushing attack but A&M will still get their passing yards. I really like the Bulldogs in this match up and I think they will win this pretty easily. Who knows maybe Tim Tebow will pick MSU to win as MSU is the first Mississippi team to host SEC Nation.

College Gameday is in Oxford. And as far as I can see this is the most excited Ole Miss has ever been for a game(I wasn't around for Archie Manning s Alabama game). If you remember correctly Ole Miss has only one 9 times against Alabama. Only Winning with Eli and Archie Manning(and a 1976 Jackson game and 1988 game their only win at Bryant Denny) in "recent"(before 1960's) years. Ole Miss offense has not looked great this season. Bo Wallace has just been a turnover machine really doing more harm than right for Ole Miss in his career which has cost him numerous games in the past. Bo Wallace has not thrown a TD pass against Alabama in his career. However this Ole Miss defense is really really good. And they are going up against one of the top offenses in Blake Sims led by Lane Kiffin. I really don't see Alabama scoring that many points on Ole Miss. They struggled to score last year and their defense is even better than last years. Truth be told I really don't think a perfect game from Bo Wallace is the only way they win this game. I really think this Defense can keep them in this game long enough to possibly win. However if the Ole Miss offense looks anywhere near what I saw last Saturday against Memphis, Ole Miss will lose very decisively. However I doubt that will happen and yes I think they pull it off against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

While I think the State of Mississippi will capitalize this weekend my question is this. Will you be pulling for your rival the Mississippi Rebels against Alabama?