Which way to cheer?

HD6

Sophomore
Apr 8, 2003
10,019
108
63
Do you cheer for Ole Miss this weekend, so that MSU's resume has top 10 win, or do you cheer for Arkansas, so that Ole Miss doesn't come into the Egg Bowl with a chance to win the West themselves and have that motivation?

I think even if they lose, they would still be top 15, and if we beat them, they are still top 25, so I'm taking the easy route and going Arkansas. Ole Miss at home with an outside chance for Atlanta is bothersome to me.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,018
2,097
113
Gotta go with Arkansas to eliminate the mathematical possibility of the Bears going to Atlanta, regardless of how improbable it is.
 

Sutterkane

Redshirt
Jan 23, 2007
5,100
0
0
Since we aren't their real rival it makes sense that they wouldn't be as up if they lose to Arkansas; there'd be no west title to play for. Just another game. So I'll go with Arkansas.
 

8dog

All-American
Feb 23, 2008
14,034
5,938
113
An ark win makes them bowl eligible and look like another solid win. And i feel like the committee chair would feel the same
 

DerHntr

All-Conference
Sep 18, 2007
15,831
2,789
113
So a win for OM is good for us in the long run? Seems like I've seen a similar statement somewhere**

I want them to lose to Arkansas. They will be plenty motivated Thanksgiving weekend no matter what. The opportunity to play spoiler to our season and them go to the SEC championship makes it even worse. I'm rooting for the Hogs.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
57,038
26,628
113
I never cheer for Mississippi to win a game unless we know that a UM win directly benefits us. We don't know that a UM win directly benefits us, so Woo Pig!
 

AHSDawg

Redshirt
Sep 18, 2012
1,680
0
0
^^THIS^^ combined with the fact that us winning out is the only thing that helps us. All else is just window dressing. If they want to keep us out for any of the various reasons without realizing that we have the best 1 loss criteria in America is going to keep us out no matter the situation.
 

SirBarksalot

Junior
May 28, 2007
2,980
280
83
If we are slotted at #5 tonight, would that change your thinking?

We need to win out regardless, and a win against a higher ranked OM helps IMO.
 

AHSDawg

Redshirt
Sep 18, 2012
1,680
0
0
We could finish with only 2 NON bowl eligible opponents.

How many other teams can say that???

USM 3-7
UAB 5-5 (must beat Marshall or USM)
USA 6-4
LSU 7-4
aTm 7-4
Aub 7-3
UK 5-6 (must beat Louisville)
Ark 5-5 (must beat TSUN or Mizzou)
UTM 5-6 (must be Eastern Ill)
Ala 9-1
Van 3-7
TSUN 8-2
 

johnson86-1

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
14,371
4,874
113
Do you cheer for Ole Miss this weekend, so that MSU's resume has top 10 win, or do you cheer for Arkansas, so that Ole Miss doesn't come into the Egg Bowl with a chance to win the West themselves and have that motivation?

I think even if they lose, they would still be top 15, and if we beat them, they are still top 25, so I'm taking the easy route and going Arkansas. Ole Miss at home with an outside chance for Atlanta is bothersome to me.

If we're in the top 4 tonight, want them to lose. If we're 5th, need them to win so we have another top 10 win.
 

121Josey

Redshirt
Oct 30, 2012
7,503
0
0
Nope. How many more Top 10 teams than the rest of the teams does State have to play to achieve legitimacy? None of the other teams will play a Top 10 team.

More important is Arkansas and possibly UK becoming bowl eligible.

If State is 5th, then the problem is not found on the field.
 

Arloguthrie

Redshirt
Nov 3, 2012
880
0
0
I never cheer for Mississippi to win a game unless we know that a UM win directly benefits us. We don't know that a UM win directly benefits us, so Woo Pig!

This is the correct answer. Suppose y’all root for us, and we beat Arkansas, and then we win the Egg Bowl (impossible, I know, but just use your imagination). In that case you would have rooted for a team you hate all for nothing. Think about how dirty you’d feel. I can't root for y'all unless there's a direct benefit to OM.


Plus, if y’all rooted for us, I’m afraid the collective propensity of our two fanbases to have our dreams crushed in cruel and unusual fashion would obliterate any hope we might otherwise have Saturday. So don’t put that evil on us, Bulldogs.
 

Sutterkane

Redshirt
Jan 23, 2007
5,100
0
0
Plenty of landmines left for the other 1 loss teams. We take care of business we look pretty good at 1 loss no matter what bama or TSUN does. I still think FSU loses at some point too.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,018
2,097
113
If they beat Arkansas, they'll know they still have a shot at the West, which would make them more determined to beat us. But I'm willing to take that risk. Gonna pull for Arkansas.
 

Hammer Down

Redshirt
Jul 19, 2014
1,360
0
0
My interests will always be what helps MSU the most. At present, I am very concerned about losing in Oxford, simply because stats and history back that up. I feel they need to be popped by Arkansas, then have nothing to play for but spoiler against us. 2012 shows what is capable of happening when are playing for something. We don't need that.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,018
2,097
113
Not a lot of opposition left. Almost any West team would be 12-0 this year with FSU's schedule. I'm not even sure the ACC is really a Power 5 conference ....
 

DamnGoodDawg

Redshirt
Oct 27, 2014
523
0
0
LSU 2 losses
Auburn 2 losses
Ole Miss 2 losses
ATM 2 losses

LSU, ATM and Auburn picked up their 3rd losses last weekend and are mailing it in the rest of the season. We need to add OM to that list. We will be in if we win out. We were #1 for God's sake and our loss is the best loss in the nation. I don't want OM having any motivation to play good for the Egg Bowl. Wanting to play spoiler against this State team just won't be enough to get it done in Oxford this year. I expect nothing but maroon in the stands after halftime.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,018
2,097
113
This is the correct answer. Suppose y’all root for us, and we beat Arkansas, and then we win the Egg Bowl (impossible, I know, but just use your imagination). In that case you would have rooted for a team you hate all for nothing. Think about how dirty you’d feel. I can't root for y'all unless there's a direct benefit to OM.


Plus, if y’all rooted for us, I’m afraid the collective propensity of our two fanbases to have our dreams crushed in cruel and unusual fashion would obliterate any hope we might otherwise have Saturday. So don’t put that evil on us, Bulldogs.

It's actually worse than that ... the universe would cease to exist, even before reactivation of the upgraded Hadron Collider will ....
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
57,038
26,628
113
Not sure that every West team wouldn't be 12-0 against FSU's schedule. In the Sagarin rankings, Arkansas is the lowest SECW team at #23. Clemson is the highest ranked team on FSU's schedule at #25.
 

AHSDawg

Redshirt
Sep 18, 2012
1,680
0
0
Here are the results

This is the number of opponents that WILL NOT be bowl eligible (Minimum)

MSU - 2
Oregon - 3
Ohio St - 2
Baylor - 4
TCU - 4
FSU - 3
 

msstate7

Redshirt
Nov 27, 2008
10,388
10
38
Not a lot of opposition left. Almost any West team would be 12-0 this year with FSU's schedule. I'm not even sure the ACC is really a Power 5 conference ....

Acc championship. We need duke to lose imo. Georgia tech stands a better chance
 

Xenomorph

All-American
Feb 15, 2007
15,455
9,261
113
On cheering for the bears to win?

 

Someones Touchy

Redshirt
Nov 17, 2014
22
0
0
How many other teams can say that???

USM 3-7x
UAB 5-5 (must beat Marshall or USM)
USA 6-4
LSU 7-4
aTm 7-4
Aub 7-3
UK 5-6 (must beat Louisville)
Ark 5-5 (must beat TSUN or Mizzou)
UTM (N/A)
Ala 9-1
Van 3-7x
TSUN 8-2

For FBS teams, you mean, right? Because UTM won't be "bowl eligible" since they are an FCS team.

I wanted to compare that to others, so here is Ole Miss followed by Alabama.

OLE MISS
Boise State 8-2
Vandy 3-7x
ULL 7-3
Memphis 7-3
Bama 9-1
A&M 7-4
Tennessee 5-5 (must beat Mizzou or Vandy)
LSU 7-4
Auburn 7-3
Presby (N/A)
Arkansas 5-5 (must beat Ole Miss or Mizzou)
MSU 9-1


BAMA

West Va 6-4
Fla Atl 3-7x
USM 3-7x
Florida 5-4 (must beat Eastern Kentucky or FSU)
Ole Miss 8-2
Arkansas 5-5 (must beat Ole Miss or Mizzou)
A&M 7-4
Tennessee 5-5 (must beat Mizzou or Vandy)
LSU 7-4
MSU 9-1
West Car (N/A)
Auburn 7-3


Guaranteed Bowl Eligible:
MSU - 6
Ole Miss - 8
Bama - 6

Guaranteed NOT Bowl Eligible:
MSU - 2
Ole Miss - 1
Bama - 2

Likely Bowl Eligible:
MSU - 1.5 (UAB, perhaps Arkansas)
Ole Miss - 1.5 (Tenn, perhaps Arkansas)
Bama - 2.5 (Florida, Tennessee, perhaps Arkansas)


Given all of that, I would honestly say that Ole Miss and Bama have the tougher overall schedule if you are just looking bowl eligibility. Let's be real, I just don't want to leave it up to the committee to go "well look at their nonconference." Because it looks really bad.

Nonconference W/L without MSU/Ole Miss/Bama results:
MSU - 19-18
Ole Miss - 28-11
Bama - 20-21

So, nonconference could really hurt both MSU and Bama, but if Bama wins the Iron Bowl and SECCG, then they are definitely in and nonconference doesn't matter. If MSU is fighting for that 4th spot, then you can bet the committee is going to scrutinize that. Just imagine if the Oklahoma State game was this year instead of last year. Sure, they are only 5-5 right now, but Oklahoma State at 5-5 would be seen as so much better than UAB at 5-5. Just the way it is.
 

MeridianDog

Freshman
Sep 3, 2008
3,226
80
48
My apologies to everyone here.

If it costs us everything and we wind up in the Mobile Bowl. I can't cheer for UM.

One must have some standards in their life
 

croomin

Redshirt
Oct 6, 2012
532
0
0
The pimary reasons I disagree and will be pulling for OM for the first time ever are the following:

- Committee has said incremental support will be given to Conference Championships

- OM will provide another "Signature Win" as a Top 10 opponent, another point of emphasis for the Committee

- Even if we initially hang at #4, the backdoor conference crown for another 1-loss team could provide the necessary points to jump us in the last poll; their Conference Championship wins will be over mid-teen to Top 25 opponents, which would become equitable wins to our Arky-beaten OM victory

- A Top 10 win during the last game further mitigates the perception that MSU has been in a state of decline since mid-year; impact of perception matters, because human beings are involved

I want the HodTods primed for action for us to drive to Oxford and shove a water hose down their throat. Then thank them for the boost for our Nat'l Title Run. The end.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,018
2,097
113
But they won't be a Top 10 team after we beat them, even if they beat Arkansas. LSU, Auburn, and A&M would be ranked considerably higher if we hadn't beat them.
 

croomin

Redshirt
Oct 6, 2012
532
0
0
I think rankings at the time of matchup matter, particularly in the last game of the season. It's not outside the realm of reality to potentially get a 1 spot bump off that win to serve as a tangible buffer from Championship games the following week.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,018
2,097
113
I think so too, but I'm not sure the committee will look at it that way. Maybe the last game or two of the season because the rankings should have been more solidified by then. We sure would have been better off if Auburn, LSU, and A&M were more competitive after we played them. Ideally, A&M would have beaten the Bears, the A&M/Auburn game would have been close, and Arkansas wouldn't have shut out LSU.

Close games and near losses don't seem to affect their opinions very much. Look at Alabama and TCU.
 

BiscuitEater

Redshirt
Aug 29, 2009
4,178
0
36
OM fans have come ...

'Out of the woodwork' to tell me just how REALLY important the Egg Bowl is this year. It's NOT just another game like they have been preaching for years. Imagine that ... guess we actually are their REAL Rival after all. Who knew.

Have noticed that the majority of OM fans that show their face over here ... disappeared Sat night, 25 Oct. And, only one or two have ventured back after our loss to Bama.