Mississippi State (7-1, 3-1) returns home this week licking their wounds after getting blasted last week by Alabama, and for the Bulldogs, this week gets no easier as Texas A&M ( 6-2, 3-2) comes to town. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN.

Dan Mullen’s team is now ranked 15th in the most recent BCS standings and theAggies come in right behind State at No. 16. This is a key game for both teams when it comes to bowl positioning, rankings and momentum.

For the Bulldogs, this will be a different kind of challenge as Aggies head coach KevinSumlin brings his wide-open offensive style into Starkville. The Bulldogs are very familiar with Sumlin, as they battled his Houston teams the last two years, but Sumlin, now at A&M, has a different group of players led by human highlight reel JohnnyManziel.

Today we look at a few keys to the game If the Bulldogs expect to win the Snow Bowlreunion on Saturday.

1. Force Manziel into turnovers

What Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel has been able to accomplish thus far as a freshman in the SEC is nothing short of amazing. Manziel has accounted for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air and by his legs and still has four games left to play. To think you can remotely stop Johnny football is crazy; I am not even sure you can slow him down. But what you must do is force him into turning the ball over.

The Aggies have lost seven fumbles and Manziel has thrown six interceptions this year, so you hope the Bulldogs can scheme defensively to force Manziel into making errant throws into a very good secondary led by Jonathan Banks and Darius Slay.

The Aggies will get their points, but if the Bulldogs can win the turnover battle, that will go a long way in securing a victory.

2. Run the ball, run the clock

Mississippi State has shown this year to be able to score points, but you do not want to get into a scoring battle with the Aggies. One way to slow this game down is by running the football, and the Bulldogs’ LadariusPerkins has shown this year he is capable of making plays in the running game.

Perkins is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and if State can mix a good dose of the ground game with precision passing from Tyler Russell off play-action, this should help do two things: Eat the clock and slow down A&M’s dynamic defensive endDamontre Moore, who leads the SEC with 10.5 sacks.

3. Get touchdowns, not field goals, in the red zone. 

It is no secret the Aggies can score. The one glaring stat though is that the Aggies are scoring 90 percent of the time when they hit the red zone. The Bulldogs, however, are only scoring 81 percent of the time and have to do a better job of scoring once they penetrate their opponents’ red zone.

This weekend, the Bulldogs need touchdowns, not field goals. It is always great to get points on every drive, but when you are facing a team that can score like Texas A&M, you better score every chance you get because the Aggies will get theirs.

Final Thoughts

This game is crucial for the Bulldogs on so many levels. This is a game where State needs to show they can beat a Top 25 team and a game in which they can regain positive momentum.

The Bulldog fans are again expected to sell out Davis Wade Stadium and the place should be rocking.

Dan Mullen is 1-1 against KevinSumlin and both games were fantastic, exciting games. I expect the same this time around.

If the Bulldogs can garner a few turnovers and turn those into scores while continuing to mix their run game with Tyler Russell’s precision passing, I expect a high scoring Bulldog win.

However, if Johnny Football does as he pleases and the Bulldogs fall behind, this could be a long day in Starkville.

Mississippi State (7-0, 3-0) is ranked 11th in the latest BCS poll and will make a familiar trip down Hwy 82 this Saturday to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for a  7:30 CT contest with defending National Champion and No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.

The game will be broadcast by ESPN and the Bulldogs are garnering no respect from the media and Vegas as the betting lines have the Bulldogs as 24-point underdogs.

I am not about to sit here and tell you how Mississippi State will beat Alabama because if the two played 10 times, odds are Bama could very well win all 10. What we are seeing Nick Saban do with the Crimson Tide is as close to a dynasty in college football as it gets. They seem to have no weaknesses and live off other teams’ mistakes.

So does this mean the Bulldogs should just head to Tuscaloosa for some barbecue and head back home? Absolutely not.

The Bulldogs have been in this situation before with the Tide and played Alabama into the fourth quarter last year down only 10-0. Bulldog head coach Dan Mullen and his staff will have this team prepared as they have all season, and if the Bulldogs want to again take this game into the fourth quarter with a punchers chance at the end, then three things must happen.

1. Attack Alabama’s Offense

This is a given and nothing new. Alabama loves to pound the football with their great running backs and superior offensive line. They also have a quarterback in AJ McCarronwho has been flawless this year. It all starts with stopping Alabama’s running game and the Bulldogs must commit a safety, a combination of players and schemes to stop the Bama rushing attack.

The big cue for the Bulldogs is when you do this you have to play man to man defense, and there are no two corners better in the SEC than Jonathan Banks and Darius Slay. Both are tied for the league lead with four interceptions apiece and they will be the best set of corners McCarron could face all season.

Throw in a very versatile NickoeWhitley and Corey Brumfield, and this secondary could end up givingMcCarron fits if the Bulldogs force him to have to make plays throwing the football.

2. Win the Turnover Battle and Field Position

If you are going to even think about keeping a game close with a team like Alabama, you have to win the field position battle first. This means you have to at the best position, generate some first downs and move the chains and if you have to punt, make Alabama go 70 or 80 yards to score every time.

The Bulldogs’ Baker Swedenburg has done all that Dan Mullen has asked this year,averaging 40.6 yards per punt. When the Bulldogs stall on offense it is important forSwedenburg to continue to flip the field.

Another thing the Bulldogs need to do is continue to win the turnover battle.

The Bulldogs lead the country in turnover margin as they have intercepted 12 footballs this year and recovered nine fumbles. Conversely, the Bulldogs have only turned the ball over four times this year. For State to have any chance in this game, they have to create opportunities through forcing a fumble or doing something that has yet to be done this season; that is pick off AJ McCarron.

3. Remember Green is the Color of Money and Malcom is in the Middle   

Coming into this game Alabama leads the SEC with 13 interceptions, and if there is a secondary comparable to the one the Bulldogs boast, it is Alabama. Bulldog quarterback Tyler Russell will have to be careful throwing against the ball hawks in crimson this week. But if Russell has an advantage in the passing game, it is his two tight ends in Malcolm Johnson and Marcus Green.

The dynamic tight end duo has combined for six touchdowns this year, and the Bulldogs just got Johnson back a few weeks ago after suffering an arm injury in the preseason. Johnson, who is the more athletic of the two, and Green, the veteran sixth year senior brings size, speed and agility to the middle of the field. Both are problems for most linebackers.

Alabama has arguably the best linebackers in the country but if Russell can get Green and Johnson the ball often, that will help free up wide receiver Chad Bumphis and should help soften that front seven for the Bulldog running game.

Final Thoughts

What we are witnessing at Alabama is remarkable. The rate at which Nick Saban is recruiting high-level players, developing them, sending them to the pro ranks and winning football games is nothing short of amazing.

Dan Mullen has taken Mississippi State from SEC also-ran to mid-tier SEC status in a little under four years.

The Bulldogs have always given Alabama their best shot and I expect the same effort from the Bulldogs this Saturday night. The Bulldogs will be the most physical team the Tide has played thus far in 2012. Will that be enough for the Bulldogs to do the unthinkable? I wouldn’t bet on it but if the Bulldogs win the turnover margin, can flip the field, and play to their strengths—do not be surprised to see a tight ballgame heading into the fourth quarter and some very concerned Alabama fans sitting at Bryant Denny stadium.

Mississippi State football is traveling in uncharted waters. The Bulldogs are 6-0 for the first time since 1999 and right in the mix for the SEC West crown.  The Bulldogs are also ranked 15th in the country according to the AP Poll and 12th in the first BCSstandings of the 2012 season.

For head coach Dan Mullen’s team to continue on the path of the unbeaten’s and keep momentum, the Bulldogs must win their final non conference game of the season as they entertain the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (4-2, 2-1 Sun Belt) this Saturday for Homecoming.

Game time is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

This is a classic trap game for the Bulldogs as they are coming off a 41-31 victory over Tennessee and head to Tuscaloosa next weekend to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Blue Raiders have already pulled one major upset this season as they went to Bobby Dodd Stadium and beat Georgia Tech 49-28.  Middle Tennessee will be without leading rusher Benny Cunningham as head coach Rick Stockstill confirmed a knee injury will sideline the Sun Belts leading rusher for the rest of the season.

Adam Sparks of Ganett Tennessee is also now reporting the Blue Raiders will be without wide receiver Marcus Henry who broke his ankle in last weeks win over Florida International.  Sparks reports that Stockhill says this injury is just as big if not bigger than the Cunningham injury.  “From a numbers standpoint, I think that one hurts as much as losing Benny,” Stockstill said. “There were guys behind Benny. … We are going to have to move some guys around at wide receiver.”

Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell is on pace to break several school passing records.
Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

Even now without Cunningham and Henry, the Blue Raiders are still a very potent team and come into this game averaging right at 33 points per game.  The Jackson Clarion Ledger’s Brandon Marcello reportsthat Dan Mullen is well aware of how dangerous a game this is and the potential of a trap.  “Every game is a trap game. We had a trap game Saturday, a trap game the week before. … If you don’t bring your focus in college football today, you’re not going to win.”

For the Bulldogs its not only about not overlooking Middle Tennessee but also to continue to get better this week.  Last week the Bulldogs looked crisp on offense and played arguably their most complete game from an offensive standpoint.  Tyler Russell threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns and now for the season has 12 touchdowns to only one interception.

With a brutal stretch looming for the Bulldogs with Trips to Alabama and LSU and home games with Texas A&M and Arkansas, it is important for the Bulldogs to continue to get better on both sides of the ball.

The Bulldogs need to clean up areas on defense such as missed tackles and continue to work on providing a better pass rush on opposing quarterbacks.

The Bulldogs also need to continue to focus more on their two tight ends on offense in Marcus Green and Malcolm Johnson.  Johnson returned last week after an arm injury and you saw the Bulldogs in a two tight end set several series and both tight ends provided issues for the Volunteers defense.  Very few teams have two tight ends as effective as Johnson and Green and the Bulldogs need to use that to their advantage.

Green and Johnson combined for three touchdowns last week and their effectiveness just helps open windows for other receivers and the running game.

For the Bulldogs the task is simple this weekend.  Stay healthy, execute and clean up your game and take care of business against the Blue Raiders.

There is no need to look ahead; I can promise you Alabama will still be there and waiting on you come next weekend in Tuscaloosa.

Mississippi State (5-0, 2-0 SEC) returns home this Saturday to host the Tennessee Volunteers (3-2, 0-2) in the biggest game in Starkville in many years.

Game time is slated for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2. For the Bulldogs and head coach Dan Mullen, this is another statement game as the Bulldogs look to go 3-0 in the SEC for the first time since 1999 and stay unbeaten on the season.

The Bulldogs have not defeated the Volunteers since 1994, and Tennessee holds the series lead over the Bulldogs, 28-15-1.

For Mississippi State to stay in the hunt for the SEC West title, a win against the Volunteers is a must, and we will look at three keys that will help secure a Bulldogs win.

1. Run like the wind

Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell is off to a good start this year, and much of the Bulldogs’ success on offense is dependent on his ability to complete passes at opportune times. But for the Bulldogs to be successful against the Volunteers, they need to continue being successful in the running game.

The Vols come into this game giving up 186.2 rushing yards per game. The Bulldogs are averaging right at 179 yards per game on the ground, so it is important for theDawgs to hit the 150-yard mark or higher via the running game.

Look for Mississippi State to feed the Volunteers a good dose of LaDarius Perkins and a combination of Derek Milton and Josh Robinson. This will help open up the passing windows for Tyler Russell and help sustain drives and eat time. This will also help keep Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray on the sideline.

2. Get in Bray’s face

Tyler Bray has only been sackedthree times this year. That’s right, only three times, which means Bray gets rid of the ball in a timely manner, and the Vols offensive line does a good job protecting the passer. If Bray has all day to throw on Saturday night, it could be a long night in Starkville, which is why it is important to get pressure on him. Sacks would be great, but the Bulldogs will at least need someone in Bray’s face, and they’ll need to put him on his backside a time or two.

Bray has thrown seven picks so far this season, and most of those came after he was rattled and got happy feet in the pocket. If the Bulldogs can at least pressure Bray, that may be all that the talented secondary of Mississippi State needs to create a few turnovers via the Vols’ passing game.

3. Don’t get cute coaching—just coach

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley is 0-12 against ranked opponents during his time in Knoxville, and his teams have been outscored 270-73 in the second halves of those games. We have all watched Dooley crack at times. His record against ranked opponents leads you to believe that he is getting out-coached, and his staff is not making the right adjustments at halftimes of games against ranked opponents.

Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen is 7-3 against the SEC East during his time inStarkville, and the Bulldogs have only lost one game under Mullen when they were favored—last year’s heartbreaking 41-34 loss at Auburn, where the Bulldogs were aseven-point favorite.

Dan Mullen, Tyler Russell and Chad Bumphis.
Marvin Gentry-US PRESSWIRE

The Bulldogs are a three-point favorite for this weekend’s contest. If Dan Mullen and his staff just play to win and don’t get cute with the play-calling, Dooley and his staff are prone to making mistakes, and the Bulldogs should win the battle between the headsets.

Final Call and a Score

This is a game that the Bulldogs need for several reasons. They need to win this game to prove they are making strides in the SEC and belong in the conversation with the upper-tier teams in the league. They also need this win to secure a third straight bowl bid. To do that at Mississippi State—and to do it in October—will say a lot about where this program is heading under Mullen.

Mississippi State will be able to run the ball and will run more than they throw on Saturday, allowing them to eat the clock and churn out yards. The Bulldogs will also apply just enough pressure to help Jonathan Banks and that talented secondary create a few turnovers.

When you combine those two things with what has been solid coaching from the Bulldogs staff and a boisterous home crowd, that equals a tough, hard-fought Bulldogs victory, and dear old State will move to 6-0.

Bulldogs 20 Rocky Top 17  

Mississippi State (4-0, 1-0 SEC) hits the road in the Southeastern Conference for the first time this season, and the Bulldogs make a familiar trip to Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., to do battle with the Kentucky Wildcats (1-4, 0-2).

Game time is slated for 11:21 a.m. CT on the SEC Digital Network. For the Bulldogs and head coach Dan Mullen, this is a crucial game in the schedule for several reasons.

The Bulldogs look to go 2-0 in the SEC for the first time since the 1999 season, but for that to happen, there are four keys they must focus on to leave Lexington with a win.

1. Run Baby Run

Do not let Mullen fool you. Yes, he runs the spread and quarterback Tyler Russell can throw it, but Mullen has shown he loves to run the football.  Coming into this weekend’s game, Kentucky is ranked 95th in the nation against the run, giving up 193 yards per game.

The Bulldog running backs should be salivating this weekend, especially  juniorLadarius Perkins. Perkins, who worked all offseason to become an every-down back in the SEC, is currently seventh in the SEC in total rushing at 389 yards and five scores.

Look for Perkins and the other backs for the Bulldogs to get the call early and often. Establishing the run will settle the crowd and lay a foundation for the entire game.

2. Pressure Kentucky’s Young Quarterbacks

With a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Maxwell Smith, Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips will now look to two freshmen in Patrick Towels and JalenWhitlow.

Whitlow is expected to start, but Phillips said both will play and could rotate every other play. Both are super talented freshmen and could cause trouble for an MSUdefense that has had trouble putting pressure on the quarterback this season. The Bulldogs do not have anyone in the top 10 in the SEC in sacks and really need to getJUCO transfer Denico Autry and the rest of the Bulldog defensive line going this week.

Luckily for the Bulldogs they have a secondary that is tops in the SEC in interceptions led by Jonathan Banks and Darius Slay. Both should be baiting these young quarterbacks all day long. If the defensive line can create pressure, it could be another big day for the guys in the secondary.

3. Welcome Back Malcolm Johnson and Feed Him:

During the first two games of the season, Mississippi State looked crisp in the passing game. Russell has spread the ball around to five or six guys, but one of them was not Malcolm Johnson. Johnson, the sophomore tight end, who came on late last year andaccounted for 206 yards and three scores, was a focal point for Bulldog passers last year. He has been unavailable thus far due to a pectoral injury.

Senior Marcus Green did a great job in the early going, filling in for Johnson as he accounted for 85 yards and three scores. But he has disappeared over the last two games as has the consistency in the  passing attack.

If Johnson is indeed back, as reported by Mike Herndon of the Mississippi Press, then look for Mullen to go to Johnson and Green early and often to open up the outside passing game for the other Bulldog receivers. This offense is best when it opens up from the middle first, then to the outside.

4. Now lets Roll!:

The Bulldogs are 4-0 and ranked 20th in the country, and that is fantastic.  However, the Bulldogs have played flat, looked disinterested and very lackluster in the last six quarters of football against South Alabama and the second half against Troy.

It is important for this team to come out with that swagger and bounce they had in Weeks 1 and 2.

 

(Tyler Russell will welcome back Malcolm Johnson with open arms.
Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

 

If this team comes out focused, gets the ball to Perkins and the tight ends and pressures the young signal-callers of Kentucky, then the Bulldogs will roll to 5-0.

This seems like a very simple concept, and hey, it is. It is only football and with having a week off, I fully expect a different team this weekend in Lexington, Ky., and I fully expect the Bulldogs to win their fourth straight versus the Cats.

It is no secret that the Mississippi State football program has a history full of mediocrity, suffering and a limited amount of success—which is why the fans of the Bulldogs should be ecstatic over their team’s 4-0 start.

But, if you look back over the last 40 years or so, great starts do not always equal fantastic finishes for the Bulldogs program.

Today we look back through the “modern era” of football to see how great starts have ended for the Mississippi State football program.

Continue here.

The Matchup:  South Alabama at #23 Mississippi State

When: Saturday, September 15th

Where: Troy, Alabama

Game Time: 7:00 PM ET

TV: ESPN3

Twenty two missed tackles and 18 blown assignments on defense.  That was the stat line that stood out in Mississippi State’s 30-24 win over Troy and that is the stat line (along with several dropped passes)  the Bulldogs (3-0) will look to correct this weekend as South Alabama (1-2) heads to Starkville for a night time contest at 7 PM EST on ESPN 3.

With a veteran group in the secondary and plenty of players with quality playing time one would expect this Mississippi State defense to be better equipped and prepared this season but so far that is not the case.

Per the Jackson Clarion Ledger  Brandon Marcello reports a breakdown of the Bulldog defense thus far with first the nations ranking and then the South Eastern Conference ranking for the Bulldogs and their is work to do against both the run and the pass.

Rushing Defense
141 ypg (54th ↓, 7th ↓)

Passing Defense

210 ypg (50th ↓, 7th ↓)

Total Defense

351 ypg (47th ↓, 9th ↓)

The focus for this Bulldog team needs to improve as Mississippi State will again be playing a team they would seem to over match on paper.  South Alabama was just playing prep schools a few years ago and are now transitioning into a Division one program under head coach Joey Jones.

With several teams over the recent years falling to programs of lesser stature – Mississippi State head man Dan Mullen knows not to take this team lightly as they will be prepared under Jones.

For Jones it is about motivating his team to play another big time college team after falling 31-7 to North Carolina State.

“You always prepare to win. If you’re an odds maker you might not pick us to win, but there is somebody who gets beat every week who isn’t supposed to. That’s the way I look at it.”, said Jones.

“We will go out and prepare. We were watching film of last week’s game, and had we done some of the things we were supposed to do, the game would have been much closer. It all comes down to us, not how good our opponent is. If we do the right things and put ourselves in a position to win, we will have a chance, and if we don’t we won’t.”

“We are going to get knocked around some, they have some big linemen. But we’ll keep fighting back and trying to make plays and do what we are supposed to do, that is what we have to focus on.”

For State – again it is a game they need to take seriously, take control of early and correct their miscues from last week.

A repeat performance and this team may not be so lucky next time.

The Matchup:  Mississippi State at Troy

When: Saturday, September 15th

Where: Troy, Alabama

Game Time: 7:00 PM ET

TV: ESPN3

After last week’s win over Auburn that saw Dan Mullen’s Mississippi State team (2-0, 1-0) finally get over the hump of not beating anyone else in the  western division of the SEC not named Mississippi – the message was clear from the fourth year head coach; celebrate then move on as we are just getting started.  Now Mullen did not say exactly those words but he knows you cannot linger on one win or you will be slapped in the mouth.

Mississippi State takes to the road for the first time this year traveling to Troy Alabama to take on the Trojan’s (1-1) in a game that will mark the first time a Southeastern Conference team has ever played at Troy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Dan Mullen spoke of this inguinal trip during his weekly press conference and knows if his team isn’t ready – they could be running into a buzz saw.

“I know they’ve had some big home wins over the BCS schools in the past, so their guys at Troy know how to play and know how to win games, know how to do it at home. We’re expecting a hostile environment when we get in there. They’re a very explosive team. We’re going to have to come out, play very well on both sides of the ball and deal with that adversity of being on the road for the first time this year.”

The Trojan’s come into this game with a very explosive offense averaging just over 31 points per game but are giving up just over 33 on the defensive side of the ball.  Wide receiver Trip Reeves leads the Trojan attack with 10 catches for 133 yards in this still young season.  This will be a different test for the Bulldog defense and particularly the MSU secondary.

Offensively the Bulldogs hope to continue to show balance in running the football and throwing it as getting off to a fast start and taking the crowd out of the game will be key.  Every Bulldog remembers 2001 – a year that saw Troy come into Starkville and win 21-9. Likewise in 2002 the Bulldogs escaped with an 11-8 win over the Trojans.

This is a game that the Bulldogs cannot take lightly. This is a game the Bulldogs need to get control of early or it could get interesting.

Coming into Saturday’s game with Auburn – All Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen had heard was his teams  had not beaten anyone in the SEC West besides Mississippi since his time in Starkville and could his team actually defeat anyone else with in that division?

After a 28-10 domination of the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, it is apparent that Mullen and his football Dogs not only can beat someone else with-in the division, they can dominate them.

“I always laugh,” Mullen told reporters. “You guys think, I guess the monkey is off my back now. I view it as a bigger one just jumped on, and I hope in November we’re talking about an 800-pound gorilla jumping on my back. That’s what I want for our program.”

After nearly beating Clemson in the Georgia Dome last week, Auburn looked sluggish, slow and out classed in Starkville.

“I thought it was a very dismal performance,” head coach Gene Chizik said. “We got outplayed, and I’m going to own it. That’s the bottom line. We have to improve as a football team, and we will. That’s my job.”

The Bulldogs (2-0, 1-0) snapped a four-game losing streak to Auburn and beat its first SEC West rival outside of Mississippi under their fourth-year coach who improved to 4-12 within the division. This is also the first time the Bulldogs are 1-0 in conference play since 1999.

“We’ve talked since I’ve been here that we were going to compete for SEC championships, and I’ve talked about the road we have to take to do that,” Mullen said. “You have to win your home games, you have to win your conference opener and both of those happened for us today.”

After falling behind 10-7 on a second half kickoff return for a touchdown, the Bulldogs took control behind junior quarterback Tyler Russell and never looked back.

Russell completed 20 of  29 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns en route to a 28-10 victory that could have been a lot worse.

In a game that saw the Bulldogs dominate the Tigers 388-216 on the total yards column, the Bulldogs were able to move the ball just enough at critical times and keep the Tigers at bay to take the win.

“We went out there and played defense, the offense got on the field and they put up seven,” cornerback Johnthan Banks said. “That was something we couldn’t do in the past, and now we’ve got a quarterback. We’ve always had a quarterback, but I feel like like we’ve got true quarterback, one of the best quarterbacks in the country and we have a lot of faith in Tyler and the offense to get the job done.”

Russell recorded a career-best 20 completions, which included passes to nine different players and touchdowns throws of 30, 13 and 3 yards. He became the first MSU quarterback since 2010 to throw for 200-plus yards in an SEC game.

“We need him to play like that if we want to compete for a championship this season,” Mullen said. “We need him to play like that every single week.”

Many people questioned could Russell be a legitimate starter in the SEC coming into this season but after Saturday’s performance he answered many of his critics questions about him and this team.

“We just had to respond,” Russell said.

“I think a lot of teams will stop overlooking us,” said Russell, “and start respecting us.”

The Matchup: Auburn at Mississippi State

When: Saturday, September 8th

Where: Starkville, Mississippi

Game Time: 12:00  AM ET

TV: ESPN

There is an old saying to be the man you need to beat the man.  Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen has said before his team is close and they can compete in this conference for championships.  Actions speak louder than words and Mullen is 3-12 verses the SEC West.

All of that can change this weekend as the Bulldogs (1-0) host the Auburn Tigers (0-1) this Saturday.

Auburn and Mississippi State are no strangers on the playing field as the two have met 77 times on the gridiron with the Tigers holding a 44-28-5 advantage over the Bulldogs.  The Tigers are 10-1 in their last 11 contests verses the Bulldogs but the last two have stung the Bulldogs and the Mississippi State faithful.

Mississippi State in both the 2010 and 2011 contests had opportunites on the final drive to win the ball game but fell just short.  Last year it was by inches – literally.

Auburn coach Gene Chizik is still adjusting to life with two new coordinators in offensive coordinator Scott Loeffler and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.

Under Loeffler Chizik is determined to go from the spread back to a pro style offense and if week one was any indication verses Clemson, The transition will take some time with new quarterback Kiehl Frazier.

In week one Mississippi State was very vanilla on both sides of the ball but expect to see a different team this week when they meet the Tigers.

Mississippi State will force Auburn to throw the football and rely on its wealth of experience in the secondary, led by All American Jonathan Banks to control Frazier and the Auburn passing game.

Likewise on the offensive side of the ball, expect Tyler Russell to use a controlled passing game early to set up the  running game.  This sets up to be another great donnybrook and a close game, but this year Dan Mullen will finally get the best of his western division counterpart.

My prediction?  Mississippi State 28 Auburn 17