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College Football Preview: Mississippi State
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
2010 Statistics:
SU Record: 9-4 (4-4 in SEC)
ATS Record: 7-5
Over/Under: 4-8
Points Scored: 29.0 PPG
Points Allowed: 19.8 PPG
2011 Odds:
Odds to Win SEC West: 9/2
Odds to Win SEC Championship: 13/1
Odds to Win 2012 BCS National Championship: 60/1
2011 Preview:
Offense:
Multiple Spread Option - Starters Returning: 8
After an 8-2 finish last season, the Bulldogs hope to make some noise in the powerful SEC West. QB Chris Relf (1,789 pass yds, 13 TD, 6 INT; 713 rush yds, 5 TD) has always been a great rusher, but his passing ability improved greatly last year (569 pass yds, 6 TD in final two games). Relf has a strong supporting cast with TB Vick Ballard (968 rush yds, 5.3 YPC, 19 TD) and WR Chad Bumphis (634 rec yds, 5 TD), and a quality offensive line returning three starters.
Defense:
Base 43 - Starters Returning: 7
The defense hung tough last year, racking up 90 TFL and holding opponents under 20 PPG. But MSU loses its three best front-seven players who combined for 33.5 TFL (DE Pernell McPhee, LB Chris White, LB K.J. Wright). The secondary should improve though, with a trio of 3-INT returnees (CBs Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield, and FS Nickoe Whitley).
2011 Schedule:
Thu, Sept. 1 – at Memphis
Sat, Sept. 10 – at Auburn
Thu, Sept. 15 – LSU
Sat, Sept. 24 – Louisiana Tech
Sat, Oct. 1 – at Georgia
Sat, Oct. 8 – at UAB
Sat, Oct. 15 – South Carolina
Sat, Oct. 29 – at Kentucky
Sat, Nov. 5 – Tennessee-Martin
Sat, Nov. 12 – Alabama
Sat, Nov. 19 – at Arkansas
Sat, Nov. 26 – Ole Miss
******* Take: The Bulldogs are the darkhorse of the SEC West, as they host division powers LSU and Alabama this year. They should also be sizable favorites in three road games at Memphis, UAB and Kentucky. Expect Mississippi State to play a lot of close contests this season, and remain in the Top 25 all year. Prediction: 8-4 record.
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
2010 Statistics:
SU Record: 9-4 (4-4 in SEC)
ATS Record: 7-5
Over/Under: 4-8
Points Scored: 29.0 PPG
Points Allowed: 19.8 PPG
2011 Odds:
Odds to Win SEC West: 9/2
Odds to Win SEC Championship: 13/1
Odds to Win 2012 BCS National Championship: 60/1
2011 Preview:
Offense:
Multiple Spread Option - Starters Returning: 8
After an 8-2 finish last season, the Bulldogs hope to make some noise in the powerful SEC West. QB Chris Relf (1,789 pass yds, 13 TD, 6 INT; 713 rush yds, 5 TD) has always been a great rusher, but his passing ability improved greatly last year (569 pass yds, 6 TD in final two games). Relf has a strong supporting cast with TB Vick Ballard (968 rush yds, 5.3 YPC, 19 TD) and WR Chad Bumphis (634 rec yds, 5 TD), and a quality offensive line returning three starters.
Defense:
Base 43 - Starters Returning: 7
The defense hung tough last year, racking up 90 TFL and holding opponents under 20 PPG. But MSU loses its three best front-seven players who combined for 33.5 TFL (DE Pernell McPhee, LB Chris White, LB K.J. Wright). The secondary should improve though, with a trio of 3-INT returnees (CBs Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield, and FS Nickoe Whitley).
2011 Schedule:
Thu, Sept. 1 – at Memphis
Sat, Sept. 10 – at Auburn
Thu, Sept. 15 – LSU
Sat, Sept. 24 – Louisiana Tech
Sat, Oct. 1 – at Georgia
Sat, Oct. 8 – at UAB
Sat, Oct. 15 – South Carolina
Sat, Oct. 29 – at Kentucky
Sat, Nov. 5 – Tennessee-Martin
Sat, Nov. 12 – Alabama
Sat, Nov. 19 – at Arkansas
Sat, Nov. 26 – Ole Miss
******* Take: The Bulldogs are the darkhorse of the SEC West, as they host division powers LSU and Alabama this year. They should also be sizable favorites in three road games at Memphis, UAB and Kentucky. Expect Mississippi State to play a lot of close contests this season, and remain in the Top 25 all year. Prediction: 8-4 record.
