SEC Football

Mississippi State And MTSU Meet on the Gridiron

DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 25th, 7:00 p.m. (et).

GAME NOTES: The Mississippi State Bulldogs take a break from their SEC schedule, as they welcome the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders to Scott Field. Both teams have identical overall, home, away and conference records, and both have lost four of their last five. Middle Tennessee got rolled by Louisville last weekend, 42-23. Each of the Blue Raiders' last three losses have come by double digits. Worse yet, they are winless in four road games on the season. As for the Bulldogs, they enter this game still reeling from last week's embarrassing 34-3 loss to Tennessee. Like Middle Tennessee, each of the Bulldogs' last three defeats have been by double-digit margins. They'll play three of their next four in Starkville, the site of their only two wins this season. Mississippi State won the two previous matchups with Middle Tennessee, and this is the first meeting since 2000.

Middle Tennessee climbed out to a 17-14 halftime lead over Louisville. Unfortunately for the Blue Raiders, they couldn't match the intensity level in the second half. They didn't score again until the final minute of the fourth quarter, well after the final outcome had been decided. Still, it was a 21-17 game early in the fourth quarter. That was until Louisville's Brock Bolen scored his second rushing touchdown of the day. Things unraveled quickly from there. Middle Tennessee quarterback Joe Craddock completed 16-of-28 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. His efforts weren't enough to atone for what has become one of the nation's most inept rushing attacks (87 ypg). Phillip Tanner had a team-high 46 yards on 13 carries.

Jeremy Kellem scored on a 14-yard interception return in the first quarter for Middle Tennessee. On Louisville's very next possession, Ivon Hickmon came away with another interception, which set up another Blue Raiders touchdown. But, that highlights didn't extend much further for the defense. They had a long day against the run, as they allowed Louisville to pile up 247 yards (5.5 ypc) and four touchdowns on the ground. Considering the way things have gone for his defense lately, there has to be plenty of reason for coach Rick Stockstill to be concerned. In the last four losses, the team has yielded an average of 31 ppg. Stockstill said during his weekly press conference that he was proud of his team's effort, despite the defensive front getting worn down and dominated in the second half.

It's no secret that the Bulldogs have been sputtering on offense. They enter this weekend ranked 111th in the nation in total offense (284.71 ypg) and 117th in scoring offense (14.43 ppg). Their troubles all came to a head last week against Tennessee, when the Bulldogs managed just three points and 189 yards of total offense. Quarterback Tyson Lee had a day he'd like to forget, as he was sacked five times and finished with three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns during a one-minute span in the fourth quarter. Those interception returns quickly turned a 10-point game into a blowout. Lee was critical of himself after the game, and he'll no doubt want to come out this week and display some much better decision-making.

Mississippi State held the Volunteers to just six points in the first half. But things sure changed in a hurry, as Tennessee scored four straight touchdowns in the second half. Of course, Lee and the Bulldog offense played a big part in that. In fact, Tennessee had only managed one offensive touchdown until the two-minute mark of the first quarter, and the Vols finished with only 275 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs did a good job of not allowing big plays in the passing game, as they held the Vols to just 136 yards and no touchdowns through the air. That's been one of the few bright spots this season for the team, as they rank third nationally in pass defense (138 ypg) and ninth in pass efficiency defense.

On paper, the Bulldogs would seem to have the edge in this matchup. Middle Tennessee hasn't had any semblance of a running game, and the Bulldogs have proven over the course of the season that they aren't easy to throw on. Look for a more inspired effort from a Mississippi State squad playing at home and looking to rebound from a poor showing.

Predicted Outcome: Mississippi State 28, Middle Tennessee 13

Web Producer- Brett Haas