Miss State is expected to be ranked in the Top 15 when the polls come out.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 9 &4 season that was capped off by a 31 to 27 bowl win over Louisville. The Dogs rallied to win, outscoring Louisville 14 to 3 in the 4th quarter.
In addition to their bowl win, Miss State’s biggest two wins last season were LSU and probably the road win at A&M.
The Bulldogs gave LSU a beat-down early last season (37 to 7 in Starkville). Though LSU lost at home to Troy State a couple of weeks later.
The Dogs had a good road win at Texas A&M (35 to 14), though the Aggies weren’t exactly tearing things up last season.
Worth mentioning >> last season the Bulldogs had the then undefeated Crimson Tide on the ropes in Starkville. Miss State had a 24 to 17 lead in the 4th quarter. With 30 seconds left, Bama scored the go ahead TD to win, 31 to 24 (similar in some regards to K-State losing to OU in the final seconds…. well, and K-State gave up 400 yards of passing).
Miss State’s “Low Point” last season, at least from a fan’s perspective, was losing at home to their in-state rival, Ole Miss (last game of the regular season in the Egg Bowl). Not only did the Dogs suffer an embarrassing loss at home, but the win made Ole Miss bowl eligible…double ouch.
That would be like losing to ku at home and making ku bowl eligible (I would have to throw up).
Mississippi State registered one win last season over a team that finished the season ranked = LSU #18 (at home).
K-State also had one win over a team that finished the season ranked, Okie State # 14 (in Stillwater).
Mississippi State finished the year ranked #19 - AP & #20 Coaches (KSU – not ranked)
Total Offense # 46 (KSU # 95)
Rushing Offense # 11 (KSU # 32)
Passing Offense # 112 (KSU # 107)
Scoring Offense # 41 (KSU # 39 … not bad)
Total Defense # 10 (KSU # 90)
Rush Defense #28 (KSU # 13)
Pass Yards Allowed #12 (KSU # 128… ouch)
Pass Efficiency Defense # 27 (KSU # 87)
Scoring Defense #26 (KSU # 50 … C+ / B-)
The bad news for K-State is that Miss State brings back most of their starters from 2017.
Including their starting QB, Fitzgerald, a senior (plus a promising underclassman – Keytaon Thompson). Both QBs are dual threat.
The bulldogs’ stud RB, Aeris Williams returns.
Their #1 & #3 WRs return (lost their #2 WR and a part-time starting TE).
The bulldogs lost one O-lineman, who started 9 games last season.
On defense, Miss State loses 3 DBs that started games for them last year (1 left early), but they bring back their two best D-backs (both safeties). The dogs also lost a starting LB.
The biggest change/ challenge that Miss State will face in 2018 is transitioning to an entire new coaching staff (Mullen bolted for Florida).
I would like to believe that the CATS will benefit from improved coaching in 2018.
To say it nicely, I’m not upset that Tom Hayes and Dana Dimel have moved on.
That said, I wish K-State had two games before facing the Bulldogs given the new starters on defense and coaching changes.
Miss State is a huge opportunity for K-State to register a BIG early season win over a ranked SEC program.
Will the Miss State players and coaches underestimate how hostile BSFS can be?
Will the Bulldogs be a tad or two over-confident?
Maybe, maybe not.
GO CATS !
The Bulldogs are coming off a 9 &4 season that was capped off by a 31 to 27 bowl win over Louisville. The Dogs rallied to win, outscoring Louisville 14 to 3 in the 4th quarter.
In addition to their bowl win, Miss State’s biggest two wins last season were LSU and probably the road win at A&M.
The Bulldogs gave LSU a beat-down early last season (37 to 7 in Starkville). Though LSU lost at home to Troy State a couple of weeks later.
The Dogs had a good road win at Texas A&M (35 to 14), though the Aggies weren’t exactly tearing things up last season.
Worth mentioning >> last season the Bulldogs had the then undefeated Crimson Tide on the ropes in Starkville. Miss State had a 24 to 17 lead in the 4th quarter. With 30 seconds left, Bama scored the go ahead TD to win, 31 to 24 (similar in some regards to K-State losing to OU in the final seconds…. well, and K-State gave up 400 yards of passing).
Miss State’s “Low Point” last season, at least from a fan’s perspective, was losing at home to their in-state rival, Ole Miss (last game of the regular season in the Egg Bowl). Not only did the Dogs suffer an embarrassing loss at home, but the win made Ole Miss bowl eligible…double ouch.
That would be like losing to ku at home and making ku bowl eligible (I would have to throw up).
Mississippi State registered one win last season over a team that finished the season ranked = LSU #18 (at home).
K-State also had one win over a team that finished the season ranked, Okie State # 14 (in Stillwater).
Mississippi State finished the year ranked #19 - AP & #20 Coaches (KSU – not ranked)
Total Offense # 46 (KSU # 95)
Rushing Offense # 11 (KSU # 32)
Passing Offense # 112 (KSU # 107)
Scoring Offense # 41 (KSU # 39 … not bad)
Total Defense # 10 (KSU # 90)
Rush Defense #28 (KSU # 13)
Pass Yards Allowed #12 (KSU # 128… ouch)
Pass Efficiency Defense # 27 (KSU # 87)
Scoring Defense #26 (KSU # 50 … C+ / B-)
The bad news for K-State is that Miss State brings back most of their starters from 2017.
Including their starting QB, Fitzgerald, a senior (plus a promising underclassman – Keytaon Thompson). Both QBs are dual threat.
The bulldogs’ stud RB, Aeris Williams returns.
Their #1 & #3 WRs return (lost their #2 WR and a part-time starting TE).
The bulldogs lost one O-lineman, who started 9 games last season.
On defense, Miss State loses 3 DBs that started games for them last year (1 left early), but they bring back their two best D-backs (both safeties). The dogs also lost a starting LB.
The biggest change/ challenge that Miss State will face in 2018 is transitioning to an entire new coaching staff (Mullen bolted for Florida).
I would like to believe that the CATS will benefit from improved coaching in 2018.
To say it nicely, I’m not upset that Tom Hayes and Dana Dimel have moved on.
That said, I wish K-State had two games before facing the Bulldogs given the new starters on defense and coaching changes.
Miss State is a huge opportunity for K-State to register a BIG early season win over a ranked SEC program.
Will the Miss State players and coaches underestimate how hostile BSFS can be?
Will the Bulldogs be a tad or two over-confident?
Maybe, maybe not.
GO CATS !
