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Saturday night will mark the 106th time LSU will play Mississippi State. The Fighting Tigers football team has faced the Bulldogs more times than any team in the SEC. November 20th, 1896 was the first time they met on the gridiron.
Mississippi State fans probably think it's been that long since they defeated LSU in football. The Bulldogs last win against the Tigers came in 1999. Mississippi State's last win in Baton Rouge was in 1991. Can State turn around their season and pull off the upset Saturday night? Well, here are five things to watch for.
1. Who is emotionally ready to play this game?
LSU could either be really mad and ready to take it out on Mississippi State or the Tigers could be emotionally drained and not ready on Saturday. I'm guessing LSU will be suffering from a hangover.
Let's take Florida for example. The Gators were undefeated until they lost to their biggest rival Georgia two weeks ago. Florida's chances of winning the SEC were dashed and the next week they barely beat a bad Missouri football team. A similar scenario could be in play in Tiger Stadium.
Mississippi State has its own mental issues. The Bulldogs could be either ready to turn their season around after losing two straight or they could be freaking out about the possibility of losing their last five games of the regular season, after winning their first seven.
2. Is the light switch still on for Zach Mettenberger?
No one could have predicted the performance by LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger last Saturday. The LSU passing game was one of the worst in the nation going into the Alabama game, but Mettenberger finished the night with 298 passing yards. I'm not ready to say everything is fine with the passing game, but I'm not expecting LSU to throw for less than 100 yards like they did against Texas A&M.
Mississippi State will test LSU's passing game. The Bulldogs have two senior cornerbacks, Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay. Each of them has four interceptions.
3. Jeremy Hill
After Hill's 107 yard performance against Alabama, the freshman is now the Tigers leading rusher. Who would have thought that at the beginning of the season? Hill will try to become the first Tiger, since Kevin Faulk, to rush for at least 100-yards in four straight SEC games.
4. LaDarius Perkins
Mississippi State features the SEC's third leading rusher. Perkins has rushed for 804 yards and 8 touchdowns. But during the Bulldogs two-game losing streak, Perkins has rushed for just 80 yards. He needs to have a big game for State to pull off the upset.
5. Will Dan Mullen take on the mad hatter role?
Mississippi State fans probably think it's been that long since they defeated LSU in football. The Bulldogs last win against the Tigers came in 1999. Mississippi State's last win in Baton Rouge was in 1991. Can State turn around their season and pull off the upset Saturday night? Well, here are five things to watch for.
1. Who is emotionally ready to play this game?
LSU could either be really mad and ready to take it out on Mississippi State or the Tigers could be emotionally drained and not ready on Saturday. I'm guessing LSU will be suffering from a hangover.
Let's take Florida for example. The Gators were undefeated until they lost to their biggest rival Georgia two weeks ago. Florida's chances of winning the SEC were dashed and the next week they barely beat a bad Missouri football team. A similar scenario could be in play in Tiger Stadium.
Mississippi State has its own mental issues. The Bulldogs could be either ready to turn their season around after losing two straight or they could be freaking out about the possibility of losing their last five games of the regular season, after winning their first seven.
2. Is the light switch still on for Zach Mettenberger?
No one could have predicted the performance by LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger last Saturday. The LSU passing game was one of the worst in the nation going into the Alabama game, but Mettenberger finished the night with 298 passing yards. I'm not ready to say everything is fine with the passing game, but I'm not expecting LSU to throw for less than 100 yards like they did against Texas A&M.
Mississippi State will test LSU's passing game. The Bulldogs have two senior cornerbacks, Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay. Each of them has four interceptions.
3. Jeremy Hill
After Hill's 107 yard performance against Alabama, the freshman is now the Tigers leading rusher. Who would have thought that at the beginning of the season? Hill will try to become the first Tiger, since Kevin Faulk, to rush for at least 100-yards in four straight SEC games.
4. LaDarius Perkins
Mississippi State features the SEC's third leading rusher. Perkins has rushed for 804 yards and 8 touchdowns. But during the Bulldogs two-game losing streak, Perkins has rushed for just 80 yards. He needs to have a big game for State to pull off the upset.
5. Will Dan Mullen take on the mad hatter role?
Mullen wears a visor not a hat. But that's not the point I'm making. Mississippi State is desperate for win after starting the season 7-and-0. They would also like to break their 12-game losing streak to LSU. Look for Mullen to take chances like LSU did last week in the hopes of pulling off a signature win.
I think Mississippi State keeps it close, but the Tigers are too talented and win 21-14.
