1. Can the Mississippi State defense recover from giving up 59 points last week?
The 59 points put up by LSU were the most points in the rivalry since 1969, when the Tigers won 61-6 in Baton Rouge, La. The 26-point margin was the largest of each of LSU’s five-straight wins against a Dan Mullen-led MSU squad. LSU’s 59 points also were the most allowed by MSU since Tennessee scored 59 on Nov. 15, 2003. On Saturday, one of the best Mid-American Conference programs comes to Davis Wade Stadium to test defeinsive coordinator Geoff Collins’ defense. “The fact is LSU had a NFL quarterback with a pair of NFL wide receivers,” Collins said. “They made plays and made critical plays with our guys in position to get off the field on third down.”
2. Will MSU figure out how to turn red-zone opportunities into touchdown?
In a sabermetric way of looking at red-zone scoring, Mullen looks at what he calls “point potential.” The MSU staff feels every red-zone trip should result in a touchdown. Mullen then subtracts the potential points from the red-zone possession as a converted field goal would leave four points off the scoreboard. A turnover or no points on the drive would be seven points lost. Against LSU, Mullen gave MSU a -15. Three of MSU’s drives ended with two field goals and a missed field goal. In those three drives, MSU (2-3) left 16 points on the field if you account for the missed two-point conversion on the first score. MSU offense as they come into this weekend contest ranked 12th in the Southeastern Conference in getting touchdowns while in the red zone. The Bulldogs’ 60.87 percent is only higher than Florida and Kentucky, which have touchdown percentages below 50.
3. Will MSU find ways to get freshman tailback Ashton Shumper the ball more?
Since rushing for 98 yards in his debut against Alcorn State, the freshman has seen limited opportunities. He had seven carries in the next three games and didn’t play last weekend against LSU last weekend. With the return of senior LaDarius Perkins from an ankle injury, it will be interesting to see if MSU finds more ways to get Shumpert the ball. “He’s done a really good job,” Mullen said. “We talk about development of players and he’s been accelerated playing as a freshman getting on the field. He’s getting the ball in his hands, learning how to be a back, learning how to do pass protections, how to block, carry out fakes.”
4. Will the MAC pull another upset of a Bowl Championship Series program?
Mullen, who is 18-4 in non-conference games at MSU, knows the mental makeup the Falcons will have in their first trip to Davis Wade Stadium. It’s the underdog attitude that led to upsets of Missouri and Northwestern while Mullen was quarterbacks coach at Bowling Green under coach Urban Meyer. Last season, the MAC had 16 victories outside of conference against Football Bowl Subdivision teams. This year, it has six. Last season MAC teams earned victories over the likes of Penn State and Rutgers. This season, only Northern Illinois’ win over Iowa represents the lone BCS upset and that wasn’t a shocker as the Huskers reached the Orange Bowl in 2012.
5. Can MSU’s patchwork offensive line hold up with all of its injuries?
MSU lost offensive tackle Blaine Clausell and offensive guard Ben Beckwith in the fourth quarter against LSU. With guard Justin Malone out for rest of the season, MSU could be without two starters from the season opener, while Beckwith was counted on as a critical backup as an interior lineman.
Players to Watch
MSU
Senior QB Tyler Russell
Russell was 7 of 11 for 146 yards and two touchdowns against LSU last week in his first game back since he suffered a concussion in the season opener. However, he didn’t get many snaps in the second half when LSU pulled away for a 59-26 victory in Starkville.
Sophomore CB Will Redmond
The Memphis, Tenn., native will make his college debut after serving a NCAA suspension for the rules violations before he arrived on campus. With the injuries to the secondary, expect to see Redmond in Nickel and Dime packages on third down.
Bowling Green
Redshirt sophomore QB Matt Johnson
Johnson came in on the third possession of the season opener against Tulsa and guided the team to the 34-7 victory. He was 19-for-25 for 357 yards and two touchdown passes against Kent State in his first start, which earned him Mid-American Conference East Offensive Player of the Week honors. In a victory against Murray State, Johnson was 19 of 22. His .864 completion percentage was the fifth-best single-game percentage in BGSU history.
Junior LB Paul Senn
Senn had a blocked punt return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery on special teams against Indiana. He followed that by stripping Murray State’s Maikhai Miller at the 2-yard line to force a fumble Bowling Green recovered and turned into a touchdown.
Numbers of the game
7
Bowling Green players who have returned from 2012 who were named to the all-conference team.
63
Percentage of the Bowling Green roster that consists of freshman and sophomores
10
Non-conference home games MSU has won under Dan Mullen.
3
Members of the MSU coaching staff that spent two years at Bowling Green, from 2001-02 — Dan Mullen, Billy Gonzales and John Hevesy.
2
Sophomore quarterback Dak Prescott has rushed for 100 yards twice this season following his 103-yard performance against LSU last weekend. He leads MSU in rushing with 318 yards.
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