Trying to forecast how a college football team’s season is going to go before the season even starts can be a fool’s errand.
Attempting to do so for Mississippi State with a cloud of uncertainty regarding any possible suspensions looming for 10 players involved in academic misconduct is even more difficult.
Nonetheless, I’m going to take my best stab at it.
Below is a game-by-game breakdown of Mississippi State’s schedule with a prediction of how each contest turns out that almost certainly will turn out to be wrong:
Game 1, vs. Louisiana (in New Orleans)
This one is a little harder to peg than you’d think. It’s difficult to imagine Mississippi State won’t enter this game distracted just more than a week after the NCAA handed down its sanctions. But Louisiana had a small national stir of its own after coach Billy Napier foolishly suggested his players should make $50 donations to the program while still enrolled in the university, though everyone seems to have moved on for the most part.
Nonetheless, Mississippi State is the better team here. Quarterback Tommy Stevens should shine in his first start with the Bulldogs and running back Kylin Hill will be the star of the afternoon. It won’t probably won’t be quite as one-sided as last year’s 56-10 victory over Louisiana, but the Bulldogs should win comfortably.
Prediction: Mississippi State 38, Louisiana 17
Game 2, vs. Southern Mississippi
Southern Mississippi’s defensive line combination of DeMarrio Smith and Jacques Turner is certainly capable of giving Mississippi State’s offense fits.
Yet, the offensive firepower won’t be where it needs to be for Southern Miss to take down its in-state opponent. Plus, the Bulldogs aren’t losing their home opener at Davis Wade Stadium.
Prediction: Mississippi State 27, Southern Miss 14
Game 3, vs. Kansas State
I loved the Chris Klieman hire for Kansas State. Klieman has won multiple FCS championships at North Dakota State and beat every FBS team he ever played in the process. Ask Iowa how it felt playing North Dakota State in 2016.
He’s going to get the program where it needs to go, but it might take a little bit.
Anyway, call this the Isaiah Zuber revenge game if you must, but the bottom line is the Wildcats likely don’t have the horses to come into Starkville and pull off an upset. Especially if last year’s 31-10 victory in Manhattan was any indication.
Prediction: Mississippi State 35, Kansas State 21
Game 4, vs. Kentucky
Kentucky was the surprise of the Southeastern Conference a year ago. It’s pretty incredible what Mark Stoops has done with that program. Nonetheless, I expect the Wildcats to regress without offensive workhouse Benny Snell and defensive wrecking ball Josh Allen. I have a very hard time seeing how Kentucky is going to put up points here unless Mississippi State commits five million penalties like it did in Lexington in 2018.
Prediction: Mississippi State 24, Kentucky 10
Game 5, at Auburn
Honestly, the depth problems the suspensions may eventually cause prevent me from picking Mississippi State here. Gus Malzahn may be a ticking time bomb at Auburn, but the defensive line is a force to be reckoned with and tie goes to home field advantage. A key to victory for MSU is forcing freshman quarterback Bo Nix (incredible name, by the way), into rookie mistakes.
Prediction: Auburn 28, Mississippi State 24
Game 6, at Tennessee
A lot of national prognosticators have picked the Volunteers to win this game in Knoxville. Until Tennessee shows major improvement from last year’s dumpster fire, I’m not falling into that trap. Jeremy Pruitt and company still have a long way to go to get the Vols back on track.
Prediction: Mississippi State 31, Tennessee 20
Game 7, vs. LSU
This is the game I’m looking forward to the most. Not only for the entertainment value on the field, but because I could listen to Ed Orgeron talk all day.
The Tigers’ secondary could be one of the best units in the entire conference and I expect them to be Alabama’s main competition for the SEC West title.
Prediction: LSU 35, Mississippi State 21
Game 8, at Texas A&M
Kellen Mond can sling it. Jimbo Fisher is an excellent offensive mind, particularly when it comes to developing quarterbacks. That’s a good combination.
Texas A&M’s schedule is absolutely brutal, but the Aggies will be a lot better than their final record indicates. Mississippi State has won three in a row against Texas A&M, but that streak will be in jeopardy in College Station.
Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Mississippi State 24
Game 9, at Arkansas
Arkansas has a laundry list of problems. It doesn’t matter where this game is played, Chad Morris and the Razorbacks are probably going to wear it on the chin for the second straight year.
Prediction: Mississippi State 45, Arkansas 14
Game 10, vs. Alabama
Alabama on offense is a cheat code with Tua Tagovailoa and those three speed demon wideouts. On defense, Dylan Moses will give more than one signal caller nightmares. It’s likely we get a Alabama/Clemson rematch in the national championship for the 999th time. There’s always a reason for optimism, however small it may be, but this one doesn’t need to be complicated.
Prediction: Alabama 38, Mississippi State 17
Game 11, vs. Abilene Christian
I’m not sure what eight games the Mississippi State players serving suspensions will miss, but I promise this will be one of them.
Prediction: Mississippi State 56, Abilene Christian 14
Game 12, vs. Ole Miss
Ah, the Egg Bowl. While the rest of the nation spends its Thanksgiving consuming unholy amounts of food, Mississippi State should find plenty to expose in a defense that looked nonexistent in 2018. Yes, yes, there’s always talk about throwing out the records and the rest of those cliches when these teams get together, but the Bulldogs should have plenty to be thankful for when this one ends.
Prediction: Mississippi State 42, Ole Miss 21
Final record: 8-4 overall, 4-4 SEC
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.