Mississippi State 2016 Season Preview: The Post Dak Prescott Era
Final Prediction
The Bulldogs proved capable of winning in multiple fashions last season. Whether it was getting involved in a shootout to beat Arkansas 51-50, or slowing the pace and relying on a solid defensive effort to defeat Auburn 17-9, the team found a way to win. Without Dak Prescott to manage the offense, it won’t be so easy for Mississippi State to adapt as the game goes along.
In 2014, the Bulldogs were the number one team in the country for five weeks. In 2015, they finished fifth in the SEC West with four losses. This season, the pride of Starkville, Mississippi may take another step back. The non-conference schedule is once again nothing to brag about, but the SEC schedule provides a new challenge every week.
Outside the SEC, Mississippi State will host South Alabama and Samford, while traveling to BYU and Massachusetts. The only potential stumbling block is the BYU game, however the Cougars will face a physical Michigan State team just six days earlier. It will be a difficult task for BYU to bounce back against a team from the SEC on a short week. As a result, Mississippi State will once again finish 4-0 against non-conference opponents.
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The conference schedule begins in September with early-season contests against
and LSU. Even though Mississippi State is undergoing major changes on both sides of the ball, they are still in much better shape than South Carolina. The Gamecocks lost the majority of their offense from last year as running back Brandon Wilds, wide receiver Pharoh Cooper and tight end Jerell Adams all left for the NFL. On defense, leading tackler Skai Moore is out for the season after undergoing neck surgery. Mississippi State will come out on top in that game, however LSU can be marked down as a loss.
Three weeks after the loss to LSU in Death Valley, the Bulldogs continue SEC play with October matchups against Auburn and Kentucky. Mississippi State and Auburn combined to score just 26 points last season, and the result could be even fewer this time around. Neither team knows who their starting QB will be and both offenses lack an identity. Looking to the defensive side of the ball, Auburn holds the advantage, especially up front. The defensive line of Carl Lawson, Montravius Adams, Byron Cowart and Dontavius Russell should dominate the line of scrimmage and lead the Tigers to victory.
While Kentucky may be improved, the Wildcats aren’t quite ready to compete in the SEC. Mississippi State will win this game to improve to 5-2. A win the following week against Samford will give the Bulldogs their sixth win of the year to clinch a bowl berth.
While 6-2 may be enough to get up the hopes of the fan base, November is going to be brutal. Three of the four games in the season’s final month (Texas A&M, Alabama and Ole Miss) are against teams Mississippi State lost to last year. The fourth is a matchup against an Arkansas team returning just about everyone on defense. Mississippi State will end the season on a four-game losing streak to finish the regular season 6-6.
At 6-6, Mississippi State will likely head to either the Birmingham Bowl against a school from the American Athletic Conference, or the Independence Bowl against an ACC opponent. In the end, the Bulldogs will wind up in the Birmingham Bowl against Memphis. The well-rested SEC school has the advantage in this one as Mississippi State finishes the season with a record of 7-6.