Mississippi State game-by-game predictions: ESPN’s FPI predicts Bulldogs’ season

In Year 1 of the Mike Leach era, Mississippi State finished the regular season just 3-7, but due to the circumstances of the 2020 season, the Bulldogs got to play in the postseason and end the year on a high note, taking down a ranked Tulsa team in the Armed Forces Bowl.

MSU is hoping that momentum carries over into 2021. ESPN’s Football Power Index sees a big turnaround for the Bulldogs in Year 2 with The Pirate.

In its game-by-game predictions, the FPI has MSU jumping out to a 4-0 start and finishing the year 8-4.

• Sept. 4 vs. Louisiana Tech (92.6 percent chance to win)
• Sept. 11 vs. NC State (66.4 percent chance to win)
• Sept. 18 at Memphis (57.1 percent chance to win)
• Sept. 25 vs. LSU (50.9 percent chance to win)
• Oct. 2 at Texas A&M (17.0 percent chance to win)
• Oct. 16 vs. Alabama (14. 5 percent chance to win)
• Oct. 23 at Vanderbilt (85.8 percent chance to win)
• Oct. 30 vs. Kentucky (63.0 percent chance to win)
• Nov. 6 at Arkansas (44.1 percent chance to win)
• Nov. 13 at Auburn (31.6 percent chance to win)
• Nov. 20 vs. Tennessee State (99.5 percent chance to win)
• Nov. 25 vs. Ole Miss (53.7 percent chance to win)

Judging by the FPI’s predictions, MSU is just a couple of upsets from double-digit victories in 2021. We’ll see how it all plays out in Starkvegas.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.