Mississippi State must rely on Dak Prescott versus Arkansas
Mississippi State (7-3, 3-3 SEC) has been eliminated from the SEC West division race. Still, the Bulldogs have a chance at making history.
Mississippi State has never won 10 games in back-to-back seasons. But the Bulldogs will if they win out, beginning with a victory Saturday against Arkansas (6-4, 4-2 SEC).
The Bulldogs need to re-establish their potent passing attack. Quarterback Dak Prescott had his worst game of the season last Saturday against Alabama. The Crimson Tide sacked Prescott nine times and picked him off once.
But the Arkansas defense is nowhere as good as Alabama’s. The Razorbacks are dead last in the SEC and ranked 114th in the country against the pass. A big part of the problem is the lack of a pass rush. The Razorbacks have just 13 sacks all season, tied for last in the conference.
If Mississippi State can protect Prescott, he should pick apart the Arkansas pass defense.
However, it might not be easy to slow down the Razorbacks offense. Arkansas has averaged 50.3 points and 523.3 offensive yards while winning its last four games.
Mississippi State ranks 19th in the country with 18.6 points allowed per game, but the Bulldogs yield an average of 377 yards per game, 48th in the nation.
Arkansas’ playmakers could give Mississippi State trouble. The Bulldogs offense may need a big night to keep their hopes of another 10-win season alive.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS CLOSER LOOK
Key Player, offense: Alex Collins, Jr., RB – The key element of the Arkansas offense, Collins has 1,209 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards per attempt.
Key Player, offense: Brandon Allen, Sr., QB – Allen has emerged as one of the best passers in the SEC. He has already set new career-highs with 2,617 passing yards and 22 TDs. He also has an impressive 64.4 completion percentage.
Key Player, offense: Drew Morgan, Jr., WR – The Razorbacks’ top receiver has 45 catches for 639 yards and nine TDs.
If we don’t protect him, it’ll be Bama all over again. Not only that, but we can’t call bonehead plays and expect to beat Arkansas at the level they are currently playing.
Their defense isn’t anywhere near as good as Bama’s is at pressuring the QB so Dak should have enough time to get the passing game going pretty well. Question is if our defense can stop their offense.
how do you know, child?
Love it ya’ll sound beat already !!!
Rebel_LandSharks, we don’t play, so our opinions don’t count for anything.
Because I watch football and read stats, gramps. Also this dude just doesn’t like me and isn’t mature enough to deal with it like an adult. Doesn’t have anything to do with the team.
Will be a closer game than most people realize I think. Dak is a legit QB and tough to stop and the Hogs have had trouble with mobile quarterbacks this season. The line of scrimmage play will be important as it is in all games. Hogs need to be able to run it and keep the ball away to pull out a win. If Dak gets time and gets in a rhythm, it’ll be a close one. Should be a fun game, good luck and hoping for no major injuries on either side.
Arkansas has the better offense now because of Allen’s efficiency. Their defense isn’t as good as ours.
Unlike last year, this should be a high scoring one. The Hogs won’t be able to pressure Dak like Bama did but it’ll be a tough call for our defense to shut down their offense the way they’ve been playing lately. I like the Bulldogs to take it in a tight one but it’s gonna be scary as hell for fans of both.
Haven’t you learned to STFU yet? Which MSU team showed up last week?
LOL, Arky is going to wore you down for next week !
*wear – Love it ya’ll sound beat already !!!
Nah. Also that beatdown was courtesy of a strength/weakness match up that did not favor the maroon team at all, plus our receivers didn’t exactly help out by dropping at least one TD pass.
A&M’s defense had it’s way with Dakota and were no Alabama…..
Arkansas shouldn’t be taken lightly. They’re going to come out swinging!
I’d say that game was our worst of the season, and that includes the faceplant against Bama. Bama shut us down with their defense, we just played badly against the Aggies. Even Dak did badly that day for whatever reason.
I don’t know why it is but MSU always plays tough against the Hogs. Regardless, I’m pulling for my Hogs to win this game. Just wanted to say to the MSU fan base how sorry I am that your program lost a good kid and his father and wish you all safe travels to NWA if you are going to the game. WPS!
Thank you! Also yeah, it’s always a good one between the Dogs and the Hogs. Here’s to a good clean game with no injuries.
Arkansas is going to bring the Hogs!
RIP State…RIP……..
I’m always glad the Ags play Arky early each year, before they get hot!
Haha
Y’all took advantage of an inexperienced/youthful defense and an injury riddled offense that had yet to find it’s identity… Kudos! You won’t be afforded that luxury next year.
Also, we must have took advantage 3 years in a row! lol
Whoop!
Yeah I guess we feel beat already because we stay real and don’t go “We are better than you and we are gonna whoop everybody” like some ditzy OM fans lol. But I am a little nervous about this game – I think MSU and Arky are pretty evenly matched but I’m concerned about how the AL heavy loss is affecting the team morale. I wasn’t expecting a win vs bama but could have done without the blowout score (though the stat sheet was MSU heavy – check it if don’t believe it). But the score is what counts! Personally I’m fairly happy with how the dawgs have done this year given its really rebuilding time. I give us at least a 50/50 chance this weekend if they can bounce back from last weekend – ugh hard loss.
Go dawgs! Make some bacon in Fayetteville! :)
Dawgs rock, I feel you. We looked like a high school team against Bama.
i’ve always hated playing State – you guys could be 0-8 and we could be 8-0 and we would lose every time.
Your QB is legit and he’s mobile — that does not work well for the hogs. I would imagine the game plan is to make him beat us ie contain and rush him, hold the offense to 3 & out’s as often as possible.
I think our offense stacks up well against the D – can’t remember the corner or safety that’s pretty good he worries me.
Honestly, I really think this will be a pretty good game if not the best one this weekend. I’m going to take the hogs but wouldn’t be surprised if State wins it.
good luck