Tennessee football heads on the road for the first time this season Saturday afternoon as they face a feisty Mississippi State team in Starkville. The Bulldogs are 4-0 for the first time since 2014 and have already doubled their win total from a season ago.
But Tennessee presents a tougher test than any other Mississippi State has seen to this point. The Vols are touchdown favorites against the Bulldogs on the road and are looking for their first SEC win.
More From RTI: How Former Tennessee Football Stars Did in the NFL During Week 3
How Mississippi State Has Fared To This Point
The Bulldogs entered the season with a regular-season over/under win total of 3.5 according to multiple sportsbooks. It took them just four games to hit the over and are unbeaten entering their SEC opener against Tennessee.
That says more about how low the expectations were around Mississippi State than anything else. The Bulldogs took care of business against Southern Miss, Alcorn State and Northern Illinois while beating Arizona State 24-20 in their first major test of the season.
Head coach Jeff Lebby says it’s a race to get bowl eligible as fast as possible. That won’t be easy with their SEC gauntlet. Five of Mississippi State’s final eight games are against ranked teams.
Mississippi State’s Strengths
It starts with the offense for Mississippi State. Jeff Lebby’s second team is averaging just shy of 40 points per game through its first four games. Like Tennessee, there’s a misconception that Mississippi State’s offense is all about big passing plays when, in reality, the rushing attack is the straw that stirs the drink.
The Bulldogs are averaging 206 yards on the ground per game, though there’s a question there we’ll get to in a moment. Veteran quarterback Blake Shapen is a strength with his experience and maturity. Not going to be an All-SEC guy but a very solid player.
Mississippi State has been great in the margins this season which has been key in its hot start. The Bulldogs are converting 48% of third down attempts, a mark that ranks 32nd nationally. Their defense is holding opponents to 31.5% on third downs, a mark that ranks 34th nationally.
The Bulldogs have scored on all 16 trips to the red zone this season, and more importantly, scored touchdowns on 13 of those possessions. Their defense has been equally strong, allowing scores on just six of nine red zone trips. Only four of those score were touchdowns.
Lastly, Mississippi State is taking care of the football and is plus-five in turnover margin so far this season. Tennessee will need to play clean football on the road.
Questions About Mississippi State
There’s really very few areas where Mississippi State has legit struggled to this point of the season which is why we’re calling this the questions section. My biggest question is about the Bulldogs defense and particularly their rushing defense.
Mississippi State is allowing 136 yards on the ground a game, ranking 9th in the SEC and 68th nationally. They got obliterated on the ground against Arizona State, allowing 251 rushing yards. Tennessee may be able to dominate there.
The Bulldogs passing defense has been awesome this year and Arizona State threw for just 82 yards. But Tennessee’s offensive line has been great in pass protection and could give Joey Aguilar plenty of time to work in this one. Mississippi State has just five sacks this season. Two came from a player who is out for the year.
About that Mississippi State rushing offense? They ran for just 66 yards on 30 carries against Arizona State. As a whole, I’m weary about the Bulldogs’ line of scrimmage play.
Lastly, Mississippi State has committed 41 penalties this season— the second most in the entire country. That’s been a definitive weakness to this point.
More From RTI: What Mississippi State Coach Jeff Lebby Said ‘Jumped Off the Tape’ About Tennessee’s Offense
Bulldogs To Know
QB Blake Shapen
A former Baylor transfer, Shapen suffered a season-ending injury early last season. He’s been solid this season completing 67% of his passes for 884 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Shapen stepped up in a major way against Arizona State.
WR Brennen Thompson
There’s two receivers Tennessee has to worry about in this game. An Oklahoma transfer, Thompson has caught 17 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns this season. Two of those three touchdowns came against Arizona State.
WR Anthony Evans III
Evans is the other receiver to note and he plays in the slot. The Georgia transfer has caught 21 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns this season. He had nine catches for 108 yards and one touchdown against Arizona State.
S Isaac Smith
The highest graded player with at least 100 snaps on Mississippi State’s defense according to PFF, Smith leads the Bulldogs with 24 tackles this season while adding an interception and another pass breakup.
What Josh Heupel Said About The Bulldogs
On looking back at last season and the progress Mississippi State has made so far this season
“I think their entire roster, they’re deeper than they were a year ago. Their young guys that they had a year ago have continued to develop. They’re playing extremely well. They obviously added some bodies from the portal as well. And I think, collectively, their personnel is much further developed than it was a year ago. Understanding of their systems is much better. And that’s why they’re playing the way that they are. Defensively, one of the top (teams) in our league in a lot of different categories. Offensively playing extremely efficient, but also creating a bunch of big plays in the pass game. And the special teams have done a really nice job.”
On what stands out about Mississippi State’s run game
“First of all they do a really good job up front. They’re well coached, they’re physical. I think the running backs do a really good job of pressing and hitting the holes, playing with great pad level and being physical. At the end of the run, their quarterback has the ability to be a part of the run game. That changes the numbers, changes the angles. We got to do a great job of getting off the blocks and penetrating and making things bounce.”
On Mississippi State creating explosive plays while still being elite in the red zone
“Yeah, big plays happen because you’re able to execute, right? That’s going to win and out on perimeter. It’s protection up front, it’s quarterback being accurate with the football. They got great speed on the outside. The red zone efficiency and the quarterback being a part of the run game, the way that they’re able to run the football, all of that leads to that efficiency in that area of the field.”
