Wildcat Football Preview – Know Your Enemy: Mississippi State Bulldogs

GAME 9

OCTOBER 30, 2010  7:00 PM

COMMONWEALTH STADIUM – Lexington, KY

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS  (6-2)

TV-  ESPNU

SERIES HISTORY:

Kentucky leads 21-16

RECENT GAMES:

2009:  MISS ST  31  UK  24

2008: UK 14 MISS ST 13

2007: MISS ST 31 UK 14

2006: UK 34 MISS ST 31

2005: UK 13 MISS ST 7

Welcome to what generally can be known as the most frustrating game of they year.  Each team seems to have the habit of  winning when they are the underdog.  Mississippi State shocked Kentucky and led to much fan grumbling in bith 2007 and 2009.  This time around, Mississippi State is the team with momentum, having won five straight games and are ranked in the Top 25.  All signs point to the Bulldogs being favored, but if this rivalry has shown anything, i has been a healthy series of tricks and treats.

Hey guys … I have had a ton of computer problems and other things popping up today, so not able to sit down and do a proper “Know Your Enemy” for Mississippi State.  I do apologize as this is the first one we have missed in a year and a half, bu could not be avoided.  Here is a preview of the game from ESPN.  Once again, my deepest apologies: 

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen isn’t surprised his team came out sluggish during Saturday’s game against Alabama-Birmingham.

He’s just glad it didn’t cost them a victory.

The Bulldogs, playing as a nationally ranked team for the first time since 2001, rallied for a 29-24 victory after trailing early in the fourth quarter. Though there were plenty of sloppy moments, Mullen said film study showed key plays were made when they had to happen.

“We didn’t play our best game,” Mullen said, “but we did the important things you need to do to win.”

Now that the thrill of being ranked has subsided, Mullen expects No. 23 Mississippi State (6-2, 2-2 SEC) to be much more focused as it prepares to host Kentucky (4-4, 1-4) on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

“All that’s behind us — that’s old hat now,” Mullen said. “When you get that attention for the first time, you can lose a little bit of what got you there. Now we’re bowl eligible, we don’t have to worry about that, and we can concentrate on being a better football team.”

The Bulldogs have won five straight, earning bowl eligibility for the first time since 2007, but Saturday’s victory wasn’t pretty. UAB outgained Mississippi State 207-103 in the first half, and briefly took a 24-23 lead after a touchdown with 10:16 remaining in the game.

“They did a good job of frustrating us at the very beginning because they came out punching,” said Bulldogs linebacker Chris White, who led the team with 14 tackles. “They had an explosive offense and we figured that out quickly.”

The Bulldogs responded with two field goals from Derek DePasquale to hold on for the win, and his five field goals in the game — one from 28 yards, two from 29, one from 39 and his longest from 43 — tied a school record.

Not bad for a guy who Mullen decided would handle the field goals just before kickoff. The kicking game has been a sore spot all season for the Bulldogs, with Mullen alternating between Sean Brauchle and DePasquale because of inconsistency from both.

Against UAB, Brauchle handled the kickoffs while DePasquale handled field goals and extra points. At least for one game, it was a success.

“Like I have said all year, I believe in our kickers,” Mullen said. “They have the talent.”

Now that the Bulldogs escaped UAB’s upset bid, they can turn their focus on Kentucky, which lost to Georgia 44-31 on Saturday.

Mississippi State should be close to full strength against the Wildcats. Mullen said he expects starting running back Vick Ballard, who didn’t play against UAB because of a sprained ankle, to practice Tuesday. Ballard leads the team with 12 touchdowns and 516 yards rushing.

Freshman LaDarius Perkins was stellar in Ballard’s place during Saturday’s game, rushing for a career-high 131 yards and a touchdown. Mississippi State’s offense was fairly effective, even though quarterback Chris Relf had another spotty night, completing 8 of 19 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

“Chris is still a little shaky at times,” Mullen said. “He missed a couple of easy ones. It’s kind of funny. He misses some of the easy throws, and made the tough throws. We just have to get him confident again.”

Having Ballard back would certainly help the offense, but Mullen sounded more concerned about making sure his defense is prepared to stop Kentucky’s offense. Despite losing, the Wildcats gained 423 yards against Georgia. Quarterback Mike Hartline completed 27 of 43 passes for 353 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

Considering the Bulldogs’ secondary had issues stopping UAB’s passing game, that raises concerns. UAB’s Bryan Ellis completed 23 of 45 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown.

“We have a lot of things we need to clean up,” Mullen said. “Kentucky’s got a very, very explosive on offense.”

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