Can Mississippi State Keep It Rolling?

The record is still unblemished, but the skeptics are still out in force.  Indeed, everyone is waiting for the traditional Mississippi State Bulldogs team to show up at some point.

Then again, they’ve been waiting all season so far.

This year’s team is anything but another product of the usual mold with records and reminders of a way-back time in Bulldog football history.  Mississippi State currently ranks fourth in the FBS with 15 turnovers.  Their surprising defense has caught fire at a time when it needs to as the SEC is currently a league full of offensive stars and playmakers.  They’ll get the luxury of facing one of them this weekend in Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Tyler Bray.

Mississippi State’s only knock so far is their level of competition.  With a current strength of schedule ranking at No. 66, it’s been hard for the major critics to take the Bulldogs seriously.  But what better chance to change some opinions than playing a Tennessee team who currently sits at No. 18 in that same category.

The Vols currently have one of the most potent offensive attacks in the country led by Bray.  By comparison, they lead the Bulldogs in nearly every single offensive category with that much tougher schedule.

But the Bulldogs would be quick to point out that their stingy defense is only allowing 13.4 points per game, good for No. 11 in the FBS.  Bulldogs’ fans and supporters aren’t the only ones to notice that, either.

“They got a great defense,” Bray said. “They got guys all around making plays. It’s gonna be a tough game [Saturday].”

Mississippi State has a chance to go 6-0 for the first time since that magical 1999 season.  If Dan Mullen‘s team can notch a win against Tennessee, they’ll have a game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders before traveling to Tuscaloosa for what would be the biggest regular season game in school history against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Dan Irwin is an SEC football writer for Rant Sports.  Follow him in Twitter @ danirwin_rant, or on Facebook at “facebook.com/danirwin.sports“.