Dawg83

If there was an overconfidence issue, I think it was more of a thing after they smoked Minnesota. And then down 16-0 last week it wouldn’t have been hard to make a case that they were overconfident or simply not as good as people thought. But to come back the way they did against SC tells me that this group can deal with adversity. My other thing that makes me lean State here…. And perhaps I’ll be proven wrong on this… But I don’t have a lot of trust in Missouri in big games. I personally believe that they’ve had inflated records under Drinkwitz by virtue of catching some scheduling breaks and not actually being as good as their record has indicated. They’ve lost 8 in a row against ranked teams and have definitely struggled on the road against quality opposition. Drinkwitz’s best win there is probably a bowl game against Ohio State a few years ago where Ohio State had a ton of opt outs. This would be one of the better wins they’ve had under Drinkwitz, especially in terms of road wins. Mizzou of recent years doesn’t win this game and I’m not sold yet that this group is any different than previous year Mizzou teams. They may not be as good, actually.

State has never won an SEC home game under Lebby. I can’t imagine they are overlooking any SEC team, much less a ranked one. Also I think the State crowd for this one should be really good and that ought to help with any of the “lookahead” concerns. That said, Mizzou is good enough to beat State straight up if State doesn’t play well. My biggest fear with Mizzou is that State won’t get enough pressure on Simmons and he will be able to sit back and pick State apart.

Zakari Tillman also back this week for State.

Supposedly State may have Eddie Kelly (the transfer DL that came in from West Virginia like a month ago) available on Saturday. Potentially a big deal given that State has already lost two contributors on the DL for the season.

Loaded week of games. A little irritated at my cousin for putting her wedding on Saturday evening lol. But such is life. Should be a really fun day. Ole Miss at Florida - UF actually a favorite in this game. It does feel like a rather big letdown opportunity for Ole Miss, doesn’t it? I like UF’s roster quite a bit and think this will be an awesome game. But I’m not picking against Trinidad Chambliss until he or OM gives me a better reason to. Rebels win this one by 4 on a late TD. Missouri at State - State nearly a TD favorite in this one, wow! First ranked vs ranked game at Davis Wade since 2017. In an alternate reality Kamario and Austin Simmons would be duking it out in the Egg Bowl this year, but here we are. Mizzou is a good team that can absolutely win this game. Their balance on offense scares me for State. But I think State playing at home, in front of what should be a highly energetic crowd in a night game, gets the job done. Kamario and the offense keep rolling and State scores late to win 38-28. Texas at Tennessee - I love this matchup, odd that it’s happening in the middle of the day. Feeling a little adventurous here, I think I like the Vols to pull the upset at Neyland. Oklahoma at Georgia - loved this matchup before the season when I thought OU’s offense would be improved. It’s not, I think Georgia wins an ugly low scoring game. A&M at LSU - I’ve got some concerns about LSU’s offense but I don’t think A&M is all that good this year. I have LSU winning at home by double digits. South Carolina at Alabama - Bama has been a weird team to start this year. I like sons of SC’s pieces but have no faith in Sellers to play clean enough to win this. I think Bama wins by two TD’s and we perhaps have a really interesting matchup in Starkville next Saturday. Vandy at Auburn - Vandy may be the luckiest 3-0 team to ever live. First road start for a freshman QB, and it’s at Jordan Hare. Don’t really love this Auburn team but I think they find a way at home. Tulsa at Arkansas - i have no faith in Arkansas and Tulsa is 3-0 with a two touchdown win over Oklahoma State. I have Tulsa winning this. USM at Tulane - the Will Hall Bowl. Hard to have a ton of confidence in USM after last weekend, but Tulane isn’t good either. I’ll take Tulane but could see it being close.

Good point on UConn. I forgot that they hired Candle from Toledo as their coach. He will have a P4 job sooner rather than later.

I think USM had among the most transfer portal turnover of anyone in the country. Sometimes that’s going to work out, but if you don’t hit on enough new guys it can be a mess…. See 2024 Mississippi State. I like Blake Anderson and still think he can succeed there. But he does have to prove that he knows how to navigate this era. Most of his success was in the 2010’s and pre portal or pre NIL. Obviously USM hasn’t been an easy place to win for the last 15 years, either.

It’s hard to argue otherwise, but Golding probably deserves credit for keeping the offense similar-ish and not reinventing the wheel. Not saying these guys are on the same level as Chambliss but I recall Nick Fitzgerald and Will Rogers’ final years at State, both with new play callers, and it didn’t go well for either one. It is definitely possible to mess up a good thing and it appears that Ole Miss to this point hasn’t messed up a good thing.

State sneaks into the AP Poll at number 24. First time ranked since the end of 2022. So it will be a ranked vs ranked matchup between State and Mizzou next week. I hope someone reminds Lebby of Drinkwitz’s antics at the end of the game in Starkville two years ago and if State’s offense is humming that he shows no mercy. Certainly a game Mizzou could still win but I think most State fans probably feel pretty good about their chances at home. I believe State is currently the betting favorite in that game.

Here’s the deal with State and Ole Miss…. I’m not sure there are two QB’s in America playing better football than Kamario and Trinidad. When you have elite QB play, almost no game is unwinnable. You won’t win 100% of the time, but on your guy’s best day, nothing is off the table.

Two 3-0 teams in Mississippi. OM I’m sure will be borderline Top 5 tomorrow, I think there’s a good chance you see State ranked too.

I knew Sam Leavitt sucked and I picked LSU to win anyway. How dumb am I?

Awesome win for State. Kamario is the real deal, and much improved defensive play in the second half, too. That Mizzou game next Saturday night should be an awesome atmosphere at Davis Wade. Makes me sick that I won’t be there.

State down 9 at the half and their defense looks TIRED. Going to have to play a really good offensive second half. Both teams bailed out in a major way by a couple of hands to the face calls.

Rough start for State, penalties and Kamario looking shaky early. Did just put together a couple of big plays to cut it to 16-7. Defense has gotta hold SC without points a few times, they’ve had a TD or FG on every drive so far (though the TD was on a short field after a turnover).

There are about half a dozen options you can do in that situation where they win and it’s stress free. They picked the stupid dumbest option imaginable.

State game delayed by weather. NC State just lost to Vandy in one of the stupidest ways you can possibly lose a football game. I cannot believe how that game ended.

As a State fan it has been funny to see all the State fan takes on LSU mostly being “yeah they’re good but Sam Leavitt stinks”. That man threw 3 interceptions against a Coleman Hutzler defense, you don’t forget things like that. lol.

Saw that Morgan Freeman will be the guest picker for College Gameday from the Grove. 89 years young. Does he still go to OM basketball games? I know he had courtside seats for a while.

I am 99% sure this is just shenanigans by Kiffin.

If you told me both LSU and Ole Miss lose next week after all the hubbub about their game, wouldn’t shock me in the least. You mentioned OM’s trip to Gainesville being dangerous, LSU literally plays another Top 10 team immediately after they play OM.

The week everyone has been waiting for, the most hyped game of the season…. UConn travels to Hattiesburg to play USM! Eagles win a close one at home. ok, now time for the real biggest game: State at South Carolina - SC a 4 point favorite as I’m typing this. I think this a chance to be a crazy game with a lot of offense. Another test for State’s OL this week, and by far the biggest test so far for State’s defense. Columbia is a very tough place to play, and before the season I had State losing this game… but I’m rolling with the Dogs in this one. I think Kamario Taylor is a better QB than Lanoris Sellers. I am not a huge believer in Shane Beamer, and I’m a big fan of the coaching changes State made in the offseason. I think Kamario shines again and the Dogs get it done in the 4th. State wins this one 33-30. Ok, I guess we’ll talk about Ole Miss-LSU…. Tigah’s a 3 point favorite as of today. My opinion on this game is still the same as it was all offseason. I worry that this is a State-Florida 2018 situation for Ole Miss. Perhaps the emotions are TOO high that it’s not a good thing for the home team. I also think LSU happens to be the better team. I won’t be shocked if Chambliss gets it done at home, as OM has been very good in Oxford in recent years. But I have Kiffin breaking Rebel hearts walking out with a 27-20 win. Florida at Auburn - I like both of these new coaches and think UF may be better right now, but give me AU in a night game at Jordan Hsre. Florida State at Bama - can the Noles do it two years in a row? Probably not. Kentucky at Texas A&M - look ahead spot for the Aggies with a trip to Baton Rouge next week? I think it’s close for 3 quarters and A&M pulls away late. Georgia at Arkansas - if you know any Arkansas fans, be nice to them this year, they’re going to need it. This game may be a slaughter. I think the Hogs are headed for a 1-11 or 2-10 season.

If State’s OL continues to perform then I think the offensive pieces this year are really strong. I think they’ve got legitimate depth at WR and RB that they haven’t had all that often. I think they’re good in the secondary, solid at LB (getting Tillman back should help), and just kinda OK on the DL. They’re gonna have some games where they give up a bunch of yards and points I fear. But Arnett so far has employed a bend but don’t break style and it’s worked. Certainly worked a lot better than whatever the heck Coleman Hutzler was trying to do. I also think it helps that State seems to have hit on more portal additions this year than the past couple of years.

He will be a first round draft pick in 2028. Possibly a high first round draft pick. Potential is off the charts and he seems to have really developed as a passer in the offseason. He’s not going to dominate every game but he’s the kind of talent that gives State a chance just about any day. You feel like he’s good enough to will State to some wins by himself. Not unlike what Chambliss has done for OM at times. To put up that kind of performance in your first ever road start, against a decent team, was crazy impressive. I’m fascinated to see what he does this week against SC. If State wins again then the hype will be off the charts for those back to back home games against Mizzou and Bama.

They might be on 2024 State or 2011 Ole Miss’s level. They’re brutally bad.