Early Thursday Game - Very Strong Situational Play

Tulsa -1 over Mississippi State  (Above Average Play)  12 noon EST

The weather Thursday morning in Ft. Worth will be about as bad as gets here in Texas - very cold with rain and wind.  When the game starts tomorrow morning at 11am CST/12 noon EST, the temperature will be 38 degrees with a windchill factor of 26, with rain and a steady wind at about 14-15 mph with gusts around 18 mph.  I live about 30 minutes from Ft. Worth and it is brutal outside here in north Texas and that is supposed to continue all day tomorrow. 

If a team does not really care much about being in this lower Tier Bowl Game, they will probably get their azzes kicked.  I do not think this game means near as much to Miss. State (3-7) as it does to Tulsa (6-2) (7-1 ATS), who is coming off of one of their best seasons ever.  What the hell is Miss. State playing for a 4 win season?

Tulsa is 6-2  with a victory at Central Florida and their only losses were to Oklahoma State in their first game of the season by a score of 7-16 in a game they should have won and led into the 4th Quarter and then a narrow 24-27 loss in their Conference Championship to the undefeated and #8 ranked Cincinnati Bear-cats.

IMO, Tulsa will come prepared and very focused to win this game, so they can finish their outstanding season with a win.  I do not think Mike Leach will be able to get his team very excited about a lower tier Bowl Game in Ft. Worth, TX, and they won their last game of the season against Missouri in a blowout, so probably feeling a little over-confident, but I do not think that will not be their biggest problem……it will be the weather.

Tulsa’s strength is their defense and I think the weather tomorrow (Thursday) will greatly favor the team with the strongest defense and it will hurt the team that primarily gains it’s yard through air.  Guess what – Miss. State has no ground game.  They only average 36, yes 36 yards a game rushing and 311 yards passing, and tomorrow’s weather will be a big problem for the passing oriented Bull Dogs that Tulsa should completely shut down on the ground.

Also, it is always windy in Tulsa, so the Golden Hurricanes know how to play in these type conditions, and they are also used to playing in colder weather.  This weather Thursday morning is something most of the Miss. State players have never played in and I think it will greatly favor the team that has the better rushing offense and the team that really wants to be in this Bowl Game and I believe that is Tulsa.

BOL to everyone and if you live in north Texas, sitting by a fire and sipping some good whiskey is the best place to be right now.

I like your angle on the game.. so far this bowl season just bet the better defensive team good luck 

Miss State schedule much tougher than Tulsa.  I don't see this the way you do. 

GL 

Another way to look at the motivational angle is Miss. St. is glad to be in a bowl with that lousy record. BOl.

@Trumpinator2020

 agree there about the schedule in the regular season, but i think as in2it mentions, factors such as weather and motivation (or lack thereof) big factors when capping bowls...Leaning Tulsa and under myself- GL

U think Tulsa has motivation to be there as well?  lost in the conference ship game and playing in a bottom tier bowl game....What motivation is there for Tulsa?

With a season as bad State had this is a game sets the attitude and tone for the Spring and next years season.  Believe me, they're glad to be playing regardless of their record.  I've watched Tulsa, they couldn't control Tulane's offense at home.  Defense is like paper.  As bad as State Rushing game is, you will see them have success on the ground against Tulsa.  

Any players out?

SEC football players don't want to get beat by anybody but other SEC football players. 

Tulsa is a motherfucker they have one hell of a Defense 

Yeah, nasty here in DFW brutha...4sure

@In2it

Weather report...Periods of rain. Potential for heavy rainfall. High around 40F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.

It’s an unbelievable stat, ranked last, #127 with 36 yards per game. Next best Massachusetts with 67. Tulsa is ranked #69 with 160 yards per game. 

rushing defense for Tulane #45, 146 YPG

Mississippi state has a good run defense #21, 125 YPG. 

But yards per rush are almost exactly the same at 3.56 and 3.57

Mississippi state is heavily dependent on passing,  with the weather,  I think the under & Tulsa -1.5

I know this sounds retarded but Miss St held Alabama to only 41.

Tied for 2nd lowest Alabama scoring all season.

miss st had to try and win from behind against teams like Alabama.  The low rushing also has to do with less attempts.  Tulsa plays teams like Tulane

Let's go Tulsa!

@justlol

Understood. Mississippi State is just horrible at running, I just don’t see them being able to turn it on for one game. 

Love that Tulsa is also the more veteran team in this spot. I look at it as these seniors are more inclined to want to end their football career on a high note. MSU is a very young team we can go down the line. Offense skill positions are filled with true freshmen 

Tulsa is a fraud.. should have lost to East Carolina as -18 point faves.. refs and review booth blew 2 calls that would have given ECU the win. Conference came out after admitting it they messed up. Moo state for me..

Didn’t Mississippi state looks good their last couple games with that new qb

they hung 41 on Missouri with Rogers at qb he is a huge upgrade to Costello 

and they hung in there against Georgia 

of state is half motivated they should pound tulsa 

idk who you think you are convincing here but I'm certainly not fooled bud...First of all, Mike Leach is a disgrace of a college football coach I can't stand that guy he makes the worst decisions lol. Second, Tulsa is certainly the better team here and its not even close. The linesmakers want you to believe this is an even matchup but I disagree completely. Miss state relies on the pass game and with the weather that will not work against tulsa... regardless of the qb costello or rogers they will turn the ball over tomorrow. 

The only reason they crushed missouri the way they did is because bazelak had his worst game of the season with 3 INT's and the missouri defence forgot they had a football game to play lol. The RB for Missouri ran all over the miss st defence too so I think that rush defence is suspect.

Either way, Tulsa has been a second half team all year long. IF they go down early, they are the go to live-bet team at halftime. Whatever is in the gatorade they get at half gets the boys firrrredd up. 

and yes I know the Tulsa best LB declared for the draft and won't play, but considering the lack of a run game for miss state I don't see it being a problem. Next man up

all I am saying is Tulsa should have 3 losses.. biggest rigged job in recent memory.  Go look it up on YouTube.. 3 massive calls in the last drive... really have not beaten anyone Impressive all season..UCF major down year.  Like I said I am on Moo State..

I watched the game too lol, but just cause they didn't cover and you lost money on a game 2 months ago doesn't mean they won't win tomorrow. Either way, only time will tell. I just hope your not just making your pick in this game based on what happened vs ECU because it really is irrelevant...

I refuse to let my hard earned money sit in the hands of Mike Leach he is an awful coach and he will back that statement up tomorrow.

Miss State las 4 games.. lost to Georgia by 7.. lost to ole miss by 7.. lost to Auburn by 14.. it was a 6 point game mid 4th.. beat Missouri by 21.. looks Like team is heading in the right direction with leach and QB change.....