Mississippi State @ Houston preview
Robertson Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Houston 31, Mississippi State 24
Three key offensive players put up career-high numbers for Mississippi State in last week's win against Alcorn State.
The Bulldogs are likely to need more of the same to earn their third consecutive win, as they travel to Houston to face the nation's No. 6 scoring offense.
Of course, the Cougars (3-1) are down to their third-string quarterback, as Heisman hopeful Case Keenum (torn ACL) and backup Cotton Turner (broken clavicle) were both lost for the season in a 31-13 loss against UCLA on Sept. 18.
But even with true freshman Terrance Broadway behind center in their last game, the Cougars beat Tulane 42-23 on Sept. 25, barely denting their scoring average of 44.2 points per game.
Broadway threw for 174 yards on 19-of-28 passing with an interception in the win, but the star was running back Bryce Beall, who scored four rushing touchdowns, giving him nine for the season. Beall ranks second in the nation with 13.5 points per game and leads Conference USA with 104.5 rushing yards per game.
Houston's offense will be hard-pressed to continue lighting up the scoreboard against Mississippi State (3-2), which has allowed 16.2 points per game. And the Cougars might have a tough time keeping up with the Bulldogs’ suddenly productive offense.
Quarterback Chris Relf, running back Vick Ballard and receiver Chad Bumphis all posted career highs for yardage in the 49-16 rout of Alcorn State as the Bulldogs matched their season high for scoring.
Although he continues to split time with freshman Tyler Russell, Relf has put up big numbers in back-to-back games.
In a win against Georgia two weeks ago, Relf passed for 148 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 109 yards, becoming the first Mississippi State quarterback since 2000 to top 100 yards in both categories in the same game. He followed up that performance with a career-high 209 passing yards and two more touchdown passes last week against Alcorn State.
Relf and Russell combined to help Bumphis to a big day against the Braves, as he set career highs with nine catches and 133 yards and scored two touchdowns.
The quarterback duo will have to worry about Houston cornerback Loyce Means, who leads the Cougars with three interceptions. Means picked off two passes against Tulane and took one back for a touchdown, earning Conference USA defensive player of the week honors.
The Bulldogs also put up a season-high 230 rushing yards last week, led by Ballard's career-high 119 yards. Ballard has scored nine touchdowns (eight rushing, one receiving) through five games and leads the Southeastern Conference with 54 points and eight rushing scores.
Unlike the Cougars, the Bulldogs should be at full strength as tight end Brandon Henderson (knee) and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (ankle) are expected to return to action. Henderson has missed the past three games, and Cox sat out last week.
Houston leads the series 9-6 and has won the last three meetings, including a 31-24 road victory last year. Mississippi State's last win in the series came in 1972.
The Cougars have won 18 straight at home, the fourth-longest current streak in the nation.