South Alabama @ Mississippi State preview
Davis Wade Stadium
Having climbed into the Top 25 for the first time this season, 23rd-ranked Mississippi State seeks its first 4-0 start since 1999 on Saturday when the Bulldogs host South Alabama. This is the final tuneup before they begin SEC play on Oct. 6 at Kentucky. Mississippi State has a bye next week. Mississippi State and South Alabama are meeting for the first time. A victory on Saturday would extend the Bulldogs' non-conference winning streak to 14 games, which would be the second-longest in school history. Mississippi State won 17 consecutive non-conference contests from 1941-47. South Alabama is playing its second straight game against a school from a BCS conference, having lost to North Carolina State 31-7 last week. The Jaguars, who started their football program in 2009, are in their final season before they make the jump to the FBS next year.
TV: ESPN3, 7 p.m. ET. LINE: Mississippi State: -34
ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA (1-2): The Jaguars have been held below 10 points in their last two games, having defeated Nichols State 9-3 on Sept. 8 for their only victory. They opened with a 33-31 loss to Texas-San Antonio. South Alabama begins Sun Belt Conference play next week against Troy. Jake Johnson
recorded a season-high 14 tackles against North Carolina State, including a school-record 11 unassisted tackles. The Jaguars' offense had trouble staying on the field against the Wolfpack, however, going 0-for-11 on third-down conversions. Sophomore running back Demetre Baker accounted for 100 yards of total offense with 55 yards rushing and 45 yards receiving.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (3-0): The Bulldogs will be looking to shore up their defense after allowing 572 yards and 30 first downs in last week's 30-24 victory at Troy. Mississippi State did force four turnovers, however, and is tied with Alabama and Kansas for the lead in the FBS in forced turnovers with 12. With 17 career touchdown receptions, Chad Bumphis needs one to break the school record he now shares with Eric Moulds and Justin Jenkins. Bumphis hauled in three TD catches against Troy. The Tupelo native has cracked the school's top-10 list in career receiving yards with 1,584 and needs 48 to move up to seventh. The Bulldogs also have done an excellent job of protecting quarterback Tyler Russell, allowing only one sack in the first three games. Running back LaDarius Perkins ranks second in the SEC in rushing yards per game (106.7)
EXTRA POINTS
1. Mississippi State has started 4-0 only five times in school history and only once since 1965.
2. With 14 interceptions, Johnthan Banks needs two to Walt Harris' school record. Banks is six shy of the SEC mark.
3. South Alabama has an all-time mark of 24-6. The Jaguars were 17-0 in their first two seasons before going 6-4 last year.
PREDICTION: Mississippi State 48, South Alabama 7