BetUS $500 Match Bonus
Sign up for a new account with BetUS and deposit $500 or more to get a $500 match bonus!

$20 Free Play at Sportsbook.com
Your first bet is free when you open a new account at sportsbook.com!

2009 Mississippi State Football Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on July 29, 2009

miss st 72909 Sylvester Croom is out and Dan Mullen is in. Does the former Florida offensive coordinator have what it takes to make the Bulldogs more competitive in his first year at the helm? Find out where I have the Bulldogs placing in the SEC West in this 2009 college football betting preview. Mississippi State is listed at +10,000 to win this year’s SEC title.

Bet your college football picks at Bookmaker to take advantage of early football spreads and a special 20% cash sign up bonus!

Offense – The Bulldogs have put one of the worst offenses in the country on the field each of the past five seasons, ranking 103rd or worse in the nation each season during that time frame. Last year was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Mississippi State scored just 15.3 points per game (115th nationally) and averaged only 274.9 yards per game (113th nationally). With four losing seasons in Sylvester Croom’s five years as head man, it was time for him to move on. Now Dan Mullen enters with his spread offense and the hope is that he can eventually turn the Bulldogs into a high scoring football team. It’s going to take some time for him to bring in recruits that fit the system so the wins are not going to start piling up over night. In the meantime, he may have to tailor his offense to the personnel he currently has available. The offensive line returns four of five starters, but this unit really struggled in 2008 when it gave up 37 sacks and rarely opened a gaping hole for tailback Anthony Dixon. Dixon doesn’t need gaping holes. In fact, he rushed for 869 yards and seven scores last season and has over 2,600 rushing yards in his career. Imagine what this kid could do behind a strong front five. Tyson Lee is expected to start at quarterback after stepping in for the final eight games last season. He ended up with 1,519 yards and seven scores through the air. Incoming freshman Tyler Russell is thought to be the QB of the future in Starkville. In a spread offense, you have to have playmakers at the wide receiver spots and those playmakers will have to surface. Brandon McRae returns after a 51-reception season for 518 yards and three scores. The Bulldogs are hoping to identify more playmaking options in the seven wideouts that are coming in as freshman.

Defense - The Mississippi State defense was really pretty good in 2008 when you consider all the time it spent on the field. The Bulldogs allowed only 327.5 yards per game (35th nationally) and were particularly stingy against the pass (17th nationally). But only two starters return from that unit. Still, the defense is expected to be the strength of the team once again. The program is excited about juco transfer Pernell McPhee. The 6′4”, 270-pound beast earned junior college All-American honors. The linebacker corps should be in good shape with Jamar Chaney back in the middle following a medical redshirt season. He led the Bulldogs in tackles in 2007 and will likely do it again this year if he can stay healthy. He’ll be joined by returning starter K.J. Wright. The secondary won’t be as good as it was in 2008 with the losses of Keith Fitzhugh and Derek Pegues, but it will still be respectable. The coaching staff is big on sophomore safety Charles Mitchell and returning starter Marcus Washington should play a strong cornerback this year.

Prediction: 6th SEC West – Plain and simple, the Mississippi State offense lacks the fire power to compete with the elite teams in this conference. Mullen appears to be a good hire but year one figures to be rough. Mississippi State is listed at +2,000 to win the SEC West Division at BetUS.

Jimmy Boyd’s expert football picks will keep you in the black all season long!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in: