Mississippi St Bulldogs 2022 College Football Preview
August 10, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 7-6
ATS – 7-6
The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a record of 7-5 but it could’ve been much better. They lost to Memphis by two points after outgaining them by over 200Y, fell to LSU by three, WOO PIG by three, and Ole Miss by ten. Ya we know, if your aunt had NUTS she’d be your UNCLE, but it must be said that they were a solid bunch in 2021. They were uninspired in the Liberty Bowl tho (L 34-7 to Texas Tech).
Mississippi St Bulldogs 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
Yup, you guessed it. The Bulldogs were great at moving the ball thru the air thanks to the golden arm of Will Rogers (4,739, 36 TD) but the ground attack was an afterthought (63 YPG, dead last FBS). That’s how Mike Leach teams like to roll, yo. Everyone returns to the WR group with the exception of #1 WR Makai Polk who caught 100 balls LY. Leach’s offense always finds a way to have deep and productive WR units so we aren’t that concerned. We’d like to see a bit more from the 1-2 punch at RB (Johnson, Marks) but we won’t hold our breath. The OL should be fine and has plenty of experience but it’s never a positive to lose a 1st round NFL DC at LT. We expect more of the same from the Miss St offense but hope they can stretch the field a bit more with the THROW GAME. <grabs popcorn>
DEFENSE
Mississippi St played a familiar style LY on defense as well. They were stout vs the run (113 YPG, #12 FBS) but relatively weak vs the pass (#81 pass efficiency D). We’ll also note that they were a bit light in the sack department (27, #11 SEC). We’re happy to report that the stop unit features nine returning starters and they look good at every level. They’ll be tough vs the run once again with a talented upperclassmen group and Tyrus Wheat and #1 tackler JETT Johnson headline a fine LB corps. We expect improvement in the secondary, particularly if they can get more heat on the QB, as three starters are back including star CB Emmanuel Forbes. They’ve also added several transfers on the back end. Look for improvement on defense this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The INTREPID Phil Steele ranked the Bulldogs #119 in his special teams ratings LY so they’ve made a change at punter and snagged Coastal Carolina’s fine PK Massimo Biscardi thru the transfer portal. Also note that Lideatrick Griffin is a devastating KR (32.8, TD LY). This should be at least an “average” group in 2022. <crosses fingers>
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The non-conference slate is very palatable and they should sweep the board. Unfortunately, they draw Georgia from the East, but at least they get them at home. The Bulldogs only play one road game in November (at Ole Miss).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – September 10 – at Arizona
Once you are finished laughing, note that this is a trip out west right before they take on LSU in Baton Rouge.
Season Win Total
per BetOnline Aug 10
Over 6.5 -140
Under 6.5 +110
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
They’ll need to win three or four SEC games to hit the ‘over’. Seems reasonable.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
CB Emmanuel Forbes returned not one, not two, but THREE interceptions for touchdowns in 2020 as a freshman. That happened. Believe it.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Call us crazy, but this just might be the second-most talented team in the division. They’re certainly in the conversation. Mississippi St has to go on the road to face ROLL TIDE but get to play the Aggies, WOO PIG, Auburn, and Georgia in Starkville. Legit SURPRISE PACKAGE.
Go Bulldogs!
Want more Mississippi St football ?
WEBSITE
https://hailstate.com/sports/football
FORUM
http://forums.sixpackspeak.com/
http://www.elitedawgs.com/forum.php
http://mississippistate.247sports.com/Board/Mississippi-State-Bulldogs-Message-Board-Forum-59413
http://www.secrant.com/rant/mississippi-st-sports/
https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Board/Sports-102871/
https://mississippistate.forums.rivals.com/forums/the-dawg-pound.8/
NEWS
http://www.clarionledger.com/sports/mississippi-state/
http://saturdayblitz.com/sec/mississippi-state-bulldogs/
http://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/344/mississippi-state-bulldogs
Pretty mixed reviews Phil has em in familiar territory but the model preview guy I like has em a surprise top 10 team and says its not just the model talkin might turn out solid .. Bill C doesn’t have em far off either at 15 .. line on Memphis seems to put em ~ at Bill C’s number ..
Just my observe but every team Pirate captained to riches at Wazzoo seemed to get at least some help on the ground here and there when they needed it .. def weren’t fighting for 130 in yds per carry like the last 2 years, can’t blame it on the sacks yds either .. idk think they need to do something or starting point every game is 20ish busted run plays .. eek ..
Part I liked is opponents maybe not catchin these guys in the best spots:
@Bama, Tide off a tough stretch @Ark, AM @Tenn ..
Ark at home, Hogs off A&M, Bama w BYU on deck .. BYU might surprise em too ..
Auburn at home they’re off Ark and Miss St off their bye ..
UGA at home off UF and Tenn .. Big game @UK on deck .. first roadie in 5 weeks
A&M at home off Arky / Bama on deck ..
Egg Bowl MSU off an FCS team .. Ole miss at home but off Bama and @Arkansas ..
Really only LSU w an FCS game and Kentucky seem to have either an easy or at least normal lead in to playing these guys ..
It’s hard to trust the Pirate but man these guys look pretty good not saying playoff but they seem equal to Tex AM and your pal Jimbo. good call on schedule dynamics lets do thisssss
Yeah could be .. gotta pick our spots w this guy they dog it vs La Tech then beat up NC State then lose to Memphis LY … and that bowl game lol .. pretty good set up if he’s just mailin in these rinky dink non-cons again right before cannons come out ..
He’ll be drainin some wallets if it goes that way that memphis line went up like 10 pts from where it opened .. notcho average PRE-SEASON STEAMIN lol ..
ya you know the ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Pirate is gonna screw up a game where there are double digit favs, probably have a 2 TD lead with a min left and blow it haaa, get cho popcone oct 1 shock the world vs tex am