SEC Football Week 11: Top Games
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban walks off the field after the game against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
2 Alabama VS 17 Mississippi State
Location: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
Game Time: Saturday, November 14 3:300PM ET
TV: CBS
“We Believe” –Mississippi State rally cry before the 7-0 Bulldogs travelled to Tuscaloosa to get walloped by the Crimson Tide in 2012.
Alabama’s front seven. Absolutely incredible. The Crimson Tide defense not only contained the LSU rushing attack, but absolutely shut down Leonard Fournette. Now Derrick Henry is receiving blessings from those around the conference to take the Heisman contender flag for the conference and run with it. Amazing what one game can do.
Alabama is currently playing their best ball of the year, and that looks like trouble for the quietly rising Mississippi State Bulldogs. Or does it? The Bulldogs have played sound football for most of the year, though they’ve remained rather quiet on their journey into the depth of the top 20. Saturday afternoon, Mississippi State will step out onto Scott Field with the whole world standing in front of them. It’s no secret. Mississippi State and Dan Mullen have been gunning for a win over Nick Saban and Alabama for years. Alabama remains the one team Mullen has failed to beat inside the Western Division, and the faithful in Starkville are hungry.
Nov 5, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) runs the ball against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Faurot Field. Mississippi State defeated Missouri 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
On paper the Crimson Tide should win this game by two scores. Bulldogs can be upset, but that’s just how it is. Alabama is the better team, there I said it again. However, the intangibles that often times go unnoticed in college football games actually line up in overwhelming support for the Bulldogs. First off, Alabama put a lot into the game with LSU, and there’s just no denying that. Will there be a hangover Saturday, and if so how big? The Bulldog faithful are already a rowdy bunch at home, but that intensity gets taken to a new level whenever Alabama and Ole Miss enter Davis Wade Stadium. Look for the afternoon contest to start out under clear skies, transition into dusk, and ultimately finish under the stars. The last thing Alabama needs to do is let Mississippi State hang around, and take the game into the 4th quarter. If Alabama is unable to put Mississippi State away early, then the game will begin to tilt in the Bulldogs favor the longer it goes. Few teams have beaten Alabama during the regular season while Nick Saban has roamed the sidelines. However, the few teams that have all had one thing in common: A gamebreaker at quarterback, or a senior leading his team for the last season. Stephen Garcia(South Carolina 2010), Cam Newton(Auburn 2010), Johnny Manziel(Texas A&M 2012) Nick Marshall(Auburn 2013) Bo Wallace(Ole Miss 2014), and Chad Kelly(Ole Miss 2015) all had career days against the Crimson Tide, and helped their team beat Alabama. If you follow the trends, then that trend favors Dak Prescott, and leads you to believe he will perform at an exceptionally high level.
The safe money remains on Alabama, but the CBS choice of the week will be the game to watch this weekend. Mississippi State fans, see Stingray’s Alabama rant video for a pump-up. He even has a sponsor.
Fun Fact: Stingray is an Alabama grad, but a huge Mississippi State supporter. Odd, normally it’s the other way around. #Clanga #WhatchaGonnaDoBrother #DakAttack