Mississippi State @ South Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2012 ) South Alabama 10, Mississippi State 30

Mississippi State has one last tune-up before a brutal, three-game stretch begins conference play for the Bulldogs. And after last week’s less-than-stellar win over Alabama-Birmingham at home, coach Dan Mullen is going to take full advantage of it. Mississippi State allowed 548 total yards in a 47-34 victory over the Blazers, displaying weaknesses that South Alabama will look to exploit on Saturday at home.

The Bulldogs are averaging 48 points per game and should be able to find some holes in the Jaguars, a Sun Belt team that defeated Akron 23-13 in their season opener. But Mullen’s defense is the bigger concern, especially considering three ranked, SEC teams await – No. 10 LSU, No. 7 Texas A&M, and No. 5 Auburn – in the next four weeks. UAB torched the Mississippi State secondary, posting three touchdown passes of 75 yards or more.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNews. LINE: Mississippi State -14.5

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-0): Quarterback Dak Prescott has made the most of Conference USA opponents at home. In two games at comfy Scott Field versus Southern Miss and UAB, he completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 495 yards and eight touchdowns. And a balanced, grind-it-out running attack has helped, as eight Bulldogs have carried the ball so far, led by Josh Robinson (34 carries, 211 yards).

ABOUT SOUTH ALABAMA (1-0): Quarterback Brandon Bridge is a mobile, 6-foot-5 Canadian who has had his ups and downs with the Jaguars, but this is his final year to make it all work. Bridge topped 100 yards passing just once last season, but against Kent State, he was 15-of-25 for 161 yards and one touchdown in a mostly conservative game plan. The Jaguars, on a four-game winning streak, are led on the ground by Jay Jones, who opened with 102 rushing yards and two scores, and is looking to surpass his season total of 737 yards from last year.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tyler Russell completed 13-of-27 passes for 171 yards as Mississippi State handled South Alabama, 30-10, in 2012, the first meeting between the two programs. They will play again in 2016.

2. After one year as a transitional FBS school, South Alabama is now eligible for the Sun Belt championship and a bowl game.

3. The Bulldogs have won five in a row, and will try to start 3-0 for just the second time since 1999.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 30, South Alabama 10.