Mississippi State
8th SEC8-4
Troy
6th Sun Belt5-7
Mississippi State @ Troy preview
Veterans Memorial Stadium
Mississippi State looks to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 1999 when the Bulldogs visit Troy on Saturday. This is the first of two straight non-conference contests for Mississippi State, which hosts South Alabama next week. The Bulldogs have a good chance to be 4-0 when they return to SEC play against
Kentucky on Oct. 6. Mississippi State has started 3-0 only five times since 1980. Troy, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, is coming off a 37-24 home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. Despite the defeat, the Trojans have been tough at home since making the jump to the FBS in 2001. Their 46-9 home record since
then is sixth-best in the FBS, ranking behind only Boise State, Oklahoma, USC, TCU and Ohio State.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN 3.com. LINE: Mississippi State -16.5
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-0): The Bulldogs have featured on opportunistic defense as they lead the FBS in turnover margin at plus-7 and rank second in turnovers forced with eight. Mississippi State has surrendered only one touchdown and the defense has done an excellent job of getting
off the field, allowing only 4-of-23 third-down conversions. QB Tyler Russell was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 20 of 29 throws for 222 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 28-10 victory over Auburn. With 14 career touchdown receptions, Chad Bumphis is only three shy of the
school mark shared by Eric Moulds and Justin Jenkins.
ABOUT TROY (1-1): The Trojans rank eighth in the FBS in passing offense, averaging 359 yards per game. Quarterback Corey Robinson set five Troy records against Louisiana-Lafayette, including career marks for passing yards, total offense and pass attempts. He also established single-game records for completions (46) and yards (485). With Robinson attempting 72 passes, Troy ran 102 plays against Louisiana-Lafayette. Senior wide receiver Chip Reeves has returned to the lineup after being academically ineligible last season. Sophomore Chandler Worthy (154 receiving yards last week) and Reeves are the Trojans' top two threats.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Mississippi State is 13-2 in non-conference games under coach Dan Mullen, who is in his fourth season.
2. The all-time series is tied at one win apiece. Mississippi State posted an 11-8 victory in the last meeting in Starkville in 2002.
3. The Trojans are 92-15-1 at home under coach Larry Blakeney, who is in his 22nd season at the school. He has 165 career victories. The other nine coaches in the Sun Belt Conference have combined for 124 wins at their schools.
PREDICTION: Mississippi State 34, Troy 14
Kentucky on Oct. 6. Mississippi State has started 3-0 only five times since 1980. Troy, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, is coming off a 37-24 home loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. Despite the defeat, the Trojans have been tough at home since making the jump to the FBS in 2001. Their 46-9 home record since
then is sixth-best in the FBS, ranking behind only Boise State, Oklahoma, USC, TCU and Ohio State.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN 3.com. LINE: Mississippi State -16.5
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-0): The Bulldogs have featured on opportunistic defense as they lead the FBS in turnover margin at plus-7 and rank second in turnovers forced with eight. Mississippi State has surrendered only one touchdown and the defense has done an excellent job of getting
off the field, allowing only 4-of-23 third-down conversions. QB Tyler Russell was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 20 of 29 throws for 222 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 28-10 victory over Auburn. With 14 career touchdown receptions, Chad Bumphis is only three shy of the
school mark shared by Eric Moulds and Justin Jenkins.
ABOUT TROY (1-1): The Trojans rank eighth in the FBS in passing offense, averaging 359 yards per game. Quarterback Corey Robinson set five Troy records against Louisiana-Lafayette, including career marks for passing yards, total offense and pass attempts. He also established single-game records for completions (46) and yards (485). With Robinson attempting 72 passes, Troy ran 102 plays against Louisiana-Lafayette. Senior wide receiver Chip Reeves has returned to the lineup after being academically ineligible last season. Sophomore Chandler Worthy (154 receiving yards last week) and Reeves are the Trojans' top two threats.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Mississippi State is 13-2 in non-conference games under coach Dan Mullen, who is in his fourth season.
2. The all-time series is tied at one win apiece. Mississippi State posted an 11-8 victory in the last meeting in Starkville in 2002.
3. The Trojans are 92-15-1 at home under coach Larry Blakeney, who is in his 22nd season at the school. He has 165 career victories. The other nine coaches in the Sun Belt Conference have combined for 124 wins at their schools.
PREDICTION: Mississippi State 34, Troy 14