Welcome to Starkville Joe Moorhead. While Dan Mullen took the Mississippi State program to new heights – eight straight bowl games and a 69-46 record while playing in the SEC West is nothing to be sniffed at – there is a chance that the Bulldogs actually managed to upgrade their head coaching position this summer.
By Steve Wright
With so many high profile coaching moves in the SEC, this one flew a little under the radar, but if Moorhead has the type of debut season that some are whispering about, then the hire will be seen as a stroke of genius.
September
9/1/18 Stephen F. Austin – The Lumberjacks are a 21-25 team over the last few seasons. The Bulldogs return 17 starters to a powerful FBS team. This one writes itself. Mississippi State 45, SFA 7.
9/8/18 @ Kansas State – The Bulldogs big season could be halted before it even gets going as the travel to the Little Apple of Manhattan, Kansas to face a K State team that has become known for playing spoiler over the last three decades. It will be a battle of dual-threat quarterbacks as Nick Fitzgerald faces off against Alex Delton, with the overall strength of the Mississippi State roster needing to be on full show to wrestle a win back to Starkville. Mississippi State 34, Kansas State 20.
9/15/18 Louisiana – The Ragin’ Cajuns went 5-7 last season and have a rookie head coach in Billy Napier. Their offense will be fun to watch, but the Bulldogs will have way too much power here. Mississippi State 52, Louisiana 21.
9/22/18 @ Kentucky – This one was a blowout last year with the Bulldogs destroying the Wildcats 45-7. Fitzgerald and the offense will be able to move the ball against a Kentucky side that can never quite seem to get over the hump in their games against the better teams in the SEC. Mississippi State 42, Kentucky 17.
9/29/18 Florida – Welcome back Dan Mullen. The new Florida head coach returns to Starkville less than a month into his first season with the Gators. Expect the reception to be prickly as Moorhead would love to blow out his predecessor as a statement of intent. Mississippi State 38, Florida 20.
October
10/6/18 Auburn – This will be the Tigers first true road game of the season, so their players won’t have experienced anything like the atmosphere they will contend with in Starkville. If the Mississippi State defense can pressure Auburn quarterback Jared Stidham, then this game will be there for the taking. Mississippi State 24, Auburn 31.
10/13/18 BYE
10/20/18 @ LSU – This is not the same LSU that was a national power. It is not even the same LSU that was 9-4 a season ago. The defense will be good, but the Tigers offense has no quarterback or running back as we head into the season. This is a game that is tougher because it’s on the road, but it is one that the Bulldogs should win. Mississippi State 38, LSU 21.
10/27/18 Texas A&M – This late October date is one of the trickier games on the schedule. Jimbo Fisher wants to make an immediate impact in College Station and he has the coaching resume to suggest that he will have the Aggies contending in the SEC West sooner rather than later. The question for 2018 though is if Fisher has a quarterback to run his system? Mississippi State 31, Texas A&M 28.
November
11/3/18 Louisiana Tech – This is the toughest non-con game outside of the Kansas State Clash. Louisiana Tech has worried the Bulldogs at times over the course of this rivalry, but this late in the season this should be a showcase for the Mississippi State offense. Mississippi State 48, La Tech 24.
11/10/18 @ Alabama – If the Mississippi State season goes to plan then this will be a massive game between two highly ranked teams. If it were in Starkville then maybe we could give the nod to Mississippi State, but winning on the road in Tuscaloosa against Tua Tagovailoa is going to be difficult for any opponent. Mississippi State 21, Alabama 27.
11/17/18 Arkansas – The placement on the schedule makes this a tougher game than it first appears. Winning or losing against Alabama at the tail end of potentially big season will make this contest against the Razorbacks hard to deal with from an emotional standpoint. Plus there is a suspicion that Arkansas will be greatly improved in 2018. This game certainly comes with a warning attached. Mississippi State 27, Arkansas 21.
11/22/18 Ole Miss – The Rebels are thin due to a number of transfers after recent scandal hit the school. Their attack through the air will keep them in touching distance in most games, as strong armed quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has the best group of wide outs in the SEC. Mississippi State needs this after losing the Egg Bowl last season. Mississippi State 41, Ole Miss 24.
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