Texas A&M (Summer) Game Preview

Sep 7, 2013; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies mascot Reveille VIII is led onto the field before a game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

When trying to predict how Mississippi State’s season will play out, almost everyone who looks at it classifies the games we play into three categories: Likely wins, likely losses, and swing games. The Texas A&M game falls into that last category, and you can easily make the argument that it is the most pivotal of all the swing games.

It’s so very pivotal for two reasons. First, Mississippi State will be coming off a bye, and the game that preceded this one will have been against LSU, one of the games most consider a likely loss. The Bulldogs will enter the game either trying to rebound from a loss to a probable ranked opponent, or they will be riding high off the momentum of beating the Tigers for the first time since 1999. This is the middle game of the first really tough three game stretch for the Bulldogs, and the need to get at least two wins out of these three will be of the utmost importance.

Second, most people think the Bulldogs have the better team this year. It’s likely one of the few years that we will be able to say that with the way Kevin Sumlin is recruiting. There has been a lot of talk through the Dan Mullen era about not being able to win a big game. This will be a big game regardless of what Texas A&M does the rest of the year. This game will give the Bulldogs to show that they can take the next step toward competing in the SEC West if they pull the upset over LSU, or it will show they can bounce back from a tough loss.

How optimistic fans are about the 2014 season will be determined a lot because of this game. Whether we enter the game with a loss or not, many people look at this game as winnable. Texas A&M will enter having lost a lot of their production from last year, and a defense that was shredded consistently in 2013. If State were to lose against LSU and Texas A&M, then the prospects of winning more than 7 games is virtually non existent. It would make State heavy underdogs to Auburn and Alabama, and just depending on what Ole Miss does, possibly the Rebels as well. Mullen hasn’t fared well when playing as the underdog, especially when he is a heavy underdog, so winning this game will say a lot about what is likely to happen the rest of the season.

Is it a must win? If you’re happy with just getting to a bowl, then I’d say no. We can still win 6 or 7 games without winning this game. I already wrote why we don’t need to think like that as fans. If you want Mississippi State to have a special season that includes 9 or more wins, then Texas A&M is a game we have to win.