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THE Mississippi State vs. BYU Game Preview

By Josh Barnhill

Nov 21, 2015; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars get ready to take the field for their game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars get ready to take the field for their game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mississippi State will travel to BYU for the second time in their history.

This will be MSU and BYU’s third all-time meeting. In 2000 and 2001 they played a home and home with both teams winning on the road. The 2000 game was played on a Thursday night in Provo, and this one will be played on a Friday night. The Bulldogs won that game going away, 44-28, highlighted by Dicenzo Miller’s spectacular run.

Stats Comparison

BYU scoring offense: 28.2 PPG vs. MSU scoring defense: 26.2 PPG

MSU scoring offense: 25.6 PPG vs. BYU scoring defense: 25.8 PPG

BYU ranks 37th in rushing offense, MSU ranks 47th.

BYU ranks 88th in passing offense, MSU ranks 90th.

MSU (404 YPG) is averaging just 16 yards less than BYU (420 YPG).

These two teams are pretty even when it comes to the stat book.

Who will play a complete game

Mississippi State has struggled all year to put a complete game together.

Good halves:

  • 1st half vs. USA
  • 1st half vs. South Carolina
  • 2nd half vs. LSU
  • 2nd half vs. UMass
  • 2nd half vs. Auburn (sort of)

Bad halves: well, I’d list them but they are the opposite of the good halves.

Point is, MSU hasn’t put forth a complete game yet.

BYU has had a similar problem, but in terms of which side of the ball was performing well and not an issue of playing four quarters. Here’s an excerpt from our fellow FanSided site, Lawless Republic:

"All season long it seemed like BYU got 50 percent of a great night. Defense led the way against Arizona, Utah and UCLA, while the offense sputtered. Offense played well against West Virginia and Toledo, but the defense didn’t show up."

Can MSU stop the run

After seeing Leonard Fournette and Kamryn Pettway run roughshod over the Bulldogs for 147 and 169 yard respectively, the last thing I want to see is another 6′ 220+ pound running back.

But that’s what we’re going to see with Jamaal Williams. He’s a big back who’s averaging 144 YPG and 6.2 YPC.

More from Mississippi State Football

Will the Dawgs play will great effort

All these things are questions because no one knows the answer. What Bulldog team will show up this week? Will Dan Mullen pull out the same attitude and fire he had against South Carolina or will he be nonchalant like he was against South Alabama and Auburn?

Hopefully the players can figure out Coach Mullen’s formula for the right amount of “strain” they must put into each particular play. They seem to be confused through the first five games of the year, so it’ll be a tall task for them to figure it out during a short week.

Play hard – that’s what State needs to do. The problems with this team can pretty much all be traced back to mental preparation, toughness and fortitude. If they play with great effort they can win this game. If not, there’s no chance.

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