Mississippi State football: Bowl predictions inexplicably optimistic for Bulldogs

Will the Mississippi State football team make it to a bowl game at the end of this season? Can Joe Moorhead get the Bulldogs’ season turned around?

After seven weeks of the 2018 Mississippi State football season, the Bulldogs are struggling more than expected and have a 4-3 overall record and a 1-3 SEC record. This was supposed to be a season in which the Mississippi State Bulldogs challenged the best teams in the Southeastern Conference and that is far from being the case right now.

The Bulldogs’ offense has sputtered in SEC games and MSU can’t seem to score a touchdown against conference foes. Despite the fact that Joe Moorhead arrived in Starkville heralded as an offensive genius, this offense has been offensive to watch.

Now, the Bulldogs are having to readjust their expectations. Unfortunately, Mississippi State football fans must do the same.

In a season that MSU should have competed for one of the best bowls possible, the focus now should be on what bowl can this team even make at this point. There’s still plenty of winnable games up ahead for State, but it feels as if every game is a must win game now.

So, what bowl can this team reasonably expect to make? Here’s some national media predictions for this team:

• ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Belk Bowl vs. Duke
• ESPN’s Mitch Sherman: Belk Bowl vs. Virginia
• 247Sports’ Brad Crawford: Taxslayer Bowl vs. Michigan State
• Sporting News’ Bill Bender: Outback Bowl vs. Penn State

Given how many Mississippi State football fans currently feel about Joe Moorhead and the future of this team, all of those bowls would almost certainly be welcomed. But, MSU should have been able to achieve more this season than what it currently looks like it will.

Because of an offense that appears inept in SEC games, the Bulldogs have struggled more than they should. Moorhead needs to make changes happen now so that things will turn around sooner rather than later for this team.