Fraternizing with the enemy: Talking Mississippi State vs Tennessee with Colton Pickard

Mississippi State football finally snapped a seven-game losing streak last week with a 45-20 victory in Starkville over the UMass Minutemen. It was a desperately-needed win for a struggling Bulldogs program working through a rebuild under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby.

But now, the schedule toughens back up. Mississippi State faces a less-frequently played foe in the #7 Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols are having a great season and are firmly in the SEC championship race.

To get to know Tennessee, I chose to fraternize with the enemy. I chatted with Colton Pickard of All for Tennessee to learn about this version of the Volunteers and get an idea of what's in store for the Bulldogs on Saturday.

Q&A with All for Tennessee site expert Colton Pickard

Q: Everyone always makes the "Feels Like '98" jokes with Tennessee, but under Josh Heupel, it seems the Vols' program is close to actually being at that level. How legitimate do you feel this team's chances as a championship contender are?

A: The defense has definitely shown national championship potential throughout the season. Tennessee hasn’t allowed 20 or more points in a single game so far this season, and its efficiency is among the best in the nation. The offense on the other hand has struggled to stay consistent throughout the season. If Nico Iamaleava and the offense can figure out its inconsistencies by the end of the season, they could be poised to compete in the College Football Playoff and make a run at the championship.

Next: Q&A cont.