2011 College Football Preview: Mississippi State Bulldogs at Memphis Tigers

Mississippi State Bulldogs at Memphis Tigers
Thursday, 9/1/11, 8:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Mississippi St -27.5
Current Betting Line: Mississippi St -27
Opening Total: 48.5
Current Total: 50
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Mississippi State plays two SEC games following this week's contest against Memphis

Mississippi State closed out the 2010 campaign with a 9-4 overall record and will look to become the first team in school history to post back-to-back nine-plus win seasons. “Our offense last year was the offense we wanted it to be,” stated Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen. “This year it will be different because we have different personnel.” In 2010, the offense set new school records for points scored, touchdowns scored, and yards gained. The program has also had great success in the running game, notching 100-yard rushing games in 24 of his 25 games at the helm. Mississippi State is 2-2 ATS versus Conference USA opponents over the past two years.

The Bulldogs picked up a 49-7 win over Memphis in last year’s meeting in Starksville, Mississippi, out-gaining the Tigers by a 569-237 margin. Mississippi State has been solid in its openers under Mullen, picking up two victories and outscoring opponents by a 94-14 score. The program has been great historically when opening the season, posting a 13-4 mark against non-conference competition since the 1991 campaign. Turnovers are a key to the squad’s success, turning the ball over just nine times in nine wins last year, while giving it up 12 times in four losses. Quarterback Chris Relf is an important piece to that puzzle and is one of the most dangerous players in the SEC.

Memphis trails 32-11 in the all-time series against Mississippi State and will be looking to improve upon a 1-11 record that it posted under second-year head coach Larry Porter in 2011. “For us, it’s about being improved,” Porter commented. “I think this team is ready to roar back.” If any improvement is going to be made, it first must come on the defensive end, allowing 460.7 yards per game a year ago. Memphis is 7-16 ATS over the last two seasons, including an 0-4 ATS mark versus teams from the Southeastern Conference.

The Tigers will begin the season with Andy Summerlin as starting quarterback, as he beat out true freshman Taylor Reed and senior Wake Forest transfer Skylar Jones. He spent a year playing at Coffeyville Community College, where he earned first-team all-conference and MVP honors. His main target will be wide receiver Marcus Rucker, who led the team in yards, receptions and touchdowns a year ago. Memphis is 3-7 in its last 10 season openers and 44-45-5 all-time in such games. A win may be hard to come by in this contest, but the Tigers have posted one win in 13 previous tries over the Bulldogs in a season opener.