@ Mississippi State (9/24)

[jpfalcon09]

Bulldogs coming off a tough loss on the road at LSU. Were up 13-0 late in the 2nd quarter, allowed a Tigers score right before half and were outscored 24-3 the rest of the way. Might see a salty bunch. Mike Leach offense so expect a pass heavy game. Falcons last played in Stark Vegas in 2013, narrowly losing 21-20.

MSU defeated Arizona 39-16 and Memphis 49-23 prior to last week.

Falcons roll in on an emotional high following the win over Marshall. Offense has shown a pulse the past six quarters or so while the defense has been uneven but has found a way to force turnovers at key times. Final non-conference game, don't expect this one to be particularly close but college football so far in 2022 has been anything but predictable.

Line opened BG +30.5 and has dropped to +30.

Noon eastern time kick on SEC Network.

Keys to the game:
- Win the turnover battle
- Offense extends drives/chew clock
- Can BG develop any running game?
- Tackle in space
- No injuries

[Schadenfreude]

Line opened BG +30.5 and has dropped to +30.

It's tempting to take Bowling Green at +30. The Falcons seemed to cut down on dumb mistakes Saturday, and McDonald's play looked inspired at times. Also, I have not forgotten how close we played the Bulldogs in 2013, losing by just one point. But Mississippi State is obviously a very good football team. Hard to know how this one goes.

I just hope we can get out of Starkville without any injuries.

I really like our chances against Akron in two weeks.

[hammb]

I don't think we have a snowball's chance in winning this game. I know nothing about MSU, but I don't see us following up one big win with an even bigger upset road win. Not an indictment on anything, just seems unlikely.

What I really want to see though is some lessons learned from that Marshall game. Let players play. Let guys go downfield, let McDonald sling it. I've seen enough in the last 2 games to believe we have some guys that can make plays downfield when they're given the opportunity. So let them take that opportunity. I know our OL is still suspect, but I don't want to see us turtling back into nothing but short crap that has almost no opportunity to succeed. Trust your veteran QB, trust your WRs. Play loose and wing it. You really have nothing to lose because nobody expects a win...hell most probably don't even expect a competitive game.

Play loose with house money and see if you can learn more about your team's ceiling before MAC play.

[roguewarrior]

Agree. When you play not to lose, or in this case, play not to get punished…. Then you usually get smoked worse. I would somehow try to prepare and focus, yet say we are going to have fun and sling it. Part of that may be giving the 2’s (particularly The QB) significant time should the game become out of reach. Historically, they never do this.

[kdog27]

I don't think we have a snowball's chance in winning this game. I know nothing about MSU, but I don't see us following up one big win with an even bigger upset road win. Not an indictment on anything, just seems unlikely.

What I really want to see though is some lessons learned from that Marshall game. Let players play. Let guys go downfield, let McDonald sling it. I've seen enough in the last 2 games to believe we have some guys that can make plays downfield when they're given the opportunity. So let them take that opportunity. I know our OL is still suspect, but I don't want to see us turtling back into nothing but short crap that has almost no opportunity to succeed. Trust your veteran QB, trust your WRs. Play loose and wing it. You really have nothing to lose because nobody expects a win...hell most probably don't even expect a competitive game.

Play loose with house money and see if you can learn more about your team's ceiling before MAC play.

Yeah I agree with this. If they try and just be conservative and run clock it’s just going lead to 3 and outs most likely because of the predictability. I would foresee lots of batted down passes again.

Not real sure how good MSU is either. I was at the game 9 years ago when BG should have won. A dak Prescott 80 yard TD run and sone key drops were the difference. BG outplayed them.

I’m still undecided on whether I’m going to this game. The 11am kickoff is making it hard.

[roguewarrior]

Aren’t they on Central time?

[jpfalcon09]

Aren’t they on Central time?

11am central, noon eastern kickoff.

[roguewarrior]

Aren’t they on Central time?

11am central, noon eastern kickoff.

We are pit stopping in Nashville for a few days before the game. I guess I’ll sweat out Nashville at the game!

[BillyLP]

Aren’t they on Central time?

11am central, noon eastern kickoff.

We are pit stopping in Nashville for a few days before the game. I guess I’ll sweat out Nashville at the game!

Lived there for a few years up until 2021 if you need any recs!

[roguewarrior]

Aren’t they on Central time?

11am central, noon eastern kickoff.

We are pit stopping in Nashville for a few days before the game. I guess I’ll sweat out Nashville at the game!

Lived there for a few years up until 2021 if you need any recs!

Thanks! I have gotten several stops planned off recommendations. Not sure my liver will make it as it is! I’ll let you know!

[roguewarrior]

Aren’t they on Central time?

11am central, noon eastern kickoff.

We are pit stopping in Nashville for a few days before the game. I guess I’ll sweat out Nashville at the game!

Lived there for a few years up until 2021 if you need any recs!

Thanks! I have gotten several stops planned off recommendations. Not sure my liver will make it as it is! I’ll let you know!

[Flipper]

Keep pushing it downfield...keep moving the pocket to keep McDonald from getting balls deflected and/or him getting killed. He's thrown some really nice balls the last couple of weeks...keep it up.

The play selection and execution looked a lot different in weeks 2 and 3...not so much short stuff and waiting on routes...more focus on working downfield more quickly...or so it seemed to me

[jpfalcon09]

Keep pushing it downfield...keep moving the pocket to keep McDonald from getting balls deflected and/or him getting killed. He's thrown some really nice balls the last couple of weeks...keep it up.

The play selection and execution looked a lot different in weeks 2 and 3...not so much short stuff and waiting on routes...more focus on working downfield more quickly...or so it seemed to me

Recorded the Marshall game and watched it back yesterday. Never got an appreciation being at the game for how well McDonald bought time for himself to extend some routes and take some deep shots and you said, made some really good throws. It needs to be the focal point of the offense going forward. Great length at WR/TE (Lewis, Broden, Sims) and speed (Hilaire) needs to be exploited. Might be used to help the run game too if safeties and backers have to play even a couple yards more off the line to compensate for that.

I also hope we see Wimberly get more touches this weekend, his speed is an x-factor despite his youth. He and Keith have the chance to both be really dynamic out of the backfield.

[Flipper]

Wimberly is this generation's Charlie Williams...guy that kills it on special teams and can contribute all over the field. Wound up getting drafted in the 3rd round by Dallas in 95 or so

[MarkL]

If this game is anything other than a blowout, I'll be pleasantly surprised. The athletic mismatch in will be stark in Starksville along with the heat and humidity. Additionally, Mississippi State just coughed up a good lead against LSU and is probably looking at this game as an opportunity to get back on track. After what Ohio State did last week after a clunky first couple of games, I'm kinda worried Mississippi State might have similar intentions. And especially after App State upset Texas A&M, I just can't see Mississippi State overlooking this game.

So assuming this game is not competitive, I'd say make it an opportunity to challenge the pass game and see just how physical our receivers can be. Give McDonald some time, be it an extra blocker or rollouts and let him chuck it downfield.

One of the strategies against Marshall was to force the defense to run laterally in order to wear them out and open up the deep pass, per Loeffler. That won't work this week... it will lead to negative plays as the defense handles the short and wide field, and they won't wear out. So I'd say go downfield early and often.

Defensively, bringing loads of pressure has been hit and miss. Hit meaning hitting the QB, miss meaning missing the ball and seeing a receiver downfield heading toward the end zone. Mississippi State has a great QB, blitz too much and the defense is asking to get burned.

So I'd like to see some offensive bursts. Some sustained drives. Some stops and see what we've got on defense besides an impressive set of blitzes. But mostly, just want to see no injuries.