2007: The Turn-around Season

We had glimpses of it last year in several close-but-no-cigar games against the SEC’s best.
2007 is different. Those close losses are now close victories, and the State faithful couldn’t be prouder.
This one turned out to be a low scoring, tough, physical battle in Stark Vegas, just as predicted. The difference is the key plays that State couldn’t make last year, they are making this year.

Play #1
1st Quarter. QB Wes Carroll suffers an interception on his first pass of the day. Bama is in business, but can only manage a field goal.

Bama’s first two possessions brought them in scoring range, but State’s defense held them to six points. The game could have been over early, but a flat Bama offense was unable to take advantage.

Play #2
The play of the game occurs with 24 seconds left in the first half, Bama has 3rd and goal from the 2, Titus Brown pressures John Parker Wilson into an ill-advised pass which is intercepted 3 yards deep in the endzone by AJ Johnson. AJ takes it to the house…..103 yards.
Halftime score State 10-9

Play #3
Bama’s first possesion of the 3rd quarter ends with a Derrick Pegues interception and return to the Bama 25. RB Anthony Dixon did the rest, giving State a 17-9 lead.

For 2007, Mississippi State is 3-0 vs Alabama teams, having defeated UAB on Homecoming, and Auburn on the road earlier this year. State is now bowl eligible for the 1st time since 2000.

For Bulldog Nation, Life is Good.

More at Clarionledger.com

Oh yeah baby, where yat?

Saturday in the SEC, it just don’t get better’n ‘dat.

As hard as it is to pick against the home field advantage, this week will see some surprises, and some road wins. You read it here first, folks.

In the early game, Bama travels to Stark Vegas to take on the Dogs…….This will be one of the most physical games of the year, for both teams. Coming off a heart-breaking loss to LSU, Bama will start out flat against the rested Dogs. That will be the difference in this low-scoring affair…….This week’s upset special, State over Bama by a TD.

The Razorbacks travel to Knoxville, and this one presents one of the more intriguing matchups of the week. Darren McFadden is so good he’s scary. The Vols defense will get a test, but the home field will make the difference. Rocky Top will be heard early and often, as will the call of the hogs in a high scoring affair. Tennessee by a FG

Kentucky at Vandy should be a great matchup, but coming off an open week after being humiliated by Mississippi State, the Wildcats will have something to prove. Kentucky by 21

Auburn travels to Athens for the CBS game of the week. The road team has won 11 of the last 14 in this hard-hitting series. Make it 11 of 15 as Georgia takes a close one.

Florida goes to USC, on ESPN, and takes on the old ball coach on his home turf. All the experts are picking the Gators. Nuke’s 2nd upset special of the week …..USC winning with ball control and an inspired defensive effort.

LSU polishes up their BCS ratings by entertaining Louisiana Tech in a cross-state massacre. Although Tech dreams of the upset, the dream gets crushed when the game begins. LSU scores early and often and wins by a basketball score.

Those are my picks folks…..What say you?

It’s November in the SEC………………..—–>> ESPN SCOREBOARD

Need I say more?

Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Georgia all step out of conference for a breather.

In conference games, Vandy is at Florida, Carolina at Arkansas, and in the game of the week, LSU travels to T-town to take on the Tide. State and Kentucky have open dates.

Here are Nuke’s Pix for November 3, 2007…….

Auburn, Tennessee, and Ole Miss all win...big. Lay the points, take the cannoli.

Georgia hosts Troy Between the Hedges. Coming off an emotional victory in the Outdoor Cocktail Party, Georgia is ripe for pickin’. In this week’s upset special, it’s Troy over Georgia by a field goal (sorry Swampie).

Florida wins big over Vandy in the early game.

Carolina wins a physical battle on the road in Fayettville.

And……in the late game on CBS , a great, great game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This is a tough one to pick, folks. A lot of intangibles with all the Saban stuff. The bye week helps Bama, but LSU has superior athletes. LSU wins in a squeaker.

What say you????

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