Two teams all but out of the SEC title hunt meet up in Tuscaloosa this weekend, as the 17th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs take on the 11th- ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama Vs. Mississippi State: Tide On The Rebound
The defending national champions still had an outside shot at defending their crown, but last weekend ended that notion, with a 24-21 road loss at LSU. Now at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in league play, Nick Saban’s squad is two games back in the SEC West, with the start of a three-game homestand to close out the regular season.
Dan Mullen’s Bulldogs are on a roll right now. MSU dropped back-to-back games against nationally-ranked Auburn and LSU, but have won six games straight since, including a 24-17 victory over Kentucky two weeks ago. It is the team’s longest win streak since 1999. The Bulldogs were idle this past week and enter this contest with a 7-2 record overall, including 3-2 in the SEC.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, coach Mullen still has his sights set on the SEC West.
“Right now we are just focused on making a run at Atlanta. We only have two losses and I believe mathematically we are still alive to win the Western Division. That is our main focus right now.”
This is the 95th meeting in this longstanding series, with Alabama holding a 72-18-3 advantage all-time. The Tide have won two straight over the Bulldogs and seven of the last nine overall.
The Bulldogs’ strength on the offensive side of the football has come on the ground, with MSU ranking among the SEC’s best rushing attacks at 218.7 yards per game, on 5.0 yards per carry. Out of the 30 touchdowns scored by the offense, 19 have come on the ground.
Tailback Vick Ballard has been a scoring machine this season. He is averaging a hefty 6.7 yards per carry this year, with 12 TDs. Quarterback Chris Relf is in the mix in the backfield as well, at 4.1 ypc and three TDs. Relf has been an asset as a runner, but has had some inconsistencies as a passer, completing just 53.4 percent of his attempts, for 926 yards and seven TDs. Chad Bumphis has clearly been the top target in a limited aerial assault, leading the team with 35 receptions, for 502 yards and four TDs.
Alabama LB Dont’a Hightower knows the Bulldogs like to give Relf the opportunity to make plays both on the ground and through the air.
“One thing that Mississippi State is going to want to do, and that’s what they like to do even in third-and-seven, they want to get the ball in his hands whether it’s running or throwing,” Hightower said of Relf. “It’s something that we have been working on and watching a lot of film on so we have to get ready for that.”
Mississippi State has played strong defense for the most part this season, limiting foes to just 17.0 ppg. The pass rush has generated 19 sacks, while the defense has recorded 19 turnovers.
Chris White is playing at an All-American type level. The senior LB leads the team in tackles (86), TFLs (13.0) and sacks (5.0), adding one INT and one fumble recovery as well. Fellow LB K.J. Wright is a distant second in tackles (65), with 4.0 TFLs and one sack. Defensive backs Corey Broomfield (39 tackles), Nickoe Whitley (38 tackles) and Johnthan Banks (35 tackles) are tied for the team lead with two INTs apiece.
The Crimson Tide have now split their last four games and the chance at playing for a second national title is no longer on the table. The team is still a dangerous offensive team that uses the run (177.4 ypg) to set up the pass (250.4 ypg).
With a backfield headlined by Heisman winner Mark Ingram (6.0 ypc, nine TDs) and Trent Richardson (6.9 ypc, five TDs), its easy to see why the team can usually move the chains on the ground. Running the football well opens things up down the field for QB Greg McElroy. On the season, the senior has completed 69.3 percent of his passes, for 2,004 yards and 13 TDs. Julio Jones has played at a high level on the outside, hauling in 55 balls, for 758 yards and four TDs (all team-highs).
The Crimson Tide lost some serious talent from last year's defensive unit and although the team is allowing just 13.8 ppg in 2010, the unit hasn't made as many game-changing plays. For one thing, the team has failed to generate much of a pass rush, with only 11 sacks this season. Alabama does have 15 interceptions on the year though, led by sophomore CB Robert Lester. He is joined in the secondary by junior Mark Barron (team-high 59 tackles, two INTs) and sophomore Dre Kirkpatrick (44 tackles, three INTs). Hightower (52 tackles) leads the way in the middle of the field, while Marcell Dareus (24 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 2.5 sacks) does the same up front.
The Bulldogs have a chance to put another nail in the coffin of the defending champs, but may not be ready to get the job done in Tuscaloosa. Look for pride to win out here and with players like Ingram and Richardson leading the way, Alabama will find a way to get back in the win column.
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