How to watch Mississippi State vs. South Alabama: Game guide, TV/streaming, more

It was a given that in the year Mississippi State might finally break the curse of mediocrity, we might not know anything about them well into the season. That’s because the Bulldogs are notorious for playing terrible non-conference schedules. They’ve played just two power conference teams in non-conference season since 2009 and this year, open the season with three straight games against Southern Miss, UAB and South Alabama to prepare for LSU to open the SEC.

The Bulldogs cruised to a win against Southern Miss in the openers and beat UAB in a shootout. They’re likely to beat South Alabama as well, finishing out a yawner of an early season non-conference slate. But this game does have one interesting component to it ... Mississippi State is playing AT South Alabama.

It’s not often that you see an SEC team going on the road to face a Sun Belt team, but this is one of three two-for-ones that the Bulldogs have scheduled against inferior teams, including Troy and Louisiana Tech. Not surprisingly, this will be South Alabama’s first sellout game in its six seasons, and the first home game against an SEC team. That should make it a bit more exciting than it otherwise might have been.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS

Radio: Mississippi State, South Alabama: 99.9 FM (Mobile)

Online streaming: WatchESPN

Rankings and records: Mississippi State is 2-0 and unranked, but is receiving votes in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. South Alabama is 1-0 and is unranked, having not received any votes in either poll.

Vegas: Mississippi State opened as a 13-point favorite and is now a 14-point favorite. The over/under is 54.5.

Weather forecast: High of 91 with a low of 74 and a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Is Mississippi State really a dark horse? It’s tough to tell after the first few games, and it’s possible we won’t know a lot more after this one. However, if the Bulldogs struggle in this one just like they struggled against UAB, fans might become a bit uneasy heading until a potential reality check against LSU.

What a win this would be for South Alabama. It’s the biggest home game in the program’s short history, and a win could help the Jaguars build on last year’s 6-6 season — their second in FBS.

What about that Mississippi State defense? By all accounts, it should be pretty awesome, as Bill Connelly wrote in his MSU preview. Sure, Dak Prescott and the offense are getting some hype, but it’s the defense that will make this season boom or bust for the Bulldogs. In the first game against cellar dweller Southern Miss, the defense pitched a shutout, but it was much more worrisome in the 47-34 win over UAB.

South Alabama was better than people thought last year, and while the offense isn’t anything to write home about, it needs to have a good game to be able to keep up with the Bulldogs. If the MSU defense is for real, it will come out and shut the Jaguars down, and they won’t be able to keep up. But if USA (best team acronym ever, right?) proves it can score early on the Bulldogs, they might be in trouble.

Read For Whom the Cowbell Tolls for more on Mississippi State, and check out Underdog Dynasty for more on South Alabama and other Sun Belt teams.