Mississippi State Football

Mississippi State started the season 5-1 against the spread, seemingly underrated on the betting lines, but the Bulldogs have now gone 1-3 ATS over their past four games. MSU will try to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season when it hosts 3-7 Vanderbilt on Saturday night in Starkville.

Point spread: The Bulldogs opened as 30.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 39.6-15.9 Bulldogs

Why the Vanderbilt Commodores can cover the spread

The Commodores started slowly this season, losing five of their first six games and starting 0-3 ATS. But then Vandy's lines got a little out of whack, and it has gone 5-2 ATS over its last seven games. Last time out, the Commodores lost to Florida 34-10, missing the cover as 14-point home dogs, but they had that spread covered heading into the fourth quarter before running out of gas.

Vandy also covered earlier this season as a 16-point dog at Kentucky, a 33-point dog at Georgia and a 22-point dog at Missouri. Finally, the Commodores are 8-1 ATS in their last nine games as road dogs and 9-1 ATS in their last 10 SEC road games. Perhaps they can catch the Bulldogs on an emotional downswing.

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs can cover the spread

The Bulldogs had their hopes of a perfect season spoiled by a 25-20 loss at Alabama, but they're not out the running for a spot in the College Football Playoff, so this is no time for a letdown. Mississippi State outgained the Tide 428-335, but three turnovers, all in Alabama territory, spelled doom.

MSU garnered a back-door cover as a 10-point road dog. For the season, the Bulldogs rank 20th in the country in rushing at 243 yards per game and 21st against the run, allowing just 126 yards per game. Numbers like those are usually conducive to winning games and covering spreads in college football.

Smart pick

Mississippi State is probably going to win this game; it's just a matter of the final tally. But while the Bulldogs are 2-4 ATS this season as double-digit favorites, the Commodores are 4-2 ATS as double-digit dogs. So the smart choice here is with Vandy and the points.

Betting trends

• Vanderbilt is 1-5 SU in its last six games when playing Mississippi State.
• Mississippi State is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates, and get the free odds tracker app.

Mississippi State is on top of the football world.  It is the consensus choice among the polls as the best team in the country.  Quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the elite signal-callers in America and a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender.  And overseeing it all is fourth-year coach Dan Mullen, who was hired to take over the struggling MSU program in December 2008.

Go back in time about four years, and Mullen was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida.  One of the premier offensive minds at the time, Mullen traveled with Urban Meyer from Notre Dame to Bowling Green, Utah and then Florida.  Over that time, he developed several star quarterbacks, including Alex Smith, Chris Leak and Tim Tebow.

Since Mullen’s departure from Gainesville, he and the Gators have taken drastically different paths.  Mullen has transformed Mississippi State into one of the best teams in the SEC, while Florida has plummeted out of prominence.

As the regular season nears completion and Florida continues to struggle while the Bulldogs thrive, Gator Nation is getting increasingly irritated.  A core group of fans are so annoyed with the direction of the program that a "Fire Muschamp" website was created.

And not surprisingly, a "Hire Dan Mullen" website consequently surfaced.  Even though the creator of the site has since taken it down, the point was made. 

This situation begs a very intriguing question: If Florida does indeed fire Muschamp in the near future and offers the job to Mullen, would he take it?

On the surface, one would think that he probably would.  It would ostensibly be a dream come true, going back to Florida, one of college football’s most storied programs as well as the same place where Mullen made his name as an offensive guru.  A Mullen-coached Gator team would have immediate dominion over the recruiting hotbed that is the state of Florida, and just imagine how good they could be.

However, despite all of that, I think Mullen should, and will, make the prudent decision of staying right where he is.

Mississippi State is not a one-hit wonder.  Don’t expect the Bulldogs to have a few spectacular years and then fall off the map.  Mullen is in the process of building a powerhouse, and he is likely to succeed in doing so thanks to his phenomenal recruiting ability.

The current MSU recruiting class is ranked 10th in the nation by ESPN Recruiting Nation (subscription required), and it is a class loaded with premier talent as well as tremendous depth.  Its 31 pledges rank first in the nation in volume.

When asked about the possibility to returning to Florida, Mullen said all the right things.  In a radio interview two weeks ago on WLAU's Head to Head radio (h/t Gamedayr.com), he gave Mississippi State a ringing endorsement.

Here’s my take on [the Florida rumors]: One, both my kids are born here.  I love Mississippi State.  I’ve loved being here.  I love the community.  I love the state.  I have a great administration.  They’ve given us what we need to build a successful program.  I think we’ve built that program.  We love being here.  That’s number one.

Mullen went on to say that he doesn’t think the fans should be giving Muschamp so much grief.  He has been in his shoes, and he knows what it feels like to be on the hot seat.  

The bottom line is that Florida can’t offer much to Mullen that he doesn’t have access to in Starkville.  Mississippi State gave Mullen a contract extension before the start of this season, and while Florida could probably offer more money, Mullen doesn’t seem like the greedy type.

Florida’s football facilities are among the nicest in the country, headlined by the sparkling Heavener Complex, but Mississippi State recently spent about $100 million to improve its facilities.  The massive renovation adds capacity to Davis Wade Stadium as well as a state-of-the-art 80,000 square-feet practice facility that includes new coaches’ offices, a new weight room and a host of other amenities.

And then there’s the expectation factor.  In Mullen’s current situation, he is revered by Bulldog fans as a savior, one who transformed the downtrodden MSU program into a national contender. 

If he goes to Florida, he will be one several coaches who have had success in Gainesville.  Should he succeed, it will be because he is expected to.  If he fails, he will be hated and ridiculed in a similar fashion to what Muschamp is experiencing.

It’s a no-win situation at Florida, while Mississippi State is full of potential.  The recruiting has been impressive and will continue to improve as the Bulldogs win more games.  With the recent splurge, MSU has some of the best football facilities in the SEC.  Mullen’s family loves it in Starkville, and he has a chance to achieve something that no other coach has done at Mississippi State: win a national championship.

It might not be this offseason, athletic director Jeremy Foley has said Muschamp’s job is safe at least through this season, but the Florida administration is eventually going to tire of living in mediocrity.  Muschamp is either going to resign or get fired, and one of their first calls is likely to be to Mullen, luring him back.

If Mullen is interested in national fame and accumulating riches, then he should strongly consider the offer.  However, if he wants to maintain an image as a down-to-earth coach living with a happy family in rural Mississippi while making plenty of money, MSU is the place to be.   

Is Saturday's matchup between No. 1 Mississippi State and No. 5 Alabama an "elimination game"?

For Alabama, yes. For Mississippi State, it depends on how the game plays out and what happens around the country.

This is, however, an elimination game for Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott's Heisman Trophy chances.

The dual-threat junior enters this game as one of the primary contenders for the award. He has completed 61.1 percent of his passes this year (146-of-239) for 2,231 yards, 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 779 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

He has the stage all to himself this weekend as Oregon and quarterback Marcus Mariota—the unquestioned No. 1 in Athlon's weekly expert poll and the top contender in Bleacher Report's weekly Saturday night Heisman video—is off this weekend.

Head coach Dan Mullen is confident Prescott won't be intimated by the big-game atmosphere in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

During Monday's press conference, Mullen said:

I think his experience helps going into a hostile environment. That is always tough as a quarterback. I think he has been in that situation before. A couple of years ago he got in the game in Tuscaloosa. Now he has played in big games. He is going to walk on the field with confidence knowing that the situation is not going to be too big for him.

A strong performance against No. 5 Alabama—the top-ranked defense in the SEC (275.2 YPG)—would not only help Prescott stay in the Heisman race, but it could also help him jump back into the lead over Mariota and will certainly keep his team in the national title race during the home stretch. 

Player	Team	Comp. %	Pass Yds.	Pass TDs	INTs	Total Yards	Total TDs
Marcus Mariota	Oregon	67.1	2,780	29	2	3,304	38
Dak Prescott	Miss. St.	61.1	2,231	18	7	3,010	30
Jameis Winston	FSU	66.7	2,540	17	11	2,600	20
Trevone Boykin	TCU	58.0	2,691	23	4	3,237	30
J.T. Barrett	Ohio St.	64.4	2,156	26	7	2,738	34

If he fails on the big stage, it would give Alabama the inside track to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta and knock Mississippi State off the national pedestal for the time being. That'd be devastating to Prescott's Heisman hopes, especially considering next week's opponent—Vanderbilt—won't move the Heisman meter at all.

Simply put, the Heisman is on the line in the game versus Alabama. A game which, Mullen knows, is on Prescott's shoulders.

"In our style of offense, how we use our quarterback and what we put on our quarterback, if we are having success, a lot of it is going to be because our quarterback has played well," Mullen said on last week's conference call. "In our style of offense, that leads to a quarterback playing very well to get that national attention."

Prescott is walking into the same building where former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel—also a dual-threat quarterback on a team that was one of the surprise stories of the season—lit up the Alabama defense with 253 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and 92 rushing yards in a 29-24 win.

As was the case when Manziel had his "Heisman moment" in Tuscaloosa, Prescott is catching the Tide fresh from Alabama's always-physical showdown with LSU in Baton Rouge—which, coincidentally, went down to the wire just like the 2012 edition.

Prescott poses a threat to run that Alabama's defense sometimes struggles with.

Those instances—including Manziel two years ago, Cam Newton (Auburn) in 2010, Jordan Jefferson (LSU) in 2010 and 2011, Trevor Knight (Oklahoma) in January and others—don't mean much to Mullen.

The coach said on Monday:

I would say struggle is a strong term. Struggling for them might be a great game for other people. There have been plenty of dual-threat quarterbacks that have gone in there, and they have contained them pretty well. I think, in our offense, we are going to need guys like Prescott and [running back Josh] Robinson to make plays.

Whether Mullen likes the term or not, this is still Prescott's team, this is still Prescott's stage and this is still Prescott's chance to make a major statement for his team and himself.

Buckle up.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.

Top-ranked Mississippi State takes on its biggest test of a sensational season Saturday, traveling to Tuscaloosa for a highly anticipated showdown with Alabama. A rising Bulldogs program may be looking to prove its pedigree on the field this weekend, but the team has already established itself as a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail.

Head coach Mullen, a longtime Urban Meyer assistant, has spent the past decade delving through SEC territory for promising prospects. He's enjoying an immensely successful 2015 cycle that should set the stage for further success in Starkville.

The team's ability to pull talent away from Alabama has become a major factor for Mississippi State's good fortune. Mullen currently claims seven commits who live in the neighboring state and are prepared to make an impact at Mississippi State.

“We're definitely overlooked in the SEC," Mississippi State receiver pledge Justin Johnson, an Alabama native, said this summer. "That’s going to change, though. We’re all on the same page and committed to making this a special team. People are going to look at the Dawgs differently."

Perception is already shifting for a squad that has spent the past four weeks sitting atop national rankings.

Mullen, who arrived at the university in 2008, is the first Bulldogs coach to qualify his team for five consecutive bowl berths. His achievements as a recruiter are equally impressive.

Mississippi State, once annually expected to reside in the SEC recruiting basement, has maintained steady momentum under Mullen with each passing national signing day. This latest haul—heavier than ever with Alabama prospects—is on pace to be the best of a breakout era.

Year	National Class Ranking	SEC Class Ranking	Alabama Signees
2010	34th	11th	3
2011	34th	10th	0
2012	22nd	9th	2
2013	25th	11th	4
2014	35th	12th	3
2015 (in progress)	13th	7th	7

Mullen may be reaching new heights in Alabama this year but his current roster includes several key performers from past recruiting cycles.

Tight end Malcolm Johnson, offensive lineman Blaine Clausell, linebacker Beniquez Brown and receiver De'Runnya Wilson are former Alabama high school stars who were largely overlooked by a pair of in-state SEC institutions that have appeared in the past five national title games, winning four of them.

Mississippi State holds 2015 commitments from three of the top 15 Alabama products in 247Sports' composite 2015 rankings, the best success rate for any squad from beyond state borders.  

Minor High School cornerback Maurice Smitherman, rated 12th on that list, didn't land a scholarship offer from Alabama or Auburn despite multiple campus visits. He believes Mullen and Mississippi State are smart to swoop in and secure players like him.

"He really knows our talent and believes we can actually be the top players in the SEC," Smitherman said.

Smitherman fits the mold of athletes who have thrived at Mississippi State. He may not carry 5-star clout but his motivation to overachieve is apparent.

When you assemble several young men together with that mindset, special things can happen.

"I think a lot of us are looking to prove other teams wrong when we get to Mississippi State," said Johnson, who stars at Alabama powerhouse Hoover High School. "We get a chance to do that with a great team that appreciates what we bring to the field."

Mullen embraces the strategy of welcoming recruits who were previously passed up by more acclaimed programs like Auburn and Alabama. He believes more hidden gems are on the way.

"There are some guys in this class who I think are going to be some real sleepers," Mullen told Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com. "Guys who when we go watch their film, we go, 'Wow, this guy is special,' and then you go to the recruiting rankings and he's not ranked very high. There are some of those guys in this class."

Pretty soon, Mississippi State may blend in more blue-chip prospects. 

The team already holds seven pledges in a 2016 class that ranks third nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings, including touted Alabama offensive lineman Dee Nalls. Fellow Alabama native Caleb Tillman, a 2016 defensive tackle, provides an example of how young prospects are beginning to view the Bulldogs in a new light.

"Mississippi State is a great university and has an awesome football program," 2016 Alabama  said. "Football is No. 1 there."

The 6'3", 265-pound Northview High School junior is an emerging star in the SEC landscape, recently adding offers from Mississippi State and Kentucky. He's already built a strong rapport with the Bulldogs

"Coach Mullen has great coaches to recruit (Alabama players)," Tillman said.

He's a key target in the next wave of talent Mullen intends to recruit from Alabama but 2015 efforts aren't done just yet.

Daron Payne, a 5-star defensive tackle who plays with Mississippi State running back commit Keith Mixon at Shades Valley High School in Birmingham, could put a very large cherry on top of this recruiting class.

The 6'2", 348-pound prospect was long considered the centerpiece in a tug-of-war between Auburn and Alabama. However, the Bulldogs have crashed the party.

Payne, the top overall Alabama recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings, told Bleacher Report's Kynon Codrington that Mississippi State is a serious contender. He attended Big Dawg Camp in Starkville this summer and continues to maintain contact with Mullen's staff.

The team is working to line up an official visit with Payne after the season, per Codrington.

Kenny Thomas, a 6'6", 330-pound offensive lineman, is another Alabama recruit Mississippi State coaches will keep tabs on during the final stretch toward national signing day. For now, the primary focus is on the field.

Another strong performance Saturday would go a long way toward immediate and future success in the recruiting spectrum. It isn't hyperbole to say this matchup means more than any other in Mississippi State history.

The next generation of Alabama prospects will be watching closely.

"I'm looking for a physical test up front because both teams can run the ball," Tillman said. "I'm looking for (Mississippi State defensive lineman) Preston Smith to have a great game and dominate because he's a beast. It's going to be a physical game. No doubt."

This matchup offers the Bulldogs more than just a stepping stone toward playoff contention. A victory would continue to change the narrative for a 119-year-old program and build confidence for future Mississippi State standouts.

"I'm expecting an amazing game," Smitherman said. "MSU has been doubted all year, and people are still doubting us. Don't be surprised when it's an upset Saturday once again."

All quotes obtained firsthand by B/R national recruiting writer Tyler Donohue unless otherwise noted.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.

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The Alabama Crimson Tide will get their chance to take down the top team in the country on Saturday when they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs in arguably the biggest SEC game of the year.

The Crimson Tide have won 11 of the last 13 meetings with the Bulldogs, including the last six, and they are a perfect 7-0 straight up and against the spread in their past seven home games vs. SEC opponents.

And the last two times Alabama was favored against the No. 1 ranked team in the country, they won easily both times, according to the Odds Shark college football database.

Point spread: The Crimson Tide opened as 6.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (line updates and matchup report).

College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 27.3-25.4 Bulldogs

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs can cover the spread

Mississippi State is still unbeaten for a reason, going 12-0 in their last 12 games dating back to 2013. This is obviously the toughest test of the season for the Bulldogs, but they have managed to come through in their biggest games all year.

They are also 10-4 ATS in their past 14 dating back to last season, although they have failed to cover three straight. To be fair, Mississippi State’s past three games have come against weak competition, with the team favored by double digits in all of them.

The Bulldogs started the season 5-1 against the number, capped by a 38-23 rout of Auburn as 2.5-point home underdogs. That victory was so impressive it made Mississippi State the No. 1 team in the country, and the school has stayed there ever since.

Why the Alabama Crimson Tide can cover the spread

Alabama has been looking forward to this game on its schedule for a while now and done a good job of not overlooking opponents along the way. The road has not been easy, but the Crimson Tide are right where they want and need to be, knowing that a victory here against the nation’s top-ranked team will not only knock the Bulldogs from the top spot but also probably put the Tide into the top four.

Granted, Alabama still has to beat Auburn and then win the SEC Championship Game, but past history certainly suggests a win over Mississippi State is likely. In addition to favorable series trends, the Crimson Tide are 6-2 ATS in their past eight games as a home favorite.

Smart pick

The timing of this game is not great for the Bulldogs, but this is when you need to win in order to earn your way into national championship consideration. Losing a game now is far more devastating than earlier in the season, and Alabama knows that.

Fair or unfair, the Crimson Tide’s lone setback of the season at Ole Miss is all but forgotten, and beating Mississippi State is all that matters.

The Bulldogs are just 2-10 SU in their last 12 games as road underdogs, including 1-8 in their past nine. They have also dropped six of their last nine SEC road games, although two of the three wins during that stretch have taken place this season.

The bottom line is Alabama has been ramping up its schedule with tougher games lately while Mississippi State has not. That puts the Tide in perfect position to hand the Bulldogs their first loss and cover the spread.

Betting trends

• Mississippi State is 5-1 ATS in its last six games on the road.
• The total has gone under in four of Alabama's last five games.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds-tracker app.

Ever since Nick Saban took over as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide prior to the 2007 season, the program has played in enormous football games.

Whether it's the annual showdown with his former LSU program, the rivalry with intrastate foe Auburn, tough out-of-conference matchups or bowl games, big-game atmospheres and Alabama go together like peanut butter and jelly.

It's a different case for No. 1 Mississippi State.

To steal a line from the Adam Sandler hit Big Daddy, big games and Mississippi State go together like lamb and tuna fish.

Well, at least until this year.

Head coach Dan Mullen's crew has suddenly become synonymous with winning big games after going on the road to beat LSU, 34-29, in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated and then beating defending conference champ Auburn a few weeks later, 38-23, in Starkville.

A win over No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa would cement the staying power of the Bulldogs and put them in position to clinch the division the following week at home against Vanderbilt.

"It’s a big-time game this week," Mullen said in postgame press conference after the UT-Martin win. "This is what you play for. We’re in the middle of November, competing for first place in the SEC West, which is what it’s all about. That’s what you come here for. That’s what we want our program to be like."

It's never been like this. 

Mississippi State has been to only one SEC Championship Game since the divisional split in 1992—a 24-14 loss to eventual national champion Tennessee in 1998. That Bulldog team, led by head coach Jackie Sherrill, entered the Georgia Dome 8-3 and ranked No. 23. 

My, how things have changed.

"Saturday night's game with Alabama isn't just the biggest in a generation, it's the biggest in the history of the program," said Richard Cross, co-host of Head to Head Radio, syndicated statewide in Mississippi. "Mississippi State is positioned perfectly. Not only do the Bulldogs have a huge opportunity in front of them, they have, arguably, the best team they've ever had to try and capitalize on this opportunity."

Hyperbole? Not at all. It's that big in Starkville.

"This is the biggest football game State has played in since the SEC championship game in 1998, and probably bigger," said Brian Hadad, host of The B&B Show on Bulldog Sports Radio on VSporto. "There were no national title implications for Mississippi State that day. Simply put, in 100 plus years of football, Mississippi State has never played in a game with stakes like this."

How will Mississippi State react to the big stage? 

Nothing has phased it yet. The Auburn game was complete with ESPN's College GameDay in town, and all Mullen's crew did was build an early 21-0 lead on the Tigers and hold on for the win.

If the Bulldogs follow the same blueprint against Alabama, the same result will follow.

Alabama's win over LSU will be incorrectly be labeled as a quality win for the Crimson Tide. Is it their best win? Yes. But Alabama's offense sputtered in Death Valley, the play-calling was suspect and the defense was susceptible to quarterback Anthony Jennings' ability to make things happen on the ground at times.

Jennings is no Dak Prescott.

The Bulldogs quarterback is in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race, has proved to be a threat with his legs and, unlike Jennings, is dangerous as a passer.

If Prescott leads Mississippi State to a win, the celebration in "StarkVegas" will be a combination of exuberance and relief.

"It means you can exhale," Hadad said. "A win here all but clinches a second SEC West championship and a probable playoff spot. It means State can go to Oxford [to play Ole Miss] knowing its place in Atlanta is secure. Honestly, I don't know how Mississippi State fans will react, because there's no precedent for it."

That precedent is on the brink of being set. If it is Saturday afternoon, it will set off the celebration of a generation in Starkville.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.

When you're the top-ranked team in the nation, every opponent on the schedule will try to find your Kryptonite.

On Saturday night, the 4-5 (0-5 SEC) Arkansas Razorbacks did all they could to uncover Mississippi State's weakness. But in the end, quarterback Dak Prescott added to his Heisman reel in a 17-10 win, and the 8-0 (5-0 SEC) Bulldogs showed they can take a punch the way Sylvester Stallone did in the Rocky saga.

With the game tied at 10 early in the fourth quarter, following a missed Arkansas field goal, momentum was up for grabs. The Bulldogs were 69 yards away from the end zone and looked like they were about to give the ball back to the Razorbacks, who were slowly but surely eating away at Mississippi State's defensive front.

Prescott, who threw two picks on the night, rolled out to his left with pressure behind him. He saw his man, Fred Ross, wide-open on the left sideline and, with defenders inches from pulling him down, hoisted the ball up.

It was a perfect strike, and Ross took it the rest of the way to give the Bulldogs a 17-10 lead.

No. 1 is back on top. Dak Prescott finds Fred Ross wide open for a 69-yd TD, giving Mississippi State a 7-pt lead: http://t.co/eF3AZ9zgKG

— ESPN (@espn) November 2, 2014

On the very next drive, the Razorbacks went 72 yards in a time-consuming, 17-play drive. But Mississippi State stuffed them at the goal line to give Prescott the ball back.

The Bulldogs punted away with 2:29 left, and again Arkansas mounted a last-ditch effort to tie things up. This time, a 10-play, 66-yard drive for the Razorbacks ended with an interception by Will Redmond to effectively end the game.

Bulldogs survive! No. 1 Mississippi State comes up w/ interception in final seconds to seal 17-10 win over Arkansas. http://t.co/XK2H7i297B

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 2, 2014

Each time the Bulldogs were tested Saturday night against Arkansas, the official peskiest team in the SEC, they rose to the occasion. That's what good teams do. That's what true No. 1's do.

As Alex Scarborough of ESPN points out, head coach Dan Mullen knows that.

Dan Mullen: "What a football game. Great battle."

— Alex Scarborough (@ByScarborough) November 2, 2014

Mullen: Our guys are finding ways to win. That's all that matters.

— Alex Scarborough (@ByScarborough) November 2, 2014

Prescott had a career day throwing the ball versus a ball-hawking Razorbacks defense. He racked up 331 yards and one touchdown on 18-of-27 passing, adding 61 rushing yards on 13 carries.

But the unquestioned winner of the game ball was Josh Robinson, a running back who's spent most of this season in Prescott's shadow. He rushed it 19 times for 64 yards and a touchdown, adding six receptions for 110 yards.

As Scarborough also points out though, Robinson can't be the lone go-to guy in big games down the stretch of November for the Bulldogs:

Robinson can't be the entire offense. Not if Mississippi State wants to beat Alabama in two weeks and Ole Miss to close out the regular season. You simply can't be that one-dimensional and expect to succeed in the SEC. Rather, Prescott, who has played through pain of late, must regain his Heisman Trophy form. Wilson needs to become a playmaker again, and others must step up to give the offense dimension.

Heisman contenders will have off days, and Prescott is no different. While he had a career high in passing yards against the Razorbacks, there was still the matter of those two interceptions. His 61 yards on the ground was his second-lowest total of the season—he ran for 23 in Week 1 against Southern Miss, a 49-0 win.

However, other Heisman hopefuls like Marcus Mariota and Nick Marshall know how to put a game away—that's what makes them elite players. And Prescott did that on Saturday night with his late touchdown pass, helping solidify his Heisman candidacy despite his earlier struggles. 

When Heisman contenders have mediocre outings, it's all about who the next man up is. On Saturday night against Arkansas, it was Robinson and the Bulldogs' grit that showed up with the game on the line, particularly with that goal-line stand.

Mississippi State cleared another hurdle last week in its first ever game with the No. 1 ranking, surviving a shootout with the Kentucky Wildcats in a game in which both teams went over 500 yards.

Looming this weekend is an old-fashioned slugfest with the Arkansas Razorbacks—a team that's more desperate for an SEC win than a 45-year-old divorcee at the club on a Friday night.

Arkansas hasn't won an SEC game since Mitt Romney and Barack Obama were campaigning for President. What better way to break through that glass ceiling than to do it against the No. 1 team in the country in the middle of the inaugural College Football Playoff race?

It's not that far-fetched.

The Bulldogs are around a 10.5-point favorite at home over the Hogs, according to OddsShark.com, which has fallen 3.5 points since it opened earlier in the week. The reason, most likely, is that it'll be strength vs. strength on Saturday night in Starkville.

While quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Josh Robinson have earned most of the publicity for head coach Dan Mullen's crew, the deep and experienced front seven has been the biggest reason the Bulldogs have ascended to the top spot in the land.

Defensive end Preston Smith has eight tackles for loss, six sacks and two interceptions this season, linebacker Benardrick McKinney has 45 tackles and six tackles for loss and Mullen and defensive coordinator Geoff Collins rotate up front all game, keeping players fresh for the final frame.

Lining up against them this week is an Arkansas offensive line that averages 328.4 pounds, which, according to Arkansas' game notes, is larger than any offensive line in the NFL. 

Not the SEC—the NFL.

Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins are both among the top six rushers in the conference, as the Hogs have posted 258.88 yards per game on the ground—the 16th-best mark in the nation. 

"The challenges in the SEC and especially the West right now—which is so challenging—you have got to bring your A-game every single week if you want an opportunity to win," Mullen said. "I look at Arkansas right now and the record might not show it, but to me they can play and beat any single team in this conference—and do it pretty easily."

Player	Pos.	Car.	Yds.	TDs
Jonathan Williams	RB	122	830	10
Alex Collins	RB	118	747	9
Kody Walker	RB	26	130	1
Korliss Marshall	RB	24	116	1
Keon Hatcher	WR	3	98	1

The Razorbacks do it with their smashmouth style, but if you're one-dimensional in the SEC, you get beat. Slowly but surely, the Hogs are becoming more two-dimensional. 

Quarterback Brandon Allen has topped the 200-yard mark in each of his last three games, averaging 249 passing yards per game over that span and tossing six touchdown passes. The coaching staff knows that trend needs to continue this week if Arkansas has a chance.

"It’s hard to be one-dimensional and beat anybody, much less the number one team in the country that’s playing really good defense with good physical, athletic, talented players that are well coached," Hogs tight end coach Barry Lunney said in quotes emailed by Arkansas. "If you don’t go into the game trying to be balanced and striving to achieve balance, it’ll be difficult for us to accomplish what we want to accomplish."

If Arkansas finds some success early, it has the personnel and scheme to lean on Mississippi State, "deflate the football" and keep Prescott and Robinson off the field. Those would be uncharted waters for the Bulldogs.

Mullen's crew has only run 25 plays while trailing this season, and none when trailing by more than a touchdown, according to CFBStats.com. Championship teams can dig themselves out of holes, and Mississippi State hasn't had to prove it can do that yet.

Against a team like Arkansas that can play "keep away," it'd be very challenging.

Don't sleep on Arkansas giving Mississippi State a game. If its strength prevails, it could back Mississippi State into a corner and test its ability to punch itself out.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.

Arkansas is still winless in SEC play under head coach Bret Bielema and has lost 16 straight conference games overall, going 6-10 against the spread. However, the Razorbacks have shown some money-making ability this season, going 6-2 ATS.

The Hogs will try again to break that SEC losing streak this weekend, but it won't be easy, taking on the top-ranked Bulldogs of Mississippi State in Starkville Saturday night.

Point Spread: The Bulldogs opened as 14-point favorites.

Odds Shark Computer Pick: Bulldogs 40.5, Razorbacks 25.8

Why the Arkansas Razorbacks Can Cover the Spread

The Razorbacks just bombed Alabama-Birmingham 45-17, covering the spread as 24-point favorites. Arkansas gained 484 yards to the Blazers' 195, racked up 273 rushing yards and held the ball for almost 35 minutes.

Two weeks ago, the Hogs thought they had a chance to snap that SEC losing streak but got slapped down by Georgia. Just before that, Arkansas gave Alabama all it could handle, losing 14-13 but out-gaining the Tide by over 100 yards.

In a tough game earlier this year, the Razorbacks played Auburn to a 21-21 halftime tie before fading down the stretch.

So they can play with quality opponents.

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs Can Cover the Spread

The Bulldogs are 7-0 for the second time in the last two seasons after winning at Kentucky last week 45-31. Mississippi State piled up 542 yards on offense, 326 on the ground, held the ball for almost 35 minutes and limited the Wildcats to 103 yards on 32 carries.

Near the end, the Bulldogs returned a kickoff for a score that garnered them a push as 14.5-point favorites.

For the season, Mississippi State is out-rushing opponents by 155 yards per game, which is a big reason why the Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS.

Smart Pick

One of these days, Arkansas is going to put it all together and break that SEC losing streak. Can the Hogs do it in this spot, playing at the top-ranked team in the land? Unlikely.

But to keep a game like this close, the underdog has to run the ball, work the clock and limit the turnovers, and Arkansas might be able to pull that off.

The smart choice here is with the Hogs, plus the points.

Betting Trends

• Arkansas is 4-13 straight up in its last 17 games.
• Mississippi State is 5-0 SU in its last five games.

All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark, all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app.

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 28

Dak Prescott was in a joking mood about his left foot on Tuesday according to Michael Bonner of The Clarion-Ledger:

Dak Prescott walked with the boot on his left foot. He joked, "I'm sure there's a boot Beyonce wore that someone made a big deal over."

— Michael Bonner (@michaelbbonner) October 29, 2014

Updates from Monday, Oct. 27

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports reported what he was hearing on Dak Prescott's injured foot:

Word from Mississippi State is that Dak Prescott is "fine" after wearing walking boot Saturday. Precautionary move; commonplace w MSU.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 27, 2014

Original Text

On the heels of another brilliant game against Kentucky, Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a foot injury. The signal-caller was wearing a boot on his right foot following the matchup.

The injury wasn't a serious one, as Prescott told Michael Bonner of The Clarion-Ledger: "Oh yeah, this is just precautionary," Prescott said. "It's just, I got a boot on it."

There was no more elaboration from Prescott, who clearly isn't worried about the boot. After all, he finished with 216 passing yards, 88 rushing yards and three total touchdowns against the Wildcats.

On the season, Prescott has compiled 1,478 passing yards, 664 rushing yards, 24 total touchdowns and four interceptions. His effort this year has made several believe he's a favorite for the Heisman Trophy, including Gil Brandt of NFL.com:

Mississippi State's Dak Prescott has to be considered for the Heisman Trophy.

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) October 25, 2014

Prescott's value to the team is obvious, so his loss would be a huge one for Mississippi State. Sitting at No. 1 coming into the weekend, the Bulldogs play Arkansas next weekend and Alabama on Nov. 15.

In order to remain as the top team in the country, having Prescott under center will be of the utmost importance. Luckily, the injury doesn't appear serious, but nothing can be taken lightly when it comes to the leader of an undefeated team.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.