Mississippi State vs. Middle Tennessee State Football 2012: Dogs overcome slow first half to move to 7-0

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Sunday Polls: Dogs move up to 12th (Coaches') and 13th (AP) in latest Top 25 Polls

After a strong second half effort saw Mississippi State defeat Middle Tennessee State 45-3 last night, State today continued its climb up the Top 25 football charts this season. The Bulldogs' natural progression up the polls was also aided in the fact that South Carolina and West Virginia, two teams occupying spots in front of Mississippi State, took big losses Saturday, allowing State to climb even higher than they might have on their own.

Mississippi State comes in ranked at the #12 spot in this week's USA Today Coaches' Poll, while the Bulldogs climbed two spots to take the #13 spot in the AP Poll this week. Although it isn't quite the Top 10 matchup on paper, State's rise now makes our upcoming game against #1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa next Saturday one of the marquee matchups for week 9 of the college football season.

The top 5 of each poll is as follows:

AP

1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Florida
4. Kansas State
5. Notre Dame

Coaches'

1. Alabama
2. Oregon
3. Florida
4. Kansas State
5. Notre Dame

All eyes in maroon and white nation now turn to the BCS standings, which are released tonight at 7:30 Central time. State expects to move up a spot or maybe even two from their #12 ranking last week after this weekend's action.

• 8 months ago
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Mississippi State vs. Middle Tennessee State: Blue Raiders to be without Sun Belt's leading rusher

When Middle Tennessee State comes to Starkville Saturday to tangle with Mississippi State, they will do so without the Sun Belt's leading rusher and one of the top 15 rushers so far this season, Benny Cunningham.

Cunningham sustained a knee injury in this past Saturday's 34-30 Blue Raider victory over Florida International. MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill on his top RB's injury:

"The MRI will show us for sure how bad it is, but it's not good. Either it's season-ending or, to me, even if it's not surgical and he's out three or four weeks before trying to work his way back, with six games left, it's almost like season-ending. He would still have to get back in shape after it healed up."

Cunningham had been huge for MTSU in its past two road games as well, going for 217 yards and 5 (five !) TDs against Georgia Tech and 230 yards and 2 TDs against FIU.

Starting running back duties now likely fall to true freshman Jordan Parker, the Blue Raiders' number two man in the backfield.