MSU favorites against Texas A&M, 'dogs to Auburn and LSU in early betting lines

It's the middle of June, and we already have betting lines for over 100 college football games for this fall.  I'm being serious.  I don't want any of you to be concerned for me; I don't take stock in any of these lines for games two months or more away.  Still, right now when summer is at its worst, these are fun to look at, if for no other reason than to see when the big games are this fall.

Golden Nugget - 2014 college football games of the year by Marcus DiNitto

Of all of the fantastic games coming up this fall that are listed, Mississippi State is featured in three of them: MSU at LSU (September 20th), MSU vs. Auburn (October 4th), and MSU vs. Texas A&M (October 11th).  State is an underdog to Auburn (+9.5) and LSU (+12) while being favored against Texas A&M (-3).  Honestly none of those surprise me, with Auburn expected to be a top 5 team and with State's struggles against LSU for the last, oh, two decades or so.  The A&M favor was a tad surprising, but they will be looking to replace Manziel, and they have to come to Starkville this year.

Those three games represent a very important stretch in the upcoming MSU football season.  After the Bulldogs start off with an easy three opening games against Southern Miss, UAB and South Alabama, they will face LSU, A&M and Auburn all in a row with a chance to possibly be 6-0 or (gasp) 3-3.  With State's struggles to win the big games in recent years, that trio of games in late September and early October could let MSU fans know early on if 2014 will be another 6-8 win season or if it can be something more.

Hail State