It’s still the preseason, so we’re forced to think about a lot of what-ifs and what-might-bes. And with that in mind, I wanted to write about which game I thought was the most important game on the 2017 schedule for the Mississippi St. Bulldogs. The only problem was I had a difficult time nailing it down to just one.
Now, let me address that, yes, Mississippi State needs to make sure they take care of business against Charleston Southern and Louisiana Tech. And yes, I know that Louisiana Tech will pose quite a challenge. I’m sure Dan Mullen and the rest of the coaching staff will make sure the Bulldogs are focused on Louisiana Tech and not looking ahead to LSU.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s look at the candidates for most important game of the season. This is in the order in which the Bulldogs play them.
LSU Tigers
The Bulldogs game against the LSU Tigers is the first of a three game stretch that is very formidable. After LSU comes to Starkville, Mississippi State will head to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs and then the Auburn Tigers on the Plains. A win here insures the Bulldogs will be no worse than 3-2 at the end of that stretch with the possibility of making a huge statement in the next two games. A loss makes winning either of the next two seem unlikely. How the season plays out for Mississippi State will largely be dependent on the outcome of the game against LSU. Win and a 8, 9, or maybe 10 win season is within reach. Lose, and the Bulldogs will struggle to get to 7.
BYU Cougars
BYU will visit Starkville after the previously mentioned gauntlet. Regardless of how the Bulldogs do during that three game stretch, finding the same intensity to play BYU they did with their first three SEC opponents won’t be easy. If Mississippi State doesn’t win any or just one of their first three SEC games, the BYU game will be a must win to salvage the season. If the Bulldogs win two or three, there could be a letdown against the Cougars and ruin what had the makings of a special season.
Kentucky Wildcats
For the first seven seasons of the Dan Mullen era, Mississippi State could count on a win against the Wildcats. Then 2016 happened, and now it feels like Kentucky might finally be finding momentum in football. The Bulldogs need to reestablish themselves as the dominant team in the series.
Ole Miss Rebels
For some Mississippi State fans, the game against Ole Miss is always the most important. But many times in the Egg Bowl rivalry, the game has little attached to it besides bragging rights.
Even though Ole Miss will not be able to go to a bowl, there is a decent chance Mississippi State might need this game to get to a 6th win. There is also the chance Ole Miss will be eager to spoil Mississippi State from either getting to a bowl or send them lower down on the bowl pecking order.
But perhaps most importantly, we’ve talked about how Mississippi State has a chance to put a death grip on the state of Mississippi with all of the problems Ole Miss is facing. If the Bulldogs come out of the Egg Bowl without the trophy, how can Dan Mullen sell his program as the far superior program when he can’t beat Ole Miss at their lowest of lows?
If you’re wondering why Alabama didn’t make my list, it is because the only way I see it becoming the most important game is if Bama comes to town and the Bulldogs have 0 or 1 losses on their record. As of right now, I don’t think that happens, but I would love to be wrong.
Now I ask you to tell us, which of these four games is the most important? And if you think it is a different one, click other and let us know which one in the comments.
Poll
Which of the following games on the 2017 Mississippi State football schedule is the most important?
This poll is closed
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69%
LSU
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6%
BYU
-
2%
Kentucky
-
13%
Ole Miss
-
7%
Other