Week 12 Preview: (5) Alabama vs. (1) Miss. State

When the Mississippi State Bulldogs arrive in Tuscaloosa to play the Crimson Tide on Saturday, the fate of who will represent the SEC West will be up for grabs.

Last Saturday, Alabama put on a thrilling performance in Death Valley to beat the LSU Tigers in overtime. That momentum will carry them straight into this weekend as they face a bigger task: the number one team in the country. Could it be the fairy tale upset the Tide have been looking for to get back on top?

For the first time in years, Alabama has been viewed as an “underdog” in the SEC West, but now that Auburn and Ole Miss have fallen off with two losses, the Tide and Bulldogs are the last teams standing in the SEC West.

Mississippi State, who has one of the best ground games in the country, is facing the country’s third best rush defense. The match up could not be more exciting and has the potential to be one of the most electrifying games of the 2014 college football regular season.

Keys to a Mississippi State victory:

Offense

To date, Mississippi State is averaging 254.9 rushing yards per game which ranks No. 16 in the country. Running back Josh Robinson has rushed for 109.3 yards per game and has been a key part of the Bulldogs’ offense. This weekend against the Tide, they are going to have a tough time putting up those kind of numbers against Alabama’s stout rush defense. To put it in perspective, last week the LSU Tigers averaged a measly 3.3 yards per carry against Alabama.

Bulldogs’ quarterback Dak Prescott faces his biggest test yet and will have to play one of his best games of the year if Mississippi State wants to come out of Tuscaloosa with a win. Many players would have some nerves heading into this big of a game, but Prescott seems poised and had this to say about playing in a sold out Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday:

“I’ve grown a lot in every aspect of life and every aspect of the quarterback position,” Prescott said. “I don’t really think there will be any jitters going into the stadium. (Playing there in 2012) got me familiar with the place, knowing if I can score in there as a freshman, than it can happen again.” (Via AL.com)

Coach Dan Mullen and his team are going have to flip the switch and focus on their passing game, an area that Alabama has been inconsistent at covering. Wide Receiver De’Runnya Wilson stated earlier this week that his dream is to beat Alabama and he’ll get his opportunity to do just that this weekend. Wilson still remembers Alabama head coach Nick Saban did not offering him a scholarship after watching him in a high school scrimmage. The Alabama native will be playing with a chip on his shoulder this weekend, which could be dangerous for the Tide.

The 6’5 ex-basketball star has become State’s main target since Jameon Lewis wen’t down with an injury. However, Wilson has caught only four passes in the last three games. This week he will have help from star wide receiver Lewis, who is expected to be back to 100 percent against Alabama, his first game since suffering a leg injury on September 20th.

Mississippi State is very big upfront and could impose problems for the Crimson Tide defense. Look for the Bulldogs to mix it up with the run and the pass to help keep Alabama’s defense off-balance.

Defense

Mississippi State is currently the worst pass defense in the country, and will have to face the best wide receiver in the country, Amari Cooper. The Bulldogs’ secondary definitely has their work cut out for them when Cooper is targeted on Saturday. Despite having a “bad” game last week against LSU, Cooper is still a dangerous weapon for the Crimson Tide.

The Bulldogs pass defense surrenders over 300 yards per game through the air and will have to step up their coverage on Amari Cooper and DeAndrew White. However, they will have to display their best effort of the season and cannot allow Cooper to make big plays after the catch that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing all season.

Coach Dan Mullen went on the record as to how his team plans to handle Alabama’s talented receivers.

“We cannot do the same thing over and over again,” Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen said. “They will find out what we are doing and will take advantage of it. We have to change up the looks and the people that are covering him. He is going to catch the ball, but when he catches it, we have to get him on the ground. He is really good before the catch, but he is even better after the catch.” (via AL.com)

On the flip side, the Bulldogs said they don’t plan on changing their approach just for one player.

Keys to an Alabama victory:

Offense

Alabama has been most successful in their recent national championship seasons when their running game is elite. In 2008 it was Mark Ingram, followed by Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy, who then paved the way for T.J. Yeldon. Yeldon has been a big part of this offense on the ground, averaging 5.1 yards per carry this season.

Throughout this season, Alabama has proven they are dominant at home. It all starts with quarterback Blake Sims, who has posted a completely different season when playing at Bryant-Denny. Last week,  Sims was tested on the road in the final drive of regulation against LSU and was able to lead his team to a victory when they were depending on him the most.

Amari Cooper recorded three drops last week which is certainly uncharacteristic of him. Despite having eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown, Cooper will have to bounce back against the Bulldogs. Wide receiver DeAndrew White caught the game winning touchdown in overtime against LSU and will try to keep some of the pressure off of Cooper.

Defense

Alabama’s Defense will have to do what they’ve done best all season, which is stop the running game of opposing offenses. Unless Mississippi State steps onto the gridiron with a completely out of left field game plan, Alabama has experience facing off against teams with similar offenses in Auburn and Texas A&M.

In order to succeed against Prescott and the run game, Alabama will have to apply pressure and force Prescott to make ill-advised throws. Alabama has to get off the field on third-downs, an area that the Bulldogs thrive in. Reggie Ragland, who arguably had the best game of his career and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, made huge stops against LSU and has to do the same against Mississippi State.

Mississippi State has mimicked the zone-read option, originally executed by Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers in 2011, which the Crimson Tide has a hard time defending. This is a different Alabama Defemse, a scrappy one, and for the first time they have a chip on their shoulder to prove they are still contenders.

This matchup this weekend will be the game of the year, or at least to those below the Mason Dixon Line. The Tide and Bulldogs will start this game of chess on CBS.  Dan Mullen will attempt to continue the Bulldogs’ dream season, while Saban plans to defend his dynasty at home in Tuscaloosa. Either way, the winner of this  contest will be in the driver’s seat for the SEC West crown and will be primed for a national championship run.

Here’s Everything You Need to Know:

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium- Tuscaloosa, Alabama

When: Saturday-November 15, 2014

Time: 3:30 EST on CBS

Over/Under: 52, MS State

 

*Section Photo credit to Bob Levey, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images. 

Week 12 Preview: Penn State vs. Temple
Week 12 Preview: Penn State vs. Temple