Mississippi State looked much better than expected in their opener. The Sun Devils have the better offensive team, but Mississippi State showed some promise as we thought they were rebuilding. The Bulldogs were able to get pressure against Southern Miss and even though they didn’t have their best year last season they allowed 39 points, or more, in all but two home games last season. The Bulldogs atmosphere would be rocking for a possible upset.

Mississippi State has improved, and I'm not convinced Arizona State has. The Bulldogs hung within a score of the Sun Devils in Tempe last season, and this week Kenny Dillingham had to stir a hornet's nest with his comments about Starkville. This could be the weekend's big upset.

One team I thought looked much improved in Week 1 was Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are a different team with a healthy Blake Shapen at quarterback. Shapen only played in 4 games last season but one was against Arizona State in a competitive 30-23 loss where he threw for 268 yards and two scores. The Bulldogs lost that game because their atrocious run defense allowed 262 yards to Cam Skattebo. I know it was only Southern Miss but Mississippi State's run defense looked much better, allowing just 102 yards. I think this will be another close game between the two, so I'll grab seven points at home with the Bulldogs.