2012 Record: 8-5 (4-4 in SEC)
Head Coach: Dan Mullen (29-22 at Miss State, 13-19 in SEC)
Last Bowl Game: 2013 Gator Bowl: lost to Northwestern 34-20
Stadium: Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS (capacity = 55,082)
Home Field Advantage: ranked 13th out of 69 BCS teams
Schedule Glimpse:
Out of Conference: 8/31 vs Oklahoma St, 9/7 vs Alcorn St, 9/21 vs Troy, 10/12 vs Bowling Green
Toughest Home Games: 10/5 vs LSU, 11/16 vs Alabama
Toughest Road Games: 11/2 at South Carolina, 11/9 at Texas A&M
Statistical Snapshot:
Stat to Fear: converted on 34.55% of third downs (11th in SEC), scored on 76.47% of red zone trips (11th in SEC), allowed opponents to convert on 42.08% of third downs (13th in SEC)
Stat to Cheer: +1.23 turnover margin (1st in SEC)
Advanced Stats (Football Outsiders 2012 FEI Ranking): 62nd out of 124 teams
Personnel:
Phil Steele's Returning Starters: Offense: 7, Defense: 6, Special Teams: 1
Key Defensive Returnees: LB Benardrick McKinney (102 tackles), S Nickoe Whitley (88 tackles, 3 INT), DE Denico Autry (42 tackles, 4 sacks)
Key Offensive Returnees: QB Tyler Russell (2897 yds pass, 58.6% completions, 24 TD, 10 INT), RB LaDarius Perkins (1024 yds rush, 5.00 ypc, 8 TD),
Top 2013 Recruits: DE Chris Jones, S Ashton Shumpert, S Justin Cox
Verdict:
After going 5-7 in his first season, Dan Mullen has taken the Bulldogs to three straight bowl games. That's a great accomplishment but the Bulldogs are still mired in the second half of the SEC West behind Alabama and LSU. Can the Bulldogs take the next step this year?
Tyler Russell returns at QB for his senior season. He's not a great fit for the offense but he does give the Bulldogs a solid option. The Bulldogs have a nice group of RBs and I had them ranked sixth in the SEC this spring. LaDarius Perkins will be the main man toting the rock and last year he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark. Receiver will be where the Bulldogs run into trouble as they must replace their top four receiving targets. The Bulldogs return only two WRs who caught at least ten balls last season (Robert Johnson- 17 rec and Jameon Lewis- 10 rec). The OL allowed only 19 sacks last year and returns 95 career starts.
Last year, the Bulldogs had a middle of the pack SEC defense that gave up 23.3 ppg and 387.4 ypg. The DL should be the strength of the defense with Denico Autry and Preston Smith as well as a host of top recruits over the past few years. The LB corps must replace their leading tackler but they do return everybody else from that unit. The unit that has the most question-marks is the defensive backfield as it must replace the corner tandem of Johnthan Banks and Darius Slay.
Last year, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 mark against weaker competition until they finally started playing tougher competition and then they dropped 5 of their last 6. This year they open against Oklahoma State in a neutral field and then in the third game of the year they travel to Auburn, who should be improved this season. The key stretch of the year will be from the Nov 2nd match-up at South Carolina til the end of the season when they face off with Arkansas and then Ole Miss. I like their chances to make another bowl but I don't see them going much farther this season.
Prediction: 6-6
Previous 2013 Pre-Season Previews:
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