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Tennessee football: Vols, SEC, Top 25 predictions for Week 1 of 2018

By Caleb Calhoun

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 11: A general view of the stadium before the game between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 11, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images
Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images /

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at No. 18 Mississippi State Bulldogs

Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m.; Davis Wade Stadium; Starkville, Miss.

TV: ESPNU

Caleb Calhoun

While the Missouri Tigers are going to the pro-style and the Arkansas Razorbacks are going to the spread, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are staying the same with their coaching change. Joe Moorhead is replacing Dan Mullen as head coach, and he’s a brilliant offensive mind on his own. He also brought in former Tennessee football defensive coordinator Bob Shoop to run his defense.

Nick Fitzgerald is back after a gruesome injury that took place against the Ole Miss Rebels last year. However, he’s suspended for this game, so the Bulldogs are going with Keytaon Thompson at quarterback, the guy who ran for three touchdowns in their bowl game win over the Louisville Cardinals last year. Thompson is not a good passer, but it won’t matter. this is another terrible SEC game, and Mississippi State wins easily.

Mississippi State: 48 Stephen F. Austin: 14

Billy Williford

Another first-year head coach making his debut in the SEC. We all know about Dan Mullen heading to Florida. Now Joe Moorhead is at the helm of the Bulldogs, and they should be pretty good. There is never a perfect or good break up, but Mullen and Mississippi have managed to make it work.

Nick Fitzgerald is the quarterback for the Bulldogs, and I personally believe he deserves more hype than Will Grier when talking about the Heisman race but SEC, right? Last season Fitzgerald was pretty good. People unfamiliar with college football and the SEC particular will not be impressive by his numbers but look at the competition. Mississippi State rolls in a good napping game. The Bulldogs can score however many points they want, but they will probably stop at 38.

Mississippi State: 38 Stephen F. Austin: 3

Garrett Sanders

Joe Moorhead takes over in Starkville after the departure of Dan Mullen leaving for Florida. The Lumberjacks had such a poorly executed Offense last season. It was so sorry that mostly everyone on their team on Offense had gotten some playing time on their belt. While experience may play an essential role for the Lumberjacks, the Bulldogs Defense is stacked.

On the Offensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs, their star quarterback, Nick Fitzgerald, is suspended for this game. Which means backup quarterback Keytaon Thompson will be commanding the ship on Offense. The Offense should be fine, and whatever the Offense has messed up, the Defense will cover for their mistakes, The Bulldogs will dictate the score of this game on whatever they want it to be.

Mississippi State: 45 Stephen F. Austin: 10

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