No More 3-2

 Dan Mullen and Gene Chizik are both in their second year as head coaches at  their respected schools. Both will have their early head coaching careers compared to one another as long as they stay where they are. There are several story lines to be dealt with before this game is to kick off.

First, the offense on both sides are EXPLOSIVE. In their first game, Auburn had 608 yards of offense with Cam Newton having 357 yards. Newtion is 2010's first SEC offensive player of the week leading the SEC in rushing (171) and total yards (357). Other leaders for Auburn were Michael Dyer with 95 yards rushing, Quendarious Carr 87 receiving yards and Fannin with 65.

Now, Mississippi State's offense has made leaps and bounds under Dan Mullen. Mississippi State had 569 yards of total offense against Memphis in game one of the 2010 season. MSU is looking to repeat its performance against a different tiger team, on that allowed 323 passing yards by a far less superior team. People outside the MSU fan base need to take them seriously. Though picked to finish 5th in the West, I expect Mississippi State may finish higher. There is no Mullen in Starkville. Like Saban, Dan Mullen will change everything about MSU Football and put them on the winning path.

Offense is in. Both teams did very well to stop the run but struggled against the pass. Although the Tigers had more trouble than the Bulldogs, there will not be a repeat of the last performance in Starkville. There will be no 3-2 game. I would be shocked if the combined total offense was less than 1,000 yards. The defense on both teams has to step up if either team wants to prove they can win the West.

While the MSU defense is on the field there will be a new element to the noise factor in Starkville this evening. Well maybe not new, just given a one year probationary period. The cowbells are back. However, the fans are not allowed to ring them during play. The Tigers will have to prepare for the noise since the officials did nothing about it during the Memphis game. It's ok. It's been done before.

Starkville, Thursday night will be crazy. The Dawgs know they have a chance and they smell blood. This is the State's "Super Bowl" and it's on national television. Not to mention every State fan feels Chizik bought Cam Newton. The whole saga with Newton's recruitment by Mullen for a second time (first at Florida) was highly publicized with everyone thinking he was a sure lock at State. He is even pictured on his trip to Starkville ringing a cowbell and later commented to players how they would be teammates in 2010. Obviously, they were very upset when out of nowhere he committed and signed with Auburn. During his recruitment at State, he was regarded as the savior of the program seeing how Bulldogs have not had a prolific quarterback in years. However, the combination of Chris Relf and Tyler Russell are very good. It would appear that even as MSU fans are unhappy with Newton's Benedict Arnold like actions, they have a star quarterback waiting in the wings.

Since the 2004 season the confidence in Auburn fans has risen. To others this overconfidence may sound like cockiness especially when their school hasn't had a lot to cheer for in football. However, with a new coach and confidence in a new offense, Wade Davis Stadium will be very hostile to all that enter. Mullen has done a very good job marketing this MSU program to gain everyone's excitement. Then not only did he get everyone pumped, but he delivered on the first game of the season. Do not take the Bulldogs lightly. They are poised to upset quite a few teams this year. The excitement is still there. The electricity is in the air. The cowbells will be ringing. It is Game Day in Starkville, Mississippi.