Florida vs. Mississippi State Fearless Prediction, Game Preview

By Pete Fiutak | September 24, 2018 3:37 pm CT

Florida vs. Mississippi State fearless prediction and game preview.

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 29
Game Time: 6:00 ET
Venue: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
Network: ESPN

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Florida (3-1) vs. Mississippi State (3-1) Game Preview

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One Reason Why Florida Will Win

It’ll pain Florida to think this way, but it needs to be more like Kentucky.

The Gators are 3-0 when running for 200 yards or more, and lost it’s one game – to UK when going under the mark. It’s not a devastating UF ground game, but it’s effective, averaging well over five yards per carry when it’s work.

Obviously, when it works, it’s taking the pressure off of Feleipe Franks and the passing game that’s been so hit-or-miss.

The Bulldog D line got hit for 229 yards and four touchdowns by Benny Snell and the the Kentucky offense last week, and the MSU offense was stuffed for just 56 rushing yards.

This isn’t going to be a hard formula. Run well, stop Nick Fitzgerald and the Bulldog running game, and all should be fine.

One Reason Why Mississippi State Will Win

There’s one massive difference between what Kentucky has been able to do and what Florida is running. Time of possession.

UK is great on third downs and amazing so far at working the clock. Florida is iffy on third downs and doesn’t care a lick so far about time of possession. The Gators aren’t good enough offensively to make this a fast-paced shootout.

Mississippi State can win this by getting Fitzgerald and the ground game going again, or it can win by opening it up and bombing away in an attempt to work the tempo and speed things up. In this game, the Gators will have one speed, and if the rushing attack isn’t taking over early, there’s a problem.

And then there’s the cowbell factor.

It’s a home game against the former coach who left the nest. This is Dan Mullen’s program that he helped build into what it currently is, and this is going to be one charged up atmosphere boosting the players who’ll be more than a little motivated.

But …

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What’s Going To Happen

No one knows this Mississippi State team or these players better than Mullen.

It’s a really, really good squad across the board, with veterans, talent, and the right blend to beat a team as good as Florida.

The Gators won’t show off too much of an offense, but the defense will take care of that, especially the secondary that will keep the Bulldog passing game to dinks and dunks.

Florida will weather the early storm, and when the emotion dies down, that’s when the power game will kick in.

Mississippi State is outstanding at getting behind the line, but Florida’s offensive front has been terrific at keeping teams out of the backfield. It’ll be a grind, and it’ll be about the defenses.

In the end, the Mullen Bowl will go to … Mullen.