LSU @ Mississippi State - Stream of Consciousness

Pregame
Alright, LSU, here we go. Time to show if you really are ready to be a national title contender this season, or if Sylvester Croom can pull off another stunning SEC upset and try and keep his job for another season. ESPN has been pimping this game hard doing 25 hours of college football leading up to kickoff. LSU is a double-digit favorite on the road but rain is expected with temperatures in the mid-70s. I still look for LSU to cover the spread and heralded redshirt-Sophomore Ryan Perrilloux to get some playing time in mop up duty in the 4th quarter. Game time!

First Quarter
Herbstreit is gone to ABC's primetime game, so he's no longer doing the Thursday night broadcast. Instead we've got Doug Flutie in the booth with Craig James and Chris Fowler. State is wearing their white jerseys forcing LSU to wear purple in an SEC game for the first time in awhile. Croom has won 2 of 3 season openers as head coach at MSU (the loss coming last year 15-0 on Thursday night to Spurrier and South Carolina). Les Miles is 1-1 losing in his first season to Tennessee in OT

No rain yet. LSU wins the toss and defers. LSU kicking off. Will the rule change moving the ball to the 30 make a difference? Short kick taken at the goal line out to the 25.
First and 10 MSU. They really need to come out and make some noise in this first drive to get any kind of rhythm against this tough LSU defense. In the shotgun first pass is ALMOST intercepted in the left flat by Chevis Jackson. LSU might have been able to end this game before it even started with that play. State goes conservative on 2nd down and fumble the ball, but it goes out-of-bounds. Two plays and LSU has almost gotten a turnover on both plays. Not looking good for the bulldogs. 3rd and long and there seems to be a miscommunication between QB and WR and the ball sails. Three and out. Doucet gets a short return on the punt.

LSU 1st and 10 at their own 35. Draw up the middle on first down for 5 yards. Was hoping Crowton would go nuts out of the gate, but maybe he's hoping to hang on to all his tricks for next week's game against Virginia Tech. Another draw play and Hester is gobbled up and loses 3 yards. 3rd and long for Matt Flynn and the Tigers. Flynn's first pass is caught by Chris Mitchell and gets the first down easily with a gain of 17 yards. Looks like LSU is planning on a steady diet of Jacob Hester up the gut on first down. Even against an 8 man front they gain 4 yards. LSU in the hurry up now. Flynn takes off running on the QB read and almost gains the first down. 3rd and short. State stacks the box again but Hester is able to run behind the dominant OLine of LSU and gets another first down. Flutie calling for the play-action to Doucet. Another Hester run gains 1. Flynn with a dangerous pass to Doucet is incomplete leading to another long 3rd down for LSU. Wide open Doucet makes a catch for 12 yards and a first down. Coming back...false start penalty called against LSU...brings up a longer 3rd down. Flynn flushed out of the pocked and the pass is deflected. Tigers have to punt...and it sails into the endzone.

MSU first and 10 from their 20, 10:19 remaining in the first. Henig completes a pass out in the flats but LB Highsmith gets to him for a loss of a yard. Another short completion gets a couple. Might have been a hold on that left tackle. 3rd and 7...blitz comes, and McCray makes the INT for LSU. No where near any MSU player.

LSU 1st&10 at the MSU 45 8:10 left in the 1st
Another handoff to Hester gains 16 yards straight up the gut. Crowton really not showing his hand against MSU. Looks like Beamer might have no idea what to gameplan for. Split backs with Flynn in the gun. Little option play for LSU that Flynn keeps gets them to the MSU 25. Toss to Keiland Williams with his first carry of the night gets the first down with a 13 yard rush around the back side. LSU wearing down this MSU front seven with continual rushing plays. LSU goes to the play action but MSU isn't fooled. Flynn gets knocked down bringing up a long 3rd down. Catchable ball hits off of Hester's hands around the 5 yard line bringing up 4th down for LSU. In comes the kicking team with a 27 yard att. FG is good
LSU 3 MSU 0 ; 6:27 left in the first

MSU ball at their 27
State trying to not go three and out here. Screen pass is snuffed out by LSU and goes for a short gain after a toss on first down. Another 3rd down for MSU. Finally a first down for MSU near midfield. The crowd is really getting into the game on this drive after going flat after the INT. LSU going to need a stop to take back control. Power running game leads to another first down. LSU seems to be over pursuing some on the DLine. Blitz nearly gets to Henig and leads to an incompletion. MSU tries their version of the "Wildcat" formation Arkansas started last season, but they don't have a Darren McFadden. LSU stuffs the 3rd down play leading to another 4th down. MSU lines up to go for it...but takes a timeout. Here comes the rain and MSU is going for it on 4th and 2. Fumbled snap and LSU takes over.

LSU ball at their own 39
Flynn in the gun with Charles Scott in at HB. Another run off tackle for LSU. Really not showing anything for VT to gameplan against. Flynn takes off on the option again and picks up a first down into MSU territory. LSU going 5 wide here with Flynn in the gun and he takes off on another QB sprint....3rd and 5. Complete out to Early Doucet close to a first down, and there's a flag...5 yard facemask against MSU leads to an LSU first down. One untimed play left in the first quarter for LSU at the MSU 34. Toss play for nothing and that's the end of the first. LSU on top 3-0.

Second Quarter
Flynn pressured and has to throw the ball away. Another 3rd and long. Flynn tries a designed QB run and is tackled at the line of scrimmage. MSU isn't going to be fooled anymore by that QB dive. Another punt and another touchback.

MSU ball at their own 20
State doing a good job running right at this highly touted LSU defense. A short run and a deflected pass lead to another long 3rd down for MSU. Not sure if its the rain and the early season getting to these offenses, or if it is more both teams having good defenses. Shovel pass and Dorsey almost takes the halfback's head off. He should be playing on Sundays, but Tiger fans sure are happy to have him back. MSU punt downed at the 22 but an illegal formation penalty and LSU will have MSU punt it again. Bad MSU bounce and MSU is able to down it.

LSU ball at their 46
Another false start penalty on LSU. This defense is going to be fantastic, but they need to show they can score some points against good teams. LSU trying to set up the screen pass and MSU knew exactly what was coming and Flynn gets sacked. Long 3rd down coming up for the Tigers. Flynn with A LOT of room to run on 3rd and 17 but looks like he's 2 yards short at the LSU 45. 4th and 1 and LSU is going for it, but it is a bluff. Timeout, LSU. Fisher boots one for LSU pinning MSU inside their 10 yard line.

MSU ball at their 10
The LSU defense looks fired up. INT LSU, Jonathon Zenon.

LSU ball at the MSU 37
Trindon Holliday in at TB for LSU. Fastest guy in CFB. 3rd down and 6 for LSU. Another false start penalty on LSU, this time on a WR. 3rd and 11. Finally a completion for Flynn on 3rd down and Early Doucet picks up the 1st down. MSU timeout with 7:32 left in the half. Hester bulldozes his way inside the 10 yard line for a first down for LSU. LSU tries an end around with Holliday but you can tell MSU is ready for that end-around. Big 3rd down here for both teams. Flynn throws to the endzone for Early Doucet and the pass is broken up. Flag thrown, PI on MSU. First down LSU on the 2 yard line. Hester can't get there on first down, but Keiland Williams finds paydirt on 2nd down for the LSU touchdown
LSU 10, MSU 0 ; 5:52 left in the first half

MSU returns the kick 31 yards on a nice return.
First and 10 at the MSU 41. Holding on first down on MSU. They can't dig themselves any deeper of a hole here. LSU out for another turnover. Deep completion for MSU for a 27 yard gain. Personal foul against LSU for hands to the face gives MSU the ball on the LSU 43. MSU tries a flea-flicker, but this isn't the time to get cute after the big gain. Craig Steltz gets LSU their 3rd INT of the game in the endzone.

LSU first and 10 at their 20
Flynn with a designed run on 1st down, but a hold again against LSU. Flynn sacked on 1st and 20 at the 2 yard line. A run up the middle leaves LSU with 3rd and 28 from their own 2 yard line. Hester able to get out to the 6 yard line on 3rd down, and LSU will have to punt. MSU takes a time out with 1:58 remaining in the half. Fisher punting right on his back line and drives the returner inside his own 40.

MSU ball on their 45, 1:43 left
First play and Henig throws his 4th pick of the half.

LSU ball on the MSU 40
KW run on the left side. Tigers don't look like they're trying to get a score before half. Screen pass to Doucet for nothing but he does get out of bounds. 0:49 left in the half and a 3rd down and 9. Doug Flutie calling for LSU to stick another on in the endzone. Doucet is easily the MVP for the LSU offense this first half. 18 yard gain to the MSU 22 and he gets out of bounds stopping the clock with 41 seconds left. Holding call against LSU on an incomplete pass brings up a 1st and 20. Pass out to true freshman Terrance Tolliver picks up the first down and gets out of bounds with 21 seconds on the clock. Flynn finds Jacob Hester over the middle to get the ball down inside the 10 yard line bringing up 1st and goal. LSU timeout. KW up the middle and is stopped JUST short of the endzone. 0:04 for LSU and they use their final timeout. LSU lines up to go for it. Touchdown LSU, Keiland Williams

LSU 17
MSU 0
End of the first half


Third Quarter
Trindon Holliday gets the ball out to the LSU 26 with a decent return. Flynn rolls out and hits Early Doucet for a first down across the 37. Crowton seems ready to air it out a little in this second half. After a Hester run, Flynn again finds Doucet for a first down into MSU territory. Hester breaks a big run down near the MSU 30 for 15 yards. 4 quick plays and LSU has moved the ball 50+ yards against the 3-3-5 of MSU's defense. Flynn on a play-action can't find anyone open and takes off running and gets another first down thanks to an unreal block by one of his WRs. Very next play Flynn finds Early Doucet one more time for the 12 yard touchdown.

LSU 24 MSU 0
12:53 left in the 3rd

MSU ball on their 28
False start to begin the drive doesn't look good for MSU. That click you just heard was the majority of America turning this game off. MSU has got to get some points on this drive. The LSU defense is really getting after them this drive. 3rd and 11 and another false start on MSU. Croom is livid on the sideline. Can definitely see the difference in not having a preseason in college football. These guys really could use one warmup game before getting into the season. On 3rd and 16 Henig completes a DEEP pass and what every LSU fan doesn't want to see, Dorsey is limping off the field. MSU first down inside the LSU 35. Two running plays lose yards for State and LSU brings the house on 3rd and 16. The ball sails and the punt team comes out for MSU. Excellent coverage by the MSU punt team pins LSU inside their 1.

LSU ball inside their own 1, 9:00 left in the 3rd
Two runs up the gut get the ball out to around the 5, but Flynn can't find Doucet on 3rd down so LSU again is punting from inside their own endzone.

MSU ball from their 45
State only able to gain 4 yards on 3 plays, and Henig goes down hard on 3rd down. Not a good site for State fans with no experience behind him on the depth chart.

LSU takes over after the punt on their 23
Flynn still in with 5:31 left in the 3rd quarter and is sacked on first down. LSU goes super conservative on 2nd down with a HB draw. No reason to let the MSU defense get the fans back into this one. LSU needs to get one more score and end this one. 3rd and 20 here. Richard Murphy in at TB for LSU. ALMOST an INT for Anthony Johnson on Flynn's errant pass. Quick 3 and out huge here for MSU. LSU has to punt again from their endzone, but at least not standing on their back line this time.

MSU ball at their 35 with 3:57 left in the 3rd
Incomplete pass. Henig is having a tough game, and there's he sacked for a big loss. He definitely looks gunshy after that big hit on their last possession. 3rd and 21 and Henig is intercepted for the 5th time and its Craig Steltz getting his 2nd INT on the night. Steltz returns it inside the MSU 10 yard line

LSU ball at the MSU 8
LSU with another holding call. The offensive line is going to have to get better in the next 10 days before the boys from Blacksburg come to Baton Rouge to play. Flynn with a great screen pass to freshman Charles Scott and he scurries into the endzone for a touchdown. Colt David converts the XP and LSU has put this game away. The only two questions left are: can LSU pitch the shutout and when will Perrilloux take over at QB for the Tigers.

MSU ball at their 26
Henig takes off and gets a good gain on first down with his legs. Comes up limping a little. The lack of depth at QB is really hurting MSU having to play a hurt Henig here. After a nice completion for a first down LSU comes up with a sack on Henig. Really have to go to the backup at some point, and Flutie agrees with me. If you want to get to 4-5 wins this year, you will need Henig. LSU helping MSU out with a PI gives MSU the ball at the LSU 48 on the last play of the 3rd quarter. Screen pass works perfectly against an overpursuing LSU defense and MSU will have the ball inside the LSU 30 when the 4th quarter begins

Fourth Quarter
Glenn Dorsey shouldn't even be in this game, and I'm sure Henig agrees with me. This man should be cashing his huge NFL paycheck, but you've got to love a young man coming back to finish his education and try one more time for another championship. He gets a big sack here and Henig has two straight incompletions leading to a 4th and 21. MSU going for it with nothing to lose here, and Craig Steltz has his 3rd INT on the night and LSU's 6th INT of Henig. He gets a huge return taking it back inside MSU territory

LSU ball on the MSU 45
Flynn still in the game for LSU and TH breaks it for 11 yards against a tired MSU defense. This is a really good defense that has just had to be on the field way too much tonight and had to come back from too many MSU turnovers. Looks like the true freshman backup QB might be coming in for MSU on their next possession. And here comes Perrilloux for LSU. First play is a QB draw that picks up good yardage then with his first pass of 2007 gets a first down completion to Doucet. Just incase I haven't said it enough, Trindon Holliday is really fast and he showed it on that 7 yard scamper. LSU is starting to clear the benches here on offense with true freshman Richard Murphy getting a carry for a first down. LSU spreads out the WRs and Perrilloux finds the endzone for another TD

LSU 38
MSU 0
8:20 left in the game

MSU ball on their 22
True freshman QB Wesley Carroll in for MSU. His first two career passes are incomplete, but completes his third offering on 3rd and 10 for a 12 yard gain and a first down. An incompletion, a sack, and a fumbled sack later and LSU has the ball again on a MSU turnover

LSU ball on the MSU 36
Richard Murphy with another big run breaking for a first down for LSU. Perrilloux finds Lafell on the very next play and LSU goes 36 yards in 2 plays for another score. RP is definitely the future for this LSU team. Doug Flutie, "LSU is scoring too fast too easily now."

LSU 45 MSU 0
5:45 left in the game

MSU ball on their own 18
True freshman Carroll is going to have to learn to feel the backside pressure. LSU gets another sack. MSU forced to punt again.

LSU Defense
133 total yards allowed
0 points
6 INTs
1 fumble recovery
4 sacks
38 points off of turnovers

LSU ball at the MSU 48
All the backups are in now for LSU and they're trying to just run out these last 4 minutes. Richard Murphy getting a lot of carries here for LSU in the final quarter. Couple of runs lead to a 4th down for the Tigers and a punt

MSU ball at their own 15
MSU is just going to run this one out. Just a matter of the seconds clicking off now. Not able to get a first down but this game is over. Ballgame.

FINAL SCORE
LSU 45
MSU 0

The Mountain West Conference

The MWC could come down to a one game season, and that game isn't even a conference game. The biggest money game this season is going to be TCU @ Texas September 8th. If the Horned Frogs can pull off the monster upset in Austin, look for them to be the 2nd MWC team to reach the BCS. If Hawaii can sneak their way in, there is no doubt that an undefeated TCU team with a win over Texas would get into the mix as well. Don't look for that to happen, but TCU will win the conference with ease and will join BYU, Utah, and New Mexico bowling in December

The WAC

Last year was about as good a year as the WAC can ever hope for. Everyone knows the story of little Boise State with their blue field ending the year upsetting Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl(even if it took every trick play and every lucky bounce to pull off the one-point victory) and finishing as the lone undefeated team. This year expect LOTS of offense and another undefeated team come the end of the year. Also look for Boise State to finally get knocked-off as conference champs. This year is the year of the Rainbow Warriors (I know they dropped the rainbow) in the WAC and also of their QB Colt Brennan. Look for them to roll through one of the easiest schedules in the nation on their way to an undefeated year and hopefully something other than the Hawaii Bowl. I don't think they will deserve a BCS game unless they truly annihilate people, but I do want to see them play someone with a pulse on the mainland. Ian Johnson will be in the Heisman race until BSU falls to Hawaii and Brennan which will get in the top 5 for the Heisman but won't bring home the hardware because of all his late night games that no one on the East Coast can watch and the fact that he's not on a BCS Championship competitor.

Preseason AP Poll

2007 Preseason AP Poll

RANK	TEAM	RECORD	PTS	PVS
1.	USC (62)	0-0	1622	4
2.	LSU (2)	0-0	1511	3
3.	West Virginia (1)	0-0	1396	10
4.	Texas	0-0	1375	13
5.	Michigan	0-0	1371	8
6.	Florida	0-0	1276	1
7.	Wisconsin	0-0	1192	7
8.	Oklahoma	0-0	1166	11
9.	Virginia Tech	0-0	1148	19
10.	Louisville	0-0	1031	6
11.	Ohio State	0-0	876	2
12.	California	0-0	790	14
13.	Georgia	0-0	782	23
14.	UCLA	0-0	605	NR
15.	Tennessee	0-0	571	25
16.	Rutgers	0-0	560	12
17.	Penn State	0-0	542	24
18.	Auburn	0-0	519	9
19.	Florida State	0-0	392	NR
20.	Nebraska	0-0	377	NR
21.	Arkansas	0-0	376	15
22.	TCU	0-0	283	22
23.	Hawaii	0-0	256	NR
24.	Boise State	0-0	187	5
25.	Texas A&M	0-0	162	NR
Others Receiving Votes Missouri 128, Georgia Tech 94, Boston College 75, Oregon 73, South Carolina 69, Miami 68, Alabama 66, Oregon State 42, Wake Forest 40, South Florida 28, Arizona State 17, Brigham Young 14, Southern Miss 12, Notre Dame 11, Virginia 7, Clemson 6, Oklahoma State 3, Texas Tech 2, Purdue 1, Houston 1, Kentucky 1, North Carolina State 1

Conference SOS

1	Pac10
2	SEC
3	ACC
4	Big12
5	Big10
6	BigEast
7	Independents
8	Sun Belt
9	CUSA
10	WAC
11	MWC
12	MAC

Preseason SOS of all 120 teams

1	Washington
2	Stanford
3	Oregon
4	Mississippi
5	Kentucky
6	Washington State
7	Mississippi State
8	Tennessee
9	South Carolina
10	Florida State
11	Alabama
12	UCLA
13	Notre Dame
14	USC
15	Duke
16	Florida
17	Michigan State
18	Nebraska
19	Oklahoma State
20	Vanderbilt
21	LSU
22	Georgia
23	California
24	Maryland
25	Miami, Fl
26	Arizona
27	Illinois
28	Arizona State
29	Auburn
30	Baylor
31	Texas A&M
32	Texas
33	Oregon State
34	Colorado
35	Iowa State
36	Penn State
37	Georgia Tech
38	Boston College
39	Virginia Tech
40	Michigan
41	Oklahoma
42	Syracuse
43	South Florida
44	Kansas State
45	Purdue
46	N C State
47	Clemson
48	UNC
49	Wisconsin
50	Missouri
51	Arkansas
52	Virginia
53	Wake Forest
54	Texas Tech
55	Cincinnati
56	Minnesota
57	Ohio State
58	East Carolina
59	Connecticut
60	Pittsburgh
61	Iowa
62	Utah
63	Northwestern
64	Louisiana Tech
65	Louisville
66	West Virginia
67	Troy
68	Kansas
69	Indiana
70	Marshall
71	Rice
72	Florida Atlantic
73	Arkansas St
74	Rutgers
75	Fresno State
76	Middle Tenn St
77	Florida International
78	Idaho
79	SMU
80	Colorado State
81	UAB
82	Army
83	UCF
84	Utah State
85	Wyoming
86	San Jose State
87	Navy
88	Buffalo
89	Nevada
90	TCU
91	Western Michigan
92	Southern Miss
93	Tulsa
94	San Diego State
95	Tulane
96	North Texas
97	New Mexico State
98	BYU
99	Eastern Michigan
100	Air Force
101	UL Monroe
102	Akron
103	New Mexico
104	Kent State
105	Ball State
106	Miami (OH)
107	Northern Illinois
108	UTEP
109	Bowling Green
110	UL Lafayette
111	Boise State
112	Temple
113	Central Michigan
114	Houston
115	Ohio
116	Memphis
117	Toledo
118	Hawaii
119	Western Kentucky
120	UNLV

Pre-Season SOS rankings

Using our own personal method for determining strength of schedule, here are the top10 easiest and most difficult schedules as we see it going into the season. These will change weekly as teams over- or under-perform thus changing how good opponents actually seem. The full ranking of all 120 teams will follow tomorrow. Rankings take into account opponent and home vs away

Top 10 Most Difficult Schedules
1. Washington
2. Stanford
3. Oregon
4. Ole Miss
5. Kentucky
6. Washington State
7. Mississippi State
8. Tennessee
9. South Carolina
10. Florida State

Top 10 Easiest BCS schedules
1. Rutgers (74th overall)
2. Indiana (69th)
3. Kansas(68th)
4. West Virginia (66th)
5. Louisville (65th)
6. Northwestern (63rd)
7. Iowa (61st)
8. Pittsburgh (60th)
9. UConn (59th)
10. Ohio State (57th)

USA Today Coaches' Poll Released

1.	Southern California (45)	11-2	1,481	4
2.	LSU (4)	11-2	1,372	3
3.	Florida (9)	13-1	1,278	1
4.	Texas	10-3	1,231	13
5.	Michigan (2)	11-2	1,218	9
6.	West Virginia	11-2	1,205	10
7.	Wisconsin	12-1	1,114	5
8.	Oklahoma	11-3	1,026	11
9.	Virginia Tech	10-3	1,005	18
10.	Ohio State	12-1	919	2
11.	Louisville	12-1	836	7
12.	California	10-3	763	14
13.	Georgia	9-4	604	NR
14.	Auburn	11-2	595	8
15.	Tennessee	9-4	583	23
16.	Rutgers	11-2	466	12
17.	UCLA	7-6	454	NR
18.	Penn State	9-4	440	25
19.	Nebraska	9-5	388	NR
20.	Arkansas	10-4	360	16
21.	Florida State	7-6	301	NR
22.	TCU	11-2	233	21
23.	Boise State	13-0	222	6
24.	Hawaii	11-3	214	24
25.	Texas A&M	9-4	209	NR
Others receiving votes (with 2006 records)
Boston College (10-3) 150; Georgia Tech (9-5) 150; Miami (Fla.) (7-6) 91; Notre Dame (10-3) 90; South Carolina (8-5) 90; Wake Forest (11-3) 71; Missouri (8-5) 58; Oregon State (10-4) 52; Brigham Young (11-2) 47; Clemson (8-5) 30; Oregon (7-6) 30; South Florida (9-4) 26; Texas Tech (8-5) 20; Alabama (6-7) 16; Oklahoma State (7-6) 15; Southern Mississippi (9-5) 14; Iowa (6-7) 12; Kansas State (7-6) 8; Memphis (2-10) 5; Houston (10-4) 4; Arizona (6-6) 1; Duke (0-12) 1; Kentucky (8-5) 1; Washington State (6-6) 1.