1. Dan Mullen needs to stay in Starkville forever
Not too long ago, Dan Mullen was a demigod in the eyes of Mississippi State football fans and Oktibbeha County-based farm animals.
Mullen was beating Ole Miss, he was winning a few SEC games and most importantly, he was taking the Bulldogs to decent enough bowl games. Now though, according to first-hand conversations and the yahoos that post on Mississippi State message boards, they want Dan the Man to get the hell out of town.
I don’t blame them, really. Despite some early success, Mullen only has five wins against the SEC West with three of those being against Ole Miss. This year, the Bulldogs are staring a losing record in the face if they can’t improve on offense, and recruiting efforts by Mullen and his staff have been substandard. This kind of thing shouldn’t be happening in year five of a program.
If the Bulldogs are kept out of the postseason, Mullen will, at the very least, be on the hottest of hot seats. But if you’re an Ole Miss fan, you’ve got to hope that Dan Mullen, overlord of a declining Mississippi State football program, sticks around for a while.
2. Ole Miss offense could get even better over bye week
While the Mississippi State football program is going down the proverbial drain, things couldn’t be better in Oxford, as the No. 21 Rebels are a surprising 3-0 going into the bye week.
Actually, I think things could get better for Ole Miss, specifically on the offensive side of the ball.
The Rebels are currently tied for the fourth best total offense in the league with an impressive 490 total yards per game. The thing is, that’s been without Vince Sanders — out with a broken collarbone he suffered during fall camp — who caught 39 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns last season. Sanders is expected to be back against ‘Bama, which will allow Ja-Mes Logan to slide back inside to the slot where he’s more comfortable. When that happens, the Ole Miss passing attack will be fully operational — a scary thought for opposing defensive coordinators.
Besides Sanders, Ole Miss should emerge from the bye week with a relatively healthy I’Tavius Mathers. Mathers has looked good when he’s carried the ball thus far (eight carries, 70 yards, one TD), but he’s nonetheless been slowed down by an ankle injury. A healthy Mathers means yet another added dimension to the Ole Miss offense — his inside running skills are something that shifty backs Jeff Scott and Jaylen Walton both lack.
3. Evans emerging as dark horse Heisman candidate at Texas A&M
Want my early dark Heisman representative from the SEC?
Look no further than Texas A&M, where wide receiver Mike Evans has already put up ridiculous stats (20 receptions, 518 yards, three touchdowns) through the first three weeks of the season. That total includes 279 yards against a Nick Saban-coached ‘Bama defense.
I recall another Aggie jumpstarting his Heisman campaign against the Crimson Tide last season. Could it be déjà vu in 2013?
4. The SEC slate is terrible so drink cold beer
Seriously, the best SEC game this week features LSU and an overmatched Auburn team. That’s not cutting it.
Because of this, my suggestion to loyal 5-Yard Bomb readers is to pick up more than a few cold beers — yes,cold beer is finally a thing in Oxford! — and drink them all because the SEC slate this weekend is getting me down.
5. Paul’s Week 4 SEC Picks
After a perfect week 3 of SEC picks, I’m now 31-2 on the season. Someone buy me a cold beer please … or 50.
Oh yeah, here are my picks for week 4 in the SEC:
Alabama vs. Colorado State: Colorado State coach Jim McElwain, who coached the Alabama offense from 2008-11, trades his buddy Nick Saban a box of Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream pies to take it easy on the Rams. Taking it easy means Rammer Jammer 42-14 over CSU.
Arkansas vs. Rutgers: Rutgers is located in New Jersey, which is kind of like the Arkansas of the North — and that’s not a compliment. The Garden State won’t be kind to the Razorbacks as they pick up their first loss of the year, 31-24, to the Scarlett Knights.
Auburn vs. LSU: Grand Theft Auto V or Auburn game preparation? That’s been Les Miles’ quandary all week long. Nonetheless, the Tigers of Baton Rouge earn a 45-27 victory over the Tigers of Auburn.
Florida vs. Tennessee: The Gators’ offense needs the football equivalent of Viagra, whatever that may be. Still, Florida chomps down on their SEC East rival 28-17.
Georgia vs. North Texas: You know that scene in American History X — the one that’s really hard to watch? That’s what the Bulldogs are going to do to the Mean Green. The Fighting Mark Richts 56, North Texas 13.
Mississippi State vs. Troy: When the Bulldogs lose, Dan Mullen binge eats Funyuns — a Starkville delicacy. No empty calories for “Dan the Man” this week as Clanga-Clanga defeats the Trojans 38-28.
Missouri vs. Indiana: Missouri’s audition for membership in the Big Ten goes swimmingly as the Tigers earn a 34-21 win over the Hoosiers.
Texas A&M vs. SMU: The Aggies rebound from their tough loss to ‘Bama with a resounding 54-24 victory over the Mustangs. Afterwards, Johnny Manziel lectures the SMU athletic department on how to cheat and get away with it.
Vanderbilt vs. UMASS: Whatever you do, don’t watch this game. Commodores 63, Minutemen 5.
