Mizzou vs. Mississippi State Q&A with M&W Nation's Andrew Miller
By Zach Sweet
Mizzou (7-3) is set to play at Mississippi State (2-8) on Saturday in its final road game of the regular season.
A team that has struggled all season, it will be interesting to see if Mizzou comes out strong against an inferior opponent. Nothing has come easy for the Tigers this season and will be interesting to see where they're at coming off a brutal loss to South Carolina.
The last time these two teams met was on Dec. 19, 2020, when the Bulldogs defeated the Tigers 51-32.
With it being four years since these teams last squared off, I spoke with Andrew Miller, site editor of Maroon and White Nation, a FanSided site covering all things Mississippi State, to gain more insight into this year's Bulldogs squad.
Q: Theres been a lot of hype around Van Buren this season. What can be expected for the game tomorrow and do you think he’ll stay with Mississippi State this offseason?
A: Van Buren is a really good player. He’s a great fit for what Jeff Lebby wants to do on offense, and he’s ahead of the curve for most freshmen. You’ll almost certainly see some shots down field and plenty of instances where he’ll extend plays with his legs. And I do expect him to return. State has been pretty good about keeping the players they’ve wanted to in the portal era (their departures last offseason weren’t NIL related). Van Buren is Lebby’s guy, and that relationship is huge.
Q: The Bulldogs have had a disappointing season, with just two non-conference wins. What’s the mood like around the team and how optimistic are you for the future?
A: I think there’s a lot of “we’ll see” from the fanbase. Lebby’s offense has shown enough flashes to have confidence that with more development (and a better OL) they can be really good there. It’s the defense that has most people worried. The talent there is bad, and the coaching staff on that side is not one fans have any faith in, especially because there hasn’t been the desperately-needed recruiting momentum to suggest improvements are on the way. And if Lebby doesn’t make changes to his defensive staff, many are going to have doubts about his ability to lead the program.
Q: How do the Bulldogs secure a win on Saturday, and who are two players you expect to step up?
A: They need a complete game from the offense. State has shown flashes and has at times been competitive offensively even against good defenses. But in terms of consistently scoring over the course of 4 quarters, that hasn’t happened all year. And they can’t afford lapses with their defense being so porous. As for the defense, force multiple turnovers. They’re going to give up a lot of yards and points. Can you make a couple big plays to set up your offense? On offense, WR Kevin Coleman is the name to know. He’s the best player on that side and has emerged as arguably the best SEC WR fans haven’t heard about. He’s consistent working over the middle and can take quick passes to the house. Defensively, safety Isaac Smith is the lone true bright spot. He’s a great box safety who can lay the lumber.
Q: What’s your final score prediction and why?
I’ve got Missouri 38-27. I expect Lebby to have a good game plan off the bye, so State’s offense will have its moments. But I think Missouri’s pass rush will hurt them too much to have a complete game. And I simply don’t trust the defense to slow down anyone.