Thursday, September 22, 2016

Thursday before Mississippi State--September 22, 2016

Today's the autumn equinox at 14.21 UT. It's autumn in New England. My favorite time of year.

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Mississippi State features a power running attack. In three games the Bulldogs have nearly doubled opponents rushing yards 585 to 305. Mississippi State has averaged 5.3 yards a carry. That's against two SEC opponents (LSU and South Carolina).

Their leading gainer is huge QB Nick Fitzgerald (6-5 230) He totaled 32-240 6.8 AVE 74 LONG 73.0 yards/game.

Next is RB Brandon Halloway (5-8 165) 31-111 3.6 AVE 1 TD 22 LONG 37.0 yards/game

The third leading rusher is QB Damian Williams (6-1 229) 15-88 5.9 AVE 1 TD 23 LONG 44.0 yards/game

RB Ashton Shumpet (6-2 218) is fourth with 14-76 5.9 AVE 11 LONG 25.3 yards/game.

Saturday should be a busy day for the Minutemen linebackers. They'll have to contend with the Bulldog running backs and keep contain on Fitzgerald who should be a load to tackle since he's bigger than any of the UMass LB's.

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Matty Vautour has a podcast about the win over FIU and speaks with a Tennessee Titans writer about Tajae Sharpe's success in the NFL.

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Adam Aucoin of the UMass Daily Collegian reports UMass is looking for an upset against Mississippi State.

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Mike Train of "Fight Massachusetts" has five questions for Paul Jones of Bulldogs 247.

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FIU coach knows "FIU should have beaten UMass".

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Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen is pleased with the way the UMass schedule turned out.

The Bulldogs defense is using different personnel to improve their third down performance.

Maroon & White nation power ranks the SEC going into Week #4.

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BC coach Steve Addazio says UMass was "pretty athletic".

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