Ellington

• Sign in to favorite this
• Discuss Comment, Blog about
• Share this Email, Facebook, Twitter

Four year schools had a great week with everybody getting a win but Southern Miss and Mississippi College. To read a full recap pick up a copy of this week's Jackson Free Press or http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/oct/17/solid-weekend-four-year-schools/">follow this link.

There was a ton of teams that got consideration for the big winner of last week. A few schools that got some big winner pub, Millsaps bounced back after their first loss, Belhaven broke more school records, Delta State got their first home win of the season.

Major contenders for the big winner were all three SWAC schools which all got a win last week. Jackson State, Alcorn State and Mississippi Valley State all stayed in the SWAC East race with big conference wins.

Mississippi State got bowl eligible but in two weeks they will get a chance to prove they are the biggest winner of the season. This week's big winner has to go to Ole Miss.

The Rebels are 4-3 and in the hunt for a bowl game in year one under Huge Freeze. Ole Miss could be 5-2 if they didn't have a fourth quarter meltdown against Texas A&M two weeks ago.

Ole Miss rolled a bad Auburn team last week and are beating teams they are supposed to beat this year. There is a chance to get to six wins this season but the Rebels have to avoid slip ups. More on this below.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

This is a tricky week for the Bulldogs, who face Middle Tennessee. Mississippi State is coming off a big win against Tennessee last week and face Alabama next week.

MSU can't afford to over look a pretty good Blue Raiders team. Middle Tennessee is 4-2 and went into Atlanta and housed Georgia Tech already this season.

There was a shaky start for the Blue Raiders as the lost their season opener against McNeese State 27-21 but then a three game winning streak. Middle Tennessee saw their three game losing streak broken by Louisiana-Monroe and their is no shame losing to a Warhawks team that beat Arkansas and should have beaten Auburn.

I expect Middle Tennessee to try to use the same game plan they used against the Yellow Jackets. The Blue Raiders were very physical in that game and ran the ball down Georgia Tech's throat.

It would be crazy to expect the Blue Raiders to test a very solid MSU secondary. The best chance to win this game for Middle Tennessee is to run the ball and be as physical as possible against the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State can use a good physical test like this before traveling to face Alabama the next week. The fear for MSU coaches and fans has to be that the Bulldogs will over look the Blue Raiders and start thinking about a showdown against the Crimson Tide next week.

This is going to be a close game for three quarters but I think Mississippi State takes over in the fourth quarter and stays undefeated. MSU players, coaches and fans better not sleep on the Blue Raiders or they will end up like Georgia Tech did at home.

MSU 31 Middle Tennessee 21

Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels finally reach their bye week and get a chance to get healthy and focus on a five game sprint to get to six wins. Ole Miss will get a chance right out of the gate against Arkansas on the road, in a game in which the loser stays home during the bowl season.

Next up for Ole Miss will be a very tough Georgia team on the road for the second straight week. The Rebels then get a home game against a Vanderbilt team that might need a win to reach bowl eligibility like in the Arkansas game.

Ole Miss finishes the season at LSU and at home against Mississippi State. The margin for error is near zero for the Rebels unless they can upset a team along the way to make up for a bad showing against a weaker team.

Off this week

Southern Miss Golden Eagles

This Saturday is homecoming at USM but at 0-6, I'm not sure there is much to come home for this season. The Golden Eagles must go 6-0 in the second half of their schedule to avoid a losing season for the first time in 19 seasons.

Southern Miss will get a good chance to get win one against a bad Marshall team. The Thundering Herd has wins over Rice and Western Carolina this season and that is it.

If USM doesn't win this game I am calling it right here, the Golden Eagles go 0-12 on the season. There is still hope to turn this season around because the second half of the USM schedule is one of the weakest in the nation.

This is the last time I go with USM this season if they lose this game but I think homecoming goes right for the Golden Eagles.

USM 24 Marshall 17

Jackson State Tigers & Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils

I am combining these two teams because they face each other this week. The Tigers and the Delta Devils SWAC East hopes ride on this game.

Whoever losses on Saturday will have three conference losses and will need everyone in front of them to collapse for the rest of October and November.

Mississippi Valley State has two wins so far this season and a win over Jackson State will fire up a fan base that hasn't had a lot to cheer about in recent years. The Tigers hopes of playing in the SWAC championship game would all but certainly be dead with a loss.

JSU 31 MVSU 24

Alcorn State Braves

The Braves can reach .500 if they can beat Prairie View on the road. The Panthers are 1-5 and won their first game against a terrible Grambling State team last week.

Alcorn State should win this game and get to 4-4 on the season and stay in the SWAC East race. ASU is the better team but winning on the road is hard for any team.

ASU 28 Prairie View 14

Delta State Statesmen

The Statesmen won their first home game of the season last week and now hit the road to face a very good Valdosta State team. Delta State has been in a close game seemingly each week but a win this game could propel them to good season.

At 3-3, DSU really needs to get things back on track against 5-2 Valdosta State. The Okra will have to play much better to win this game but the question is can they when they haven't really shown that ability all season?

Valdosta State 34 DSU 31

Millsaps Majors

The Majors have been great this season and are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. This week the road warrior of Millsaps face Rhodes.

Millsaps faces the 4-2 Lynx who are looking for their first conference win. I have to go with the Majors because they are undefeated when their defense comes up with big plays to take the pressure off of their offense.

Millsaps 35 Rhodes 21

Mississippi College Choctaws

The 1-5 Choctaws could really use a win this week against Texas Lutheran. Mississippi College will have to get that second win on the road and MC really has been good anywhere this season.

Texas Lutheran is 3-3 on the season and should get over .500 after this game. Mississippi College will win the programs 475th game if they pull out a victory on Saturday.

Texas Lutheran 28 MC 24

Belhaven Blazers

Belhaven can get to .500 with a win over Lindsey Wilson this weekend. The 3-4 Blazers will have a good chance to get to 4-4 win against the 2-5 Blue Raiders after starting the season 0-3.

Lindsey Wilson is on a three game losing streak but the Blazers have won just one game away from home this season. Belhaven hasn't won two games in a row this season.

Belhaven 27 Lindsey Wilson 14

Holmes Community College & Hinds Community College

This game features a surprise team in Holmes Community College and a letdown team in Hinds Community College. Both teams could really use a win gain momentum to finish this season strong.

The 3-4 Bulldogs host the 3-4 Eagles. Holmes has been has been a bit of an overachiever this season while Hinds must feel this season has been a big disappointment.

Hinds 21 Holmes 20