Mississippi State vs. LSU Is the Shocker of the 2014 Season
From a gambling standpoint, Mississippi State's 34-29 upset of LSU Saturday night in Death Valley wasn't the most shocking upset of the season. After all, the Tigers were between a seven- and nine-point favorite when toe met leather, according to OddsShark.com.
The way Mississippi State won, however, made it the most shocking upset of the 2014 season.
There was no fluke, lucky bounce or reverse Death Valley voodoo working for the Bulldogs in this one—although LSU tried to make one happen late coming off the deck to make this game appear closer on the scoreboard than it was in real life.
Mississippi State lined up, punched LSU in the mouth and when it got back up, punched it again.
And again...and again.
Even when LSU's players show up at the complex tomorrow, they'll still be feeling the physical beatdown Dan Mullen's crew gave them in Baton Rouge.
The Bulldogs beat the Tigers up in the trenches like it was a directional Louisiana school, not an LSU program whose hallmark is physical, smashmouth football.
Running back Josh Robinson had 197 yards and a touchdown, and quarterback Dak Prescott added 105 yards and a touchdown on the ground in addition to his 268 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air. The 570 total yards gained by Mississippi State set a record that LSU head coach Les Miles has to be disappointed by.
It's an upset that shakes up the entire college football world.
LSU didn't look anything like a team that could compete in the rugged SEC West, while Mississippi State looked not only capable of impacting the outcome, but winning it itself.
Led by three-time defending SEC defensive lineman of the week Preston Smith, the Bulldogs roll nine or 10 players along their defensive line, including all-around freak Chris Jones.
The fresh bodies allow the Bulldogs to keep pressure on for a full four quarters, which was a big reason LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings was sacked three times and running for his life more times than not.
That wasn't a fluke, it was a statement. A statement that this isn't the same Mississippi State team that had a 2-22 record against top-25 teams under Dan Mullen. A statement that Mississippi State isn't afraid to go on the road and win playing its own brand of football.
That's scary.
Other upsets this year were impressive, like Virginia Tech's win on the road at Ohio State and Boston College running it down USC's throat. Neither of those resonated like this one will.
This is a perpetual doormat imposing its will on a traditional power on the road in the toughest division in college football.
Statement made.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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