LSU vs Mississippi State: Why Tigers Will Knock Bulldogs from Rankings

The Mississippi State Bulldogs cannot wait to finish playing Tigers. The first three games of their 2011 season—Memphis, Auburn, LSU—all came against teams nicknamed "Tigers," the best of which arrives in Starkville tonight.

Following a heartbreaking, last-second loss to the defending champion Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Mississippi State is set to play their third game in 15 days.

No team in the country has had to deal with the schedule the Bulldogs are going through and it is going to show.

This is the first game in Davis Wade Stadium this season, but home field advantage means little to Les Miles' LSU squad.

The Tigers enter this game with arguably the best defense in the country. 

Their problems at quarterback aside, the Bayou Bengals have a ridiculous amount of talent all over the field and have already begun their chase for a national championship with a win over Oregon in the season opener. 

The Bulldogs come into this game averaging over 300 yards rushing per game, but their two games came against defenses that cannot hold a candle to the Tigers' front.

LSU limited Oregon to only 95 yards on the ground in Week 1 and blanked Northwestern State for -4 yards in Week 2. In all, the Tigers do not give up yards on the ground.

The Mississippi State defense will have trouble with LSU's ground game, and they have to be careful with how they handle Jarrett Lee. He may not blow up the stat sheet, can he can hurt the Bulldogs' secondary if they over-commit to the run game.

It is unfortunate that the Bulldogs have to play such a tough opening slate of games because they are actually a good team.

LSU is that much better though.

A second loss in consecutive weeks will knock the Bulldogs out of the rankings, but it won't be for long.

Expect to see Mississippi State back in the rankings within a few weeks as they continue their tough SEC schedule.