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Louisville Football: 5 bold predictions vs. Mississippi State in Taxslayer Bowl

By Shelbie Warr

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Lamar Jackson of Louisville speaks at the press conference for the 2017 Heisman Trophy Presentation on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Lamar Jackson of Louisville speaks at the press conference for the 2017 Heisman Trophy Presentation on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 11: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide tries to elude the tackle of Mark McLaurin #41 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs after a reception during the second half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 11: Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide tries to elude the tackle of Mark McLaurin #41 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs after a reception during the second half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /

4. Bulldogs defense will be much more important than before

The Mississippi State Bulldog defense has been strong this season to say the least. Let us not forget when they held LSU and Derrius Guice to 3 points early this season. They allow an average of over 80 yards less than Louisville does per game total, doing better in both passing and rushing yards allowed than the Cardinals as well.

The short of it is that without Nick Fitzgerald eating up clock and killing it offensively, the Bulldog defense has to step it up against the likes of Lamar Jackson. They will be charged with shutting down Jackson both through the air and on the ground. He has the experience in terms of the quarterback position over freshman quarterback Keytaon Thompson who will be starting for the Bulldogs.

While the Bulldogs have more to their offense than just what Nick Fitzgerald brought to the table, if the defense cannot get Lamar Jackson and company off the field their offense won’t matter a bit. At this point, everything is an audition for the new head coach. Season statistics no longer mean anything. It is all about who does what on Saturday afternoon.

My bold prediction? Mississippi State hangs in early, but fatigue and lack of offensive leaders bring them down by the time the clock hits zero.

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