Mississippi State feels confident about its ability to beat Southern Mississippi for a second straight season.
That's not surprising. After all, the Bulldogs crushed the Golden Eagles 49-0 in 2014.
But this matchup has an added degree of difficulty.
Southern Miss gets to host a Southeastern Conference opponent for the first time since 1989 when the Bulldogs come to town on Saturday. Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott - who enters the season as one of the leading Heisman Trophy candidates - expects a rowdy atmosphere that must be respected and neutralized quickly.