KEY BULLDOG
De’Runnya Wilson, WR
While quarterback Dak Prescott and tailback Josh Robinson continue their assault on Southeastern Conference opponents by establishing a punishing ground game, one weakness in the Arkansas defense could be the key to another Bulldog emerging as MSU’s most important offensive weapon when the two teams meet Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium. After a subpar showing in a 45-31 win at Kentucky – two catches for 31 yards – MSU sophomore wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson returns home to find a favorable matchup against the Razorbacks. One of the SEC’s top producers on third down and in red zone situations, Wilson leads MSU in receptions (20), receiving yards (349) and receiving touchdowns (six). Against the Razorbacks, Wilson will be matched up with a secondary that has been average this season, ranking eighth in the league in passing yards allowed. Worse for Arkansas, though, is the fact that the Razorback defensive backs rank 12th in the SEC with just five interceptions, and the Arkansas defense has allowed a touchdown on 69 percent of opponents’ opportunities within the red zone, good for 12th in the league. That could be bad news against Wilson, MSU’s matchup nightmare at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds.
WHAT MUST IMPROVE
It’s not easy to find an obvious area of improvement for MSU’s offense. Through seven games, the Bulldogs lead the Southeastern Conference and rank No. 9 nationally by putting up 531 yards per game of total offense, and the Bulldogs score 42.3 points per game, good for second in the SEC. But MSU’s offensive line did show vulnerability against a fast, physical Kentucky pass rush, as the Bulldogs allowed Prescott to be sacked three times. Further, MSU’s offensive line, though allowing an SEC-low 27 tackles-for-loss, have allowed 15 sacks, which ranks as the fifth-highest total in the league. Further shoring up pass blocking will be key to a Buldogs’ offense that must keep Prescott healthy heading down the stretch, particularly against an Arkansas defense that boasts pass-rushing specialist Trey Flowers. On the season, Flowers has 39 tackles and two sacks.
STAT TO WATCH
Pass/run ratio — Prescott, still the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, showed a bit of wear-and-tear during MSU’s 14-point win at Kentucky. Though he finished with 304 total yards and three touchdowns, achieving both milestones for the seventh straight game to start the season, that total ranks as Prescott’s lowest of the season, and his 88-yard rushing output was his lowest since the season opener against Southern Miss. Robinson, meanwhile, got stronger as the game at Kentucky wore on, as the junior tailback rushed for 156 of his 198 yards in the second half against the Wildcats. But his 23 carries, a season-high, marked just the second time in seven games the 5-foot-9, 210-pounder carried the ball more than 20 times. As the season gets deeper and the mileage on Prescott adds up, Robinson could become a viable safety valve to save Prescott’s legs.
SURPRISE PLAYER
Gabe Myles, WR
While this wouldn’t be a huge surprise due to the increased role Myles has seen this season in the wake of an injury to slot receiver Jameon Lewis, it became apparent in the win at Kentucky that Myles isn’t going anywhere when Lewis fully returns from a leg injury that cost the senior two games. Against Kentucky, Myles caught three more passes and ran the ball twice for 13 yards. He has become an increasingly reliable target in MSU’s passing game, as the Bulldogs turned to Myles for bubble screens early and Prescott threw in his direction twice in the redzone in the second half. With Lewis still hobbled but expected to play, the potential for a breakout game for Myles persists because his opportunities are coming more frequently with each passing week.
STRENGTHS VS. WEAKNESSES
The strengths are many for MSU’s offense. On the other side, the Arkansas defense has been one of the SEC’s most improved units this season. But though better from a 2013 unit that allowed the most points in the SEC, the Arkansas defense has risen just to the middle-of-the-pack in the SEC, ranking eighth in the league in total defense, eighth in rushing defense and ninth is passing yards allowed. The Bulldogs’ offense, among the nation’s most balanced, should be able to have success on the ground and through the air.
— Brandon Walker
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