Starkville

[themistocles]

Mississippi State rarely fields a quality team, whether in football or basketball, but I simply cannot count the number of times over the past 50 years that a favored Gator team has gone to Starkville, only to come away with a loss that simply shouldn't have occurred.

This year's team has 14 more possibilities for an upset loss (at least right now, while the Gators are looking like the Best SEC team), but this is the one that "feels" dangerous to me, despite the apparent weakness of the Bulldog team.

It shouldn't happen, but more bizarre things have happened, like Miami's utter demolition of Duke.

[tommyuf21]

In years past, Mississippi State had a few more experienced and talented players. Dee Bost, Vanardo and the tub of Sidney were all good enough to beat us in years past.

I watched some of the Miss St/Arky game the other night and I see nothing there that should worry us.

[Gatuar]

We won't go undefeated in SEC play....otay?

[tommyuf21]

We'll lose a couple, but I would be highly shocked if one of those was on Saturday.

[GatorsGators]

I'd be surprised if we didn't win this one by 20. Mississippi State has had talent in the past; this season they don't.

[GatorLurker]

Originally Posted by Gatuar

We won't go undefeated in SEC play....otay?

Maybe yes, maybe no.

I think it is close to a coin flip right now unless we continue to have injury after injury.

Added in edit mode: I have an old friend that is now on the MSU faculty. He was a pretty good player back in the day (Illinois State). Perhaps I need to send him an email tonight.

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Mississippi State rarely fields a quality team, whether in football or basketball, but I simply cannot count the number of times over the past 50 years that a favored Gator team has gone to Starkville, only to come away with a loss that simply shouldn't have occurred.

This year's team has 14 more possibilities for an upset loss (at least right now, while the Gators are looking like the Best SEC team), but this is the one that "feels" dangerous to me, despite the apparent weakness of the Bulldog team.

It shouldn't happen, but more bizarre things have happened, like Miami's utter demolition of Duke.

Hmm, MSU almost always field a quality team. Certainly the do most year in basketball and frequently they have in football.

Additionally, in football UF's record against MSU is 33-19-2. So UF football is hardly losing everytime up there. With about half the games being in Mississippi, UF has certainly won their some. My memory when UF played MSU every year in the 1970s and 1990s, UF won most of the time often in a close game at the half where UF wore them down in the second half. UF has lost some in recent years, but it is not a huge upset when a Ron Zook coached team loses up there.

In basketball, MSU historically been even better than in football, but they have only won 4 of the last 6 games against UF there. This year MSU is not very good. MSU can certainly win, but it would be a huge upset.

So I share your concern for this game, but I do not remember the history quite the same.

[rserina]

We hadn't fared so well in Athens lately, either, but worked through that fine. I am far worried about trips to Columbia, Knoxville, and Delivera...er, Lexington than Starkville.

[GatorLurker]

Athens, GA and Columbia, SC are closer the river in the movie than Lexington. Clemson is REALLY close.

But, yeah, trips to Mizzou and UK worry me more but I worry about all of them

[rserina]

Originally Posted by GatorLurker

Athens, GA and Columbia, SC are closer the river in the movie than Lexington. Clemson is REALLY close.

Sure, but don't tell me you hear dueling banjos more often in Athens and Columbia than Lexington.

[GatorRade]

Originally Posted by Gatuar

We won't go undefeated in SEC play....otay?

Definitely not conceding this at this point.

[fox]

You can't get there from here.

[GatorJeff]

Originally Posted by fox

You can't get there from here.

Starkville isn't the end of the world, but you can see it from there.

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by InstiGATOR1

Hmm, MSU almost always field a quality team. Certainly the do most year in basketball and frequently they have in football.

Additionally, in football UF's record against MSU is 33-19-2. So UF football is hardly losing everytime up there.

In basketball, MSU historically been even better than in football, but they have only won 4 of the last 6 games against UF there. This year MSU is not very good. MSU can certainly win, but it would be a huge upset.

So I share your concern for this game, but I do not remember the history quite the same.

Well, yes, Insti, every SEC school tends to field quality teams both in football and basketball, but I very rarely recall Miss St being in the Upper half of the Conference Standings in either sport. Sometimes, but it is not typical.

Now, a football record of 33-19 is 36.5% losses, and very few of those occurred in Gainesville, and further, at least since the Ray Graves era, the Gators should have usually be a favorite, if not a rather large favorite. So, I think that statistic supports my argument that the Gators don't do well in Starkville.

Regarding Basketball, losing 4 of the past 6 goes back 12 years, so, the 2000 team was in there, the 2005-2006, the two most recent elite 8 teams, plus the down years of 7-9, and the Walsh, Lee, Roberson years, which fielded pretty good teams. To lose 4 of 6 in Starkville when you are almost always highly favored once again supports my contention.

I also think this year's Miss St team is very weak, however, they did beat Georgia in Athens 72-61 (compare with UF's recent 17 point victory, and they also edged South Carolina in Starkville. Not highly impressive, but it does show that they are not a complete loss.

So, yes, I am 85-90% sure that the Gators "SHOULD" win by some 15-25 points, but this has been such a "BAD" place historically that it might possibly be a loss.

What would really be funny is if the Gators end up going 17-1 in the SEC, with the one loss in Starkville (funny for Bulldog fans, horrible for Gator fans and the NCAA selection committee).

[ETGator1]

With our high level of experience, I don't see us taking any game for granted or not trying to play our best. That'll be the difference tonight in a Gator road win.

[gatordavisl]

This one seems like the dangerous one because it's the next one.

[JohnC1908]

I went to Starkeville for the Zook debacle. What an awful horrendous place. I could see why anyone would meltdown right when stepping off the plane. I told God that afternoon...win or lose just let me go home and I promise to never show up again. Promise kept.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by GatorJeff

Starkville isn't the end of the world, but you can see it from there.

It is the circle of hell Dante referred to as the coccyx.

[oneatatime]

Originally Posted by gatordavisl

This one seems like the dangerous one because it's the next one.

oneatatime

[InstiGATOR1]

Originally Posted by themistocles

Regarding Basketball, losing 4 of the past 6 goes back 12 years, so, the 2000 team was in there, the 2005-2006, the two most recent elite 8 teams, plus the down years of 7-9, and the Walsh, Lee, Roberson years, which fielded pretty good teams. To lose 4 of 6 in Starkville when you are almost always highly favored once again supports my contention.

Well SIDs take intervals that make their program look best. By my count, UF is 4-4 in Starkville during the Donovan era. Generally UF has lost when MSU had an NCAA team and UF has won when they did not.

It is hard to win on the road and these games have been very very close. Maybe this one is today and MSU pulls it out late. I just do not see that they have done any better against UF at their place than other SEC programs of their level like SoCar or LSU.