“Gotta come out with a lot of juice and a lot of energy,” is the advice Assistant Coach Geoff Collins gave to Mississippi State University’s football team, who is set to compete against the LSU Tigers this Saturday.
The MSU Bulldogs are preparing for a big matchup with an LSU team that boasts some pretty hefty players.
“They have a big offensive line; 6’6 320 or 330 and a tight end that’s a big kid. I think he’s 290 or 295, big and physical,” Collins said.
Anthony Jennings, LSU’s sophomore quarterback from Marietta, Georgia, is a playmaker and a perceived challenge for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs accept competition as leaders often do. The Bulldogs lead the SEC with 29 tackles for loss and will enter the match, like LSU, with an undefeated record of 3-0.
MSU Head Coach Dan Mullen said he feels the team is in a great position heading into the game.
“We are 3-0 and in a great position heading into conference play, which is really going to change things up,” Mullen said.
“Lethal” may be the best word to describe the LSU Tigers, with the team only giving up 234 total yards per game so far this season.
“The team brings so many weapons to the table. They are giving up 200 yards total per game. I know that is No. 1 in the SEC and probably in the country,” Mullen said.
After a few games against lesser competition, the MSU Bulldogs have  tunnel vision  in place for their matchup against LSU this week.
Mullen said he is confident that no game played before this one will affect the mindset of the Bulldogs as they enter the football arena.
“Every game that has ever been played there has no impact on this game. Every game we have every played there has no impact on this game,” Mullen said.
Starting line backer Beniquez Brown said he anticipates LSU running the ball hard. He is confident with all the time put in at practice, the Bulldogs will see a victory.
“We are putting in preparation to come in making tackles and gain tackles,” he said.
The Bulldogs’ calling  card has been stopping the run in past games against all three opponents this season, and  they anticipate doing the same Saturday.
“That’s what we pride on stopping the run. Everyday Coach Collins talks about stopping the run,” Brown said.
The Bulldogs understand that the SEC is built on power running. If the Bulldogs want to win on the road, it will begin with stopping the run.
“To beat one of the top defenses in the nation you have to stop the run. In the game we plan on going out there in their backyard and stopping the run,” Brown said.  
Jay Hughes said he knows that conference play requires a different kind of resilience.
“This is conference play. Coach has been emphasizing all week that our level of play has to increase this week, so we’ve just been working towards that,” Hughes said.
Saturday night’s kickoff from Baton Rouge is set for 6 p.m.