A win is a win no matter if the margin of victory is 60 or six.
When bowl season comes around in December, the committee will not look at point differential to decide which teams go to which games. All that will matter are the digits in the wins and losses columns, thankfully for Mississippi State.
The Dogs defeated Troy last Saturday but not in impressive fashion. The 30-24 victory may not look good on paper, but what does look good is State’s 3-0 start. This is the first time the Dogs have started 3-0 since 1999.                  
It can be easy to worry about your team after a game expected to be a blowout ends up  coming down to the wire like Saturday’s game.
However, in my mind, State is perfectly fine. The team is right where it needs to be at this point in the season. Stats like these, courtesy of the great MSU media relations staff, put me at ease.
With Chad Bumphis’ six catches for a career-high 180 yards and LaDarius Perkins’ career-high 180 yards rushing, it was the first time ever MSU had a receiver with over 175 yards and a running back over 175 yards in the same game.
Bumphis also tied the school record with three touchdowns in the game and increased his career touchdowns to 17, tying the school record in that category, as well. Perkins is currently second in the SEC in rushing.
Junior quarterback Tyler Russell is one of two quarterbacks in the U.S. with an efficiency rating of at least 160, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. Heisman Trophy favorite Geno Smith of West Virginia joins Russell in this category. Russell for Heisman? Well, I guess I shouldn’t get too greedy.
The offensive line, which was a concern coming into the season, has made State the only SEC school to allow one sack or less through the first three weeks of the season. Russell is able to take his time and find his receivers because he has not had to worry about escaping much pressure.
As for the Bulldog defense, giving up 24 points to Troy is not desirable, but let’s face it: MSU has one of, if not the best, defense in the SEC. I would be willing to put them up against the conference’s best.
Johnthan Banks, Corey Broomfield, Darius Slay and Nickoe Whitley are a suffocating secondary. With his four interceptions on the year, Slay is tied for the lead in the Football Bowl Subdivision in interceptions. As a team, State leads the SEC with seven interceptions.
Cameron Lawrence and the rest of the linebackers have been all over the field, and the defensive line has answered many pre-season questions and been stout so far.
In addition, the 43 points allowed by State’s defense through the first three games is the lowest total since head coach Dan Mullen arrived in Starkville.
State is also tied with Alabama and Kansas for the nation’s lead with a +11 turnover margin.
And if that is not enough, Devon Bell made his first field goal as a Bulldog last week. Can I get an “Amen?”
Think back to the Auburn game. State did not even play its best that game but still beat the Tigers 28-10. Granted, Auburn’s talent is not quite where it has been the past few years, but it’s still Auburn.
To beat a team like Auburn by that score without even playing your best is a scary thought. It’s scary because it shows just how good State could be this year if the guys start to play up to their potential.
I know these are all statistics, and it has only been three weeks. But look around the SEC West. Arkansas is struggling, to put it lightly. Auburn is just, well, pretty bad. Ole Miss does not even deserve to have this sentence written. Texas A&M is good but beatable as Florida showed. That leaves LSU, Alabama and MSU.
I would say that is a pretty solid group to be in. Obviously, State still has a lot to prove, but Mullen is slowly but surely showing why he is such a sought-after and highly-thought-of coach. He is building the Bulldog football program to become a contender in the SEC. If he keeps this up, Atlanta won’t be just a dream for Dogs much longer. The SEC Championship will be within grasp for State.