Texas invites Mississippi State into DKR
this weekend, needing another win before the tough November slate. With the Bulldogs star QB Kamario Taylor out, this could be a rather comfortable win for Texas. For that to happen, there are four things Texas needs to do in my eyes. If they do these things, I expect a comfortable win for Texas and them moving into back-to-back road trips with the CFP still in their sights.Building Confidence Early
The Kamario Taylor injury has been as impactful as any in the country. Without him, the Bulldogs have struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. Because of that, a quick start for the Longhorns could lead to a dominating win. Getting Arch in rhythm like last week, allowing the OL/run game to lead the way and continue the defensive
masterclass without Colin Simmons. Despite the struggles holding an early lead, getting one this week could mean a stress-free second half.
Clean Football
If Texas can emerge from this game with no turnovers and under 50 penalty yards, they are off to the races. Mississippi State is 113th in the country in TO margin(-4), forcing just 6 turnovers(4 fumbles, 2 INTs) through seven games. That could open the door for a clean performance from Arch Manning and the offense. It’s difficult to expect that, considering the performances this season, but this is a chance to finally gain a genuine advantage in the TO margin,
Keep Evans and Co. In Front
Two things(among many) that Texas’ defense has been great at has been stopping the run and not giving up explosives. This is a game where they’ll have to do both but stopping explosives might end up being more important, especially if Texas gets an early lead. That means corralling Anthony Evans, Sanfrisco Magee and the rest of the speedsters Mississippi State has on the outside. If Texas forces the Bulldogs QB2 to march down the field consistently, I don’t expect much from their offense.
Trust The Run Game
Mississippi State’s is much better against the run(45th in the country) than the pass(129th). However, it seems Texas’ best chance at consistency offensively is leaning into the run game. With Brown coming off 23 carries and Smothers recovering from a shoulder injury, it could be a Terry/Cooper duo leading the way. Regardless, trusting the run game has paid off against Ohio State and Ole Miss. Being able to lean into it on Saturday would build confidence in a unit that needs it heading into a daunting November.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Keys to a Texas Win over Mississippi State: Clean football, run game
