GAME NOTES: SEC foes will collide this weekend in Starkville, as the Mississippi State Bulldogs welcome the 25th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers to town. Heading into this season, many fans and analysts said that Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer needed to have a great season to keep his job. When the team started 1-2 with double-digit losses to Cal and Florida, Fulmer came under fire. Fortunately, the fire has cooled a bit because of two straight victories, including a 35-14 romp over Georgia last weekend. The good news for Mississippi State is that the team is 4-2 and just two wins away from becoming bowl eligible. As for the not so great news, the club is 1-2 in SEC play. Last weekend, the Bulldogs posted a 30-13 decision over UAB, and they do have a triumph over Auburn on their resume'. Tennessee leads the all-time series with Mississippi State by a 26-15-1 margin, including four straight victories over the Bulldogs.

The idea that Tennessee could score five offensive touchdowns against Georgia without a single scoring pass from Erik Ainge would have seemed crazy prior to the start of last weekend's game. That was the case, however, as Arian Foster scored three rushing touchdowns. The lone touchdown pass came on a gadget play, as receiver Lucas Taylor tossed a 56-yard strike to LaMarcus Coker. Tennessee posted 21 first downs and 411 total yards on the day, impressive to say the least. Most importantly, the Vols did not commit a single turnover. Averaging 34.6 ppg and 416.6 total ypg, Tennessee has certainly been productive offensively. Ainge has been one of the SEC's best quarterbacks as expected, as he has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 1,295 yards and 10 touchdowns against only two interceptions. Taylor has been the team's top receiver, as he has made 30 grabs for 432 yards and two touchdowns. As for the ground attack, Foster has rushed for 395 yards and six touchdowns.

Give the Tennessee defensive unit a ton of credit for its strong play against Georgia last weekend. The Vols surrendered just two second-half touchdowns after blanking the 'Dawgs in the first half. Tennessee permitted only 69 rushing yards on 25 carries, an average of fewer than three yards per attempt. As for the pass defense, it held Georgia to less than 50 percent completions. Opponents are scoring 32.8 ppg against Tennessee this season, and that figure reflects the fact that the Vols gave up 59 points to Florida and 45 points to Cal. Yielding 4.8 yards per rushing attempt and 13.4 yards per pass completion, there is obviously room to improve against both means of attack. Jerod Mayo leads the team with 36 total tackles, and Rico McCoy is close behind with 33 stops.

Mississippi State is averaging 23.2 ppg and 295.2 total ypg, numbers that aren't going to scare many opponents. Of the 14 offensive touchdowns that the squad as managed, 11 have been rushing scores. Still, the fact that the Bulldogs are averaging fewer than four yards per rushing attempt suggests that there is room for improvement in that area. The passing game has been poor, as MSU quarterbacks have been intercepted 11 times while throwing just three touchdown passes. Whether it has been Michael Henig, Wesley Carroll or Josh Riddell under center, the Bulldogs have failed to keep defenses honest, and there is no reason to expect a major turnaround this weekend. Tony Burks is a dangerous big-play receiver, but he isn't getting the touches necessary to make a difference. Anthony Dixon has been the top offensive performer for MSU, as the talented tailback has rushed for 586 yards and nine touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns came last weekend against UAB, as Dixon racked up 152 yards. Henig threw two interceptions, as Carroll was the more effective of the two quarterbacks who saw action.

Opponents are scoring 23.7 ppg against Mississippi State, which is permitting 322.8 total ypg. The Bulldogs have been fairly solid against both the run and the pass, as opponents have typically had to work hard for the yards they have gained. There are several players who have made an impact for the MSU defense. Jamar Chaney leads the unit with 42 total tackles, and Titus Brown has recorded six sacks, more than half of the team's totals. Mississippi State held UAB to 71 rushing yards last weekend and permitted the Blazers to complete less than 50 percent of their passes. Most importantly, only 13 points were surrendered.

Mississippi State remains one of the worst teams in the SEC despite the solid record. Expect the Vols to walk out of Starkville with a victory this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Tennessee 27, Mississippi State 17