Starkville, MS (Sports Network) - Craig Steltz came up with three of LSU's six interceptions of Michael Henig, as the second-ranked Tigers opened their season with a resounding 45-0 victory over Mississippi State.

Matt Flynn, in his first regular season start after serving as the backup the last three years playing in the shadow of JaMarcus Russell, completed 12-of-19 passes for 128 yards and a pair of scores for LSU (1-0, 1-0 SEC), which beat the Bulldogs for an eighth consecutive time.

LSU's No. 2 preseason ranking is its highest since 1959, and with a return of 15 starters, the Tigers immediately showed off their experience and dominance. One of those players not returning is Russell, who was the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick this year, but is still a contract holdout with the Oakland Raiders.

However, Flynn stood out, also scrambling for 42 yards, and Early Doucet caught nine passes for 78 yards and a TD.

"I really feel that Matt Flynn, in his first start, managed the game well and put us in good position by making good throws, and moving with his feet," LSU coach Les Miles said. "He was certainly a key to our effort."

The Tigers, coming off an 11-2 season and a win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, got a pair of touchdown runs from Keiland Williams.

The Bulldogs (0-1, 0-1), who ended with a 3-9 record, including 1-7 against SEC opposition last season, were held to 10 yards rushing and 146 total.

Henig, whose sophomore season was reduced to shambles by a pair of broken collarbones, connected on 11-of-28 passes for 120 yards.

"It was just one of those nights," Henig said. "I had good protection and I know it, but it was just one of those nights. I really do not know what else to say. I just have to go back, watch the film and come back to practice and get better."

Henig's six interceptions tied Max Stainbrook's individual school record (vs. Cincinnati, 1949). It also ties the modern game team record (vs. Cincinnati, 1949 and vs. Arkansas, 2003).

Danny McCray picked off Henig, and that led to Colt David's 27-yard field goal with 6:28 left in the opening quarter.

Henig then engineered the Bulldogs inside the LSU 40, but on a 4th-and-2 play and with the rain pouring down, Henig fumbled the snap and fell on the ball behind the line of scrimmage.

The mistakes continued for Henig in the second quarter, as Jonathan Zenon came up with an interception, giving the Tigers the ball at the MSU 38. Flynn converted a 3rd-and-11 play with a 14-yard connection to Doucet. The Bulldogs forced the Tigers into a 3rd-and-9, but another gaffe, this time a pass interference call on Jasper O'Quinn in the end zone, gave LSU another opportunity.

The Tigers capitalized on the mistake, as Williams pounded up the middle from a yard out to the end zone for a 10-0 lead with 5:52 left until halftime.

Mississippi State even tried a flea-flicker, but Steltz picked off Henig in the end zone on a long pass. Henig's fourth pick came courtesy of Curtis Taylor, and his 22-yard return to the MSU 41 put the Tigers in good shape.

"It was a lot of luck," Steltz said. "You have to be in the right place at the right time. There's a lot of experience in our secondary and coach put us in the right spot."

That led to the back-breaking one-yard TD run by Williams on the final play of the half. Doucet caught a 18-yard pass on 3rd-and-9 to move the ball to the 22, and two more Flynn connections inched the Tigers to the three. Williams was stopped, but LSU called timeout with four seconds left and decided to try for the end zone, and Williams pounded his way up the middle.

It was another rough first half for the Bulldogs against the Tigers, as LSU led 35-3 at halftime last year, on the way to a 48-17 victory.

"I think there was a period that we had to become comfortable, but it was messy out there," Flynn said. "It might not have looked like it but it was messy out there. It was wet out there. Everybody was soaked, the ball was soaked."

LSU continued its dominance on the opening drive of the second half, with Flynn hitting Doucet in the right side of the end zone from 11 yards out. The score came with 2:07 expired and shortly after Brandon LaFell delivered a devastating block on Flynn's 21-yard scramble.

It became 31-0 on Flynn's 11-yard TD pass to Charles Scott later in the third, and Ryan Perrilloux ran three yards to the end zone midway through the fourth. Perrilloux hit LaFell with a 15-yard scoring toss later in the fourth.