We started in Tupelo this morning, and after talking with Jack Cristil, we finally arrived at our first SEC campus in this 14 week SEC Road Trip. By sheer accident, Emily and I stopped at the campus Barnes & Noble to check out State memorabilia and unwind, and ended up at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is fitting for the folks in Starkville. It's a new beginning, a new venture for MSU, and that's what this Bulldog football team hopes to achieve tomorrow night. In front of a national TV audience, Mississippi State and South Carolina will open the college football season, both hoping that this game will be the spark for a memorable season and a strong start in conference play.

As for the game? I expect a low-scoring, close game, as both teams strengths and weaknesses will play against each other. South Carolina's potent offensive attack will matchup against a strong MSU defensive unit, while MSU's offense, described by Sylvester Croom as a "work in progress", will take on a Carolina defense that returned just one starter from last year, and will feature a bevy of newcomers.

So who will win? I won't take a side here, but I'll say this. The key to the game, in my opinion, will be field position. With two teams that are very similar, the team who starts their drives in better field position will come out the winner. Expect special teams, as well as turnovers, to play a huge role in this game.

It all begins tomorrow here in Starkville,..we're ready to go, and I hope everyone reading this is ready for football as well.