Jackson Free Press

October is the time of year when college football begins to show who is contenders and who are pretenders. This Saturday the SEC West will begin to find out who are contenders and who are pretenders, in earnest.

Mississippi State and Mississippi will have the focus of most of the college football world. The Bulldogs and Rebels could be dark horses for the SEC West title and a spot in the new college football playoff.

Texas A&M and Alabama (who are this week's visitors) are already favorites for both the SEC title and the playoff. The Aggies and Crimson Tide will be expected to win by most but there is no reason not to believe in the Rebels or Bulldogs.

There has been a ton of speculation about both these games. Article after article has been written and I'm sure I haven't read them all by this point.

Let me say one thing. Football is simple.

Don't get caught up in all the long drawn out breakdowns of each position. Football games are rarely won by one single player.

Both these games are going to be won or lost by the team that can control the line of scrimmage on the offensive and defensive lines, who doesn't turn the ball over and gets turnovers and being sound in the kicking game. It is that simple.

IF the Bulldogs and Rebels can control the defensive line of the Aggies and Tide on offense to give Dak Prescott and Bo Wallace time to throw and the running backs a holes to run, offense won't be a problem.

IF Ole Miss and MSU can get penetration with their defensive line against the Texas A&M and Alabama offensive line, they can disrupt the running game and get pressure on quarterbacks Kenny Hill and Blake Simmons.

One more thing on defense, both the Rebels and Bulldogs must tackle well. There is no doubt that the Aggies and Tide are going to get yards and points but don't make things easy by missing tackles and giving them free easy yards.

As much busted coverage as I have seen already this season, Ole Miss and MSU better make sure they know what coverage they are in each play. I have seen the Aggies and Tide score a few easy touchdowns this season by blown coverage.

This is nothing revolutionary. It is just sound football. Block and tackle. Cover receivers.

Mississippi State and Ole Miss have the offensive and defensive lines to control the line of scrimmage. Anyone who watched the LSU game can't deny that MSU can be the more physical team. I have no doubts the Rebels can do the same.

No turnover is really ever good but some are worse than others.

Here are what the Bulldogs and Rebels need to avoid, turnover wise. Don't turn the ball over for guaranteed points (with Alabama's field goal kicking problems, that means from the 20 in).

That means don't fumble on your own five yard line or throw an interception at your own 25 yard line. If you have a turnover, do in enemy territory and make them have to work for points. No gimme points off turnovers. They are momentum killers.

Another momentum killer is turning the ball over when the Bulldogs or Rebels have a chance for points. That means fumbling at the goal line or throwing an interception in the end zone. Not only do you not get points but you give the other team a lot of momentum.

Mississippi State and Ole Miss can help their cause by forcing some turnovers themselves. Even better would be scoring points off those turnovers on defense. Just momentum changing turnovers can mean the difference between a win or a loss.

Being sound in the kicking game is simple. Make field goals. Don't get a punt blocked. Be smart about kickoff and punt returns. Most of all don't fumble on special teams.

In other words, don't do anything stupid on special teams.

I laugh when I hear the spotlight will be too bright on the Bulldogs and Rebels. Every SEC West game is a huge game and for Mississippi State and Ole Miss, they are huge games just because they don't win very many of them.

Only the fans should care that Gameday and SEC Nation are going to be in town. This is just another Alabama and Texas A&M game for the players.

The stakes are the same. Win and stay alive for a SEC West title. Lose and fall back into the pack.

Yes, this is a big game but it is just the biggest game until the next game. Mississippi State host Auburn next week, so if they win that game becomes the biggest game and so on and so on. Ole Miss travels to Texas A&M and that will be a big game.

Nothing has been won yet. They don't give out national championships or Heisman Trophies in September. They don't give them out in October or November.

It isn't until December that they Heisman Trophy is won. There is a long way to go and thinking that either of these game a any bigger than the rest are just for the fans and media.

The players and coaches known this is just one game of 12. It might mean the most right now but the winners this Saturday could go on to do nothing special and the losers could turnout to be the real winners.

Either way, I will be rooting for the Rebels and the Bulldogs. If they win, Mississippi wins because the more both teams win mean a brighter spotlight on what is right about our state.

My picks:

Bulldogs 38 Aggies 27

Rebels 24 Crimson Tide 21