Mississippi

The Six Pack: Texas A&M-Mississippi State, Oklahoma State-Baylor among best Week 5 college football picks

Published

2 years ago

September 29, 2022

The Six Pack: Texas A&M-Mississippi State, Oklahoma State-Baylor among best Week 5 college football picks

I had hoped that following a 5-1 efficiency in Week 3, The Course of had damaged by just a few weeks of mediocrity and was prepared to begin sprinting. It was not. As a substitute, issues went the wrong way. The Six Pack went 2-4 final week, narrowly avoiding a 1-5 consequence.

So I suppose it might’ve been worse?

Whereas the outcomes weren’t what I hoped for, I can at the very least take away just a few classes. Essentially the most outstanding one is that Maryland may genuinely be good this 12 months. Not win the Large Ten good — dropping to Michigan hurts these probabilities severely — however presumably the fourth- or fifth-best workforce within the convention. Possibly if we be taught at the very least one lesson like this each week, we’ll be capable to go 6-0 as soon as earlier than the tip of the season!

Possibly it will even occur this week. There’s just one method to discover out. Let’s get to the picks. All odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.

Video games of the Week

Featured Recreation | Ole Miss Rebels vs. Kentucky Wildcats

No. 7 Kentucky at No. 14 Ole Miss: I do not belief both of those groups very a lot. Kentucky is perhaps a top-10 workforce within the AP Ballot, however I concern for the game if it is one of many 10 greatest groups within the nation proper now. The Wildcats struggled to get by Northern Illinois final week, and it was not because of any fluke. It is an offense that struggles to maneuver the ball persistently and lacks explosive performs. That is not Ole Miss’ drawback; the Rebels rank tenth nationally in explosive play charge and have been significantly distinctive on the bottom. The issue is Ole Miss hasn’t performed anyone but. Its greatest win is both a 42-0 shutout over a Georgia Tech workforce that simply fired its coach, or final week’s eight-point win over Tulsa.

Neither evokes a lot confidence. Ultimately, I believe Ole Miss’ offense is nice, however inferior to it is seemed, and it’ll have a a lot harder time towards Kentucky. With the Rebels’ offense more likely to decelerate, mixed with little religion in Kentucky’s offense to do something particular, the underneath makes for an interesting play. Ole Miss 27, Kentucky 17 | Beneath 54

Featured Recreation | Baylor Bears vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 16 Baylor: Baylor is a tricky workforce to determine offensively. On a per-snap foundation, the workforce’s EPA ranks thirteenth nationally. That is nice! Its success charge of fifty.2% ranks fifteenth. That is additionally excellent! However that very same offense ranks a hundred and fifth in explosive play charge. What does it imply? Properly, it means the Bears are overly reliant on stacking profitable play after profitable play to maintain lengthy drives. Additionally, Baylor’s conversion charge of 39.1% is effectively above the nationwide common of 26.2%, and I don’t suggest counting on changing third-and-long. It hardly ever works for lengthy, significantly whenever you run into good defenses.

Oklahoma State’s protection has not been pretty much as good as final 12 months, however it’s nonetheless above common. A few of that is because of its schedule, however basically it is a sound unit. We noticed these groups play two shut video games towards one another final season, and I would not be stunned if this 12 months’s assembly appears to be like comparable. In that scenario, I will take the factors. Oklahoma State 31, Baylor 28 | Oklahoma State +2

Lock of the Week

Featured Recreation | Air Power Falcons vs. Navy Midshipmen

Navy at Air Power: We arrive at a long-standing custom … and one I concern will come to an finish quickly. Hopefully, simply not this weekend. For these new to The Six Pack, Service Academy Unders have lengthy been a staple of our weight-reduction plan. The idea is straightforward. Service academies run choice offenses. Which means they run the ball extra usually than each different workforce within the nation. Air Power is No. 1 within the nation with an 89.1% run charge, whereas Navy is third at 82.9%. Military is second. No different workforce runs the ball greater than 70% of the time (UMass is at 69.6%). When groups run the ball, the clock does not cease. When the clock does not cease, it limits general possessions. When there are fewer possessions in a sport, fewer factors are scored.

Additionally, whereas choice offense can provide the academies an edge towards different groups that are not used to it, that is not the case right here. These defenses face choice assaults each day in follow. Put these elements collectively and this is what you get: the underneath has gone 41-9-1 in video games between the service academies since 2005. The priority is books have caught on and begun decreasing totals for these video games in latest seasons. It hasn’t stopped the unders from cashing, however they’re going to crack the code ultimately. Till they do, we trip the wave. Air Power 20, Navy 13 | Beneath 37.5

Underdog of the Week

Featured Recreation | Kansas Jayhawks vs. Iowa State Cyclones

Iowa State at Kansas: Talking of driving waves, I have been on Kansas all season lengthy and I am not stopping now. The Jayhawks received and coated once more final week, enhancing to 4-0 on the season straight up and towards the unfold. They’ve coated by a mean of 17.5 factors per sport. Nonetheless, regardless that it ought to be apparent to all people by now that this workforce is lots higher than anticipated, it is a residence canine this weekend towards an Iowa State workforce that sits exterior the highest 50 nationally in each offensive and defensive success charge.

The Cyclones have been the Large 12’s plucky underdog over the previous couple of seasons, however regardless of their 3-0 begin and win over Iowa, they don’t seem to be the identical workforce this 12 months. Kansas has taken over their position within the Large 12, and I imagine Kansas to be the higher workforce on this sport. Not markedly higher, however the Jayhawks’ offense would be the greatest unit on the sphere. That makes it laborious to move up the Jayhawks catching factors. Kansas 31, Iowa State 30 | Kansas +3

Friday Evening Fade of the Week

Featured Recreation | Boise State Broncos vs. San Diego State Aztecs

San Diego State at Boise State: Boise State is a prepare wreck, however the market hasn’t figured it out but. Final week, the Broncos misplaced to UTEP 27-10. The efficiency was so lackluster it led to the firing of the workforce’s offensive coordinator, Tim Plough. The choice to fireplace Plough brought about the workforce’s beginning QB, Hank Bachmeier, to enter the switch portal.

It isn’t an important signal when your beginning QB is peacing out after the primary month of the season! Contemplating how poor Boise has seemed and that its lone wins have come towards New Mexico and UT Martin, this is not a workforce that ought to be favored by a landing towards anyone proper now. Not even at residence. No, the blue turf doesn’t present the identical benefit it used to; Boise is barely 6-4 at residence because the 2020 season and 4-6 ATS. San Diego State 23, Boise State 20 | San Diego State +6.5

Upset of the Week

Featured Recreation | Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Texas A&M Aggies

No. 17 Texas A&M at Mississippi State: I’ve not been an avid supporter of Texas A&M this season, and I imagine my issues concerning the Aggies have been justified. It isn’t simply the loss to Appalachian State; it is the offense general. Even in wins, the Aggies have been dreadful with the ball, and so they rank 106th nationally in level per drive, 107th in success charge and 88th in EPA per snap.

But right here I’m, taking them as my upset choose! Whereas Mississippi State’s offensive numbers have been robust, they’re severely missing within the explosive play division. That may very well be an issue towards this Texas A&M protection. Additionally, when you have a look at the Bulldogs’ résumé, the perfect win is over Memphis. In opposition to LSU, the Bulldogs struggled to maneuver the ball, and I can see that scenario repeating right here. Texas A&M wins this sport usually sufficient to make this a worthy guess. Texas A&M 27, Mississippi State 21 | Texas A&M (+148)

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Which faculty soccer picks are you able to make with confidence in Week 5, and which top-10 favourite will go down laborious? Go to SportsLine to see which groups will win and canopy the unfold — all from a confirmed pc mannequin that has returned greater than $3,100 in revenue over the previous six-plus seasons — and discover out.

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Mississippi

Mississippi High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – September 2

Published

6 hours ago

September 3, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi High School Football Rankings: Top 25 Teams – September 2

The Mississippi high school football rankings saw some drastic changes after an opening week which saw multiple ranked matchups in the Magnolia State.

Brandon, Madison Central and Louisville each won top-10 games while Oak Grove, West Jones, Clinton and Germantown also picked up ranked wins.

Below is the updated Mississippi On3 Massey Ratings top 25, as of Sept. 2.

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

CLICK HERE to watch high school games on NFHS Network now!

Previous Ranking: No. 4 (+3)
Madison Central opened the season in style with a 27-20 top-10 win over Ocean Springs. Ocean Springs shut out Madison Central for nearly the entire first half — until Madison Central running back Glen Singleton rattled off four consecutive rushing touchdowns. The Jaguars are on the road again Friday in the Mississippi game of the week as they travel to face No. 2 Brandon.

Previous Ranking: No. 3 (+1)
Brandon featured in another Mississippi top-10 game in week one, thrashing then-No. 7 Picayune Memorial 60-34. Star junior defensive back Preston Ashley recorded a 45-yard scoop-and-score touchdown, Logan Drummond returned a punt 61 yards to the house and Trey McQueen returned an interception 38 yards for a score in a night filled with unconventional scoring for the Bulldogs. Brandon will host No. 1 Madison Central on Friday.

Previous Ranking: No. 2 (-1)
Starkville took down Noxubee County 43-22 in week one. Tyson Knox picked off Mississippi State commit KaMario Taylor on Starkville’s own 1-yard line to keep the Yellowjackets’ 14-point lead in the second half. Two plays later, quarterback Jaylen Ruffin hit Jaheim Deanes for a 97-yard touchdown. Starkville now gets to look forward to hosting No. 20 West Point this week.

Previous Ranking: No. 1 (-3)
Oak Grove fell in the rankings this week simply by virtue of other teams’ impressive performances — as the Warriors won their game over No. 15 Grenada 38-24. Oak Grove quarterback Kellon Hall was 19-of-27 passing for 306 yards with a touchdown. Next up is No. 11 Ocean Springs at home.

Previous Ranking: No. 5
Tupelo escaped upset-minded Whitehaven last week with a 26-19 opening win. Quarterback Noah Gillon and running back J.J. Hill each accounted for two touchdowns as the Golden Wave came away with an ugly win in ugly conditions following a 90-minute weather delay. Tupelo will play Southaven on the road next.

Previous Ranking: No. 9 (+3)
Yet another top-10 matchup on opening night in Mississippi. Louisville took down then-No. 10 West Point 15-14 in a nailbiter. Louisville scored the only points of the second half — a 21-yard field goal to put the Wildcats on top. Louisville will hit the road again this week at Neshoba Central.

Previous Ranking: No. 8 (+1)
West Jones knocked Laurel out of the Mississippi top 25 with a dominant 34-6 win on Friday. Senior running back Elijah Jones was unstoppable on the ground with 226 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries. West Jones will play Northeast Jones on the road this Friday.

Previous Ranking: No. 21 (+13)
Clinton pulled off the upset in week one with a 26-20 win over then-No. 11 Warren Central in the ‘Red Carpet Bowl’. Jakobe Williams rushed for two touchdowns while the Clinton special teams and defense scored on a blocked punt and recovered three fumbles. A road game against Northwest Rankin is on deck.

Previous Ranking: No. 16 (+7)
Oxford owned one of the few week one blowouts on this list, beating Lafayette 45-0 in the ‘Crosstown Classic.’ All six of the Chargers’ touchdowns came on the ground. Oxford will play No. 22 South Panola at home this Friday.

Previous Ranking: No. 12 (+2)
Madison-Ridgeland moved to 3-0 on the season after a 50-6 win over Oak Forest Academy that was never in question. Pulaski Academy — The No. 9 team in Arkansas — is on deck for the Patriots.

11. Ocean Springs (-5)
12. Gulfport (+2)
13. Pearl (+4)
14. Germantown (+10)
15. Hartfield Academy (+3)

16. Grenada (-1)
17. Picayune Memorial (-10)
18. Hattiesburg (NR)
19. Jackson Prep (+3)
20. West Point (-10)

21. D’Iberville (NR)
22. South Panola (-9)
23. Poplarville (NR)
24. Warren Central (-13)
25. Gautier (NR)

Dropped from rankings: Northwest Rankin, Meridian, Columbia, Laurel

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Mississippi

MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

Published

14 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

MPCA testing the entirety of the Mississippi River within Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. —It winds 650 miles, rushing past the cities, industries and landscapes that make up Minnesota.

However, the Mississippi River has never gotten this type of attention from water quality professionals.

For the first time ever, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is testing the entirety of the river, from Itasca to Iowa, in a single year.

The governor’s office wants the river to be swimmable and fishable, but right now, parts of the river are polluted.

The MPCA says the upper Mississippi is largely healthy up north, but quality drops south of St. Cloud where metro development and tributaries from agriculture muddy the waters. The National Park Service says stretches of the river exceed water quality standards for things like mercury, bacteria and sediment.

Think of the testing like a checkup for one of our state’s most valuable and powerful resources. Researchers will check temperature, transparency and levels of pollutants like phosphorus, nitrogen and ammonia.

Crews also check fish for those contaminants and collect insects to test in a lab to identify any concerning trends.

“If we find the fish community is suffering — maybe the water is too warm and maybe there’s a thermal pollution source upstream or maybe it’s too much runoff — that sort of stuff. Temperature is an important indicator especially for sensitive species,” Isaac Martin with the MPCA said.

Also for the first time, the agency is looking for PFAS contamination with money from an Environmental Protection Agency grant to identify and stop the forever chemicals from streaming into the Mississippi.

PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals for industry and consumer products that don’t break down in the environment. While research is ongoing, the EPA says exposure to the chemicals can cause human health issues. It’s why the federal agency just lowered the amount allowed in drinking water.

“They go to parts per trillion, which is incredibly sensitive. You get that low, you’re talking drops in an Olympic swimming pool,” Martin said. “Part of the reason why it was chosen is because it’s a primary drinking source or potentially could be a primary drinking source. We’re just finding them in places we never expected to find them. We’re finding them almost everywhere and being that it is new, there’s just a lot of ‘I don’t know’ that goes with it.”

It’s too early to know what this complete snapshot will reveal, but we know this powerful river is part of our community, economy and health.

“Maybe you don’t use the resource yourself, but maybe you know someone who does or future generations of your own will,” Martin said. “In Minnesota, we’re just trying to be the best stewards we can be.”

The data from this testing will be available early next year. Researchers will use that data and compare it to 10-year pollution averages to determine which parts of the river are improved or impaired.

A full report will be released in 2026.

Erin Hassanzadeh

Erin is back home in the Twin Cities after stops in South Korea and Omaha. The Jefferson High School grad (Go Jags!) is excited to get back to storytelling in the community that raised her.

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Mississippi

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Published

21 hours ago

September 2, 2024

Press Room

Who should be SBLive’s Mississippi high school player of the week? (Aug. 25-31)

Here are the candidates for SBLive’s Mississippi high school Athlete of the Week for August25-31. Read through the nominees and cast your vote. The poll will close Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email Tyler@scorebooklive.com. For questions/issues with he poll, email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.

Editor’s note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

Kohl Bradley, DB, George County: Racked up 17 tackles and returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 33-7 win over East Central.

DaJuan Colbert, DB, Natchez: Recorded 15 tackles, forced one fumble and returned another one 75 yards for a touchdown in a 58-50 win over Hancock.

Garrison Davis, QB, Holmes County Central: Completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 375 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-6 win over Vicksburg.

Xzavion Gainwell, DB, Yazoo County: Recorded nine tackles, an interception and an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 20-16 win over South Delta.

Elijah Jones, RB, West Jones: Had 24 carries 226 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Laurel.

Kingi McNair, WR, Pearl: Caught four passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Neshoba Central.

Ashton Nichols, DB, Clinton: Recorded six tackles to go with two big pass breakups, a blocked punt and a return for a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Warren Central.

Ethan Prater, RB, Pisgah: Rushed for 132 yards on 27 carries with three scores and caught a 60-yard touchdown pass in a 33-32 win over North Forrest.

Glen Singleton, RB, Madison Central: Rushed for 174 yards on 18 carries with all four touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Ocean Springs.

Damarius Yates, RB, Kemper County: Rushed for 193 yards on 17 carries and returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in a 38-15 win over Kosciusko.

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