• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

UAB-Mississippi St. Preview

Oct 19, 2010 - 2:36 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

UAB (2-4) at No. 24 Mississippi State (5-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Behind one of the nation's stingiest defenses and a prolific rushing attack, Mississippi State is ranked for the first time since 2001 and on its longest win streak in 11 years.

The No. 24 Bulldogs will try to maintain that ranking with their fifth consecutive victory Saturday night against visiting UAB.

After finishing with losing records in eight of the previous nine seasons, Mississippi State (5-2) has started to change its fortunes in coach Dan Mullen's second year.

The Bulldogs have already matched the win total from Mullen's inaugural campaign, and their next victory would make them bowl eligible for the first time since going 8-5 in 2007 under former coach Sylvester Croom.

With a win over UAB, they would finish 4-0 outside of SEC play for the first time in 20 years and have their first perfect non-conference record since 2000.

"A lot of these kids that are playing, when we recruited them, they believed in something to come to school here," Mullen said. "We had a vision of what we could make this program in the future."

Fueling that turnaround is a defense that ranks 13th in FBS in allowing 16.0 points per game and stifled then-No. 22 Florida last Saturday in a 10-7 road win.

The Bulldogs forced multiple turnovers for the fifth time, including an interception that led to their lone touchdown. They also surpassed 200 yards on the ground for the third consecutive game.

Mississippi State has rushed for 851 yards in its three games this month, with junior Vick Ballard gaining 351 and scoring six of his 12 touchdowns. Ballard, whose 72 points have him tied for the SEC lead, has helped the Bulldogs to their longest win streak since an 8-0 start in 1999.

Even with last week's upset win, Mullen would like to see an improved effort from his team this week. Mississippi State might not need that to top the Blazers (2-4) but will face a pair of Top 25 foes - Alabama and Arkansas - in its final four games.

The Bulldogs also host Kentucky, which upset No. 10 South Carolina last week, and travel to Mississippi for their annual Egg Bowl matchup.

"We need to be a much better football team," Mullen said. "There's no secret about it. We didn't cross the finish line with a win over Florida. But maybe this was the second jolt of energy to keep us going."

While UAB enters Davis Wade Stadium as a sub-.500 team, the Blazers took Tennessee to double overtime before falling 32-29 on Sept. 25 and are coming off a 21-6 win over UTEP.

Bryan Ellis passed for three touchdowns - two to Frantrell Forrest - in the final 18 minutes to rally his team.

In a 34-33 win against Troy on Sept. 18, Ellis replaced David Isabelle as starting quarterback and connected with Jackie Williams on a 44-yard touchdown as time expired. In his four starts, the junior has thrown for 1,154 yards, eight TDs and five interceptions - none in last week's victory.

"This is really what I've been working up to," Ellis said. "I was hurt for most of (the three previous) years, but I always used to tell my dad that eventually I will get my shot, and when that time comes I have to play well enough to where they can't take me off the field. I think for the most part I've done that."

Mississippi State took a 2-1 lead in the series with a 30-13 home victory in 2007. The Blazers earned their lone win in the inaugural matchup Oct. 9, 2004, in Starkville and fell in overtime at home to the Bulldogs in 2006.