Welcome to the JFP Sports Blog. I’m your host, Dr. S. Let’s get things started with … the Jackie Sherrill Watch. How much longer will the Prince of Darkness reign in StarkVegas? One sports writer (for a newspaper outside of Jackson) said, “I don’t think it’s going to end well for Jackie.” He points out that even if State wins eight or nine games (a most unlikely event), Sherrill still might get fired if the NCAA brings the hammer down on State. “When there’s that much smoke, you figure there has to be some fire,” the scribe says.
Mississippi State at LSU, Saturday, 11:30 a.m., Baton Rouge, La. (TV: Jefferson Pilot, WJTV-12). LSU (2-1 overall, 0-0 in the SEC) has been unimpressive this season. Mississippi State (1-2, 0-1) has been mostly awful. The offensive line can’t block, the running backs can’t run and the defense can’t stop anybody. Other than that, the Bulldogs are perfect. LSU has owned the Dogs in recent years; they won’t give up their title on Saturday … LSU 31, MSU 14
Southern Miss at Army, Saturday, noon, West Point, N.Y. Despite getting roughed up against Alabama last week, the Golden Eagles (3-1 overall, 1-0 Conference USA) figure to pad their stats against a terrible Army team (0-3, 0-1). An Army of One won’t be enough to stop Derrick Nix. … USM 42, Army 7
Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State, Saturday, 4 p.m., Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. If new Valley coach Willie Totten had a quarterback as good as Totten was when he was a Delta Devil, Valley (1-2 overall, 0-0 SWAC) might have a chance. This rivalry is nasty for a series that’s so one-sided; Jackson State leads 42-5-2 and has won seven in a row. The Tigers (2-2, 1-0) will score 100 points if they get the chance. … JSU 70, Valley 21
If you’re staying in town, there’s plenty of other college football to go see on Saturday. Sul Ross State plays at Mississippi College at 1:30 p.m. in Clinton, Pearl River CC visits Hinds at 1:30 p.m. in Raymond, and South Alabama calls on Millsaps at 6 p.m. Downtown at Alumni Field. Elsewhere, Belhaven plays Lambuth at 1:30 p.m. in Jackson, Tenn., Alabama State visits Alcorn State in a SWAC showdown in Lorman at 6 p.m., and winless Delta State plays host to GSC rival West Alabama at 7 p.m. in Cleveland.
