Mississippi State feels confident about its ability to beat Southern Mississippi for a second straight season.

That’s not surprising. After all, the Bulldogs crushed the Golden Eagles 49-0 in 2014.

But this matchup has an added degree of difficulty.

Southern Miss gets to host a Southeastern Conference opponent for the first time since 1989 when the Bulldogs come to town on Saturday. Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott â__ who enters the season as one of the leading Heisman Trophy candidates â__ expects a rowdy atmosphere that must be respected and neutralized quickly.

“Being the leader, being on the road in an in-state rivalry, we have to go and start off fast and slow the crowd down, quiet them a little bit and then make sure that we have the momentum to control the game from beginning to end,” Prescott said.

Prescott will play his senior season behind an offensive line with three new starters, including left tackle Rufus Warren. The Bulldogs do have an experienced receiving corps led by junior De’Runnya Wilson.

Southern Miss enters the game a three-touchdown underdog after a 4-32 record over the past three seasons. Third-year coach Todd Monken led the Golden Eagles to a 3-9 record last season after a 1-11 mark in 2013.

Not surprisingly, Monken is concerned with stopping Prescott.

“What he does is he doesn’t make mistakes, he is accurate and he can beat you with his feet or his arm,” Monken said.

by DAVID BRANDT, AP Sports Writer