Predicting the 2013 SEC Football Season: Mississippi State Bulldogs

The seventh in a series leading up to fall camps brings us to StarkVegas:

Mississippi State Bulldogs 8-5 (4-4) in 2012

Synopsis: Do you remember how fired up MSU fans were last year after making it to 7-0? The slogan was "We Believe!" The hysteria made a few cowbell fans a little cocky and overconfident making them do some very misguided and disrespectful things. And then Alabama sent them crashing back down to earth.
I don't mean to sound crass or condescending but does anyone even think about this team? They are kind of forgettable. Is this MSU's lot in life? 7 to 9 wins a year and a bowl game? Dan Mullen is starting his 5th year in Starkville with two collective wins against Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, and LSU. Bama has outscored them 123-27 in that time. Add in a little NCAA trouble and I have to ask: Are the Bulldogs fans okay with this? Is beating Ole Miss the only criteria?
Key Losses: CB Darius Slay, CB Johnthan Banks, DE Josh Boyd, CB Corey Broomfield, WR Chad Bumphis, LB Cameron Lawrence, incoming QB Cord Sandberg (MLB draft), LB Chris Hughes (dismissed for hitting girls).
Key Returners: OL Gabe Jackson, LB Benardrick McKinney, RB LaDarius Perkins, QB Tyler Russell, DE Denico Autry.
Newcomers: 5-star DE Chris Jones, WR Fred Ross, S Justin Cox, ATH Ashton Shumpert, DB coach Deshea Townsend.

The Schedule:
8/31/13 Oklahoma State (Houston, TX - Reliant Stadium) - I don't know what to think of the Cowpokes. Some seem to think they will win the Big 12 but I am skeptical. Still, it's probably enough in this neutral site opener - Loss
9/7/13 Alcorn State (Starkville, MS) - Win
9/14/13 Auburn (Auburn, AL) - I am not so confident in MSU's ability to win on the road but they squeak this one out - Win
9/21/13 Troy (Starkville, MS) - Win
9/28/13 bye
10/5/13 LSU (Starkville, MS) - Loss
10/12/13 Bowling Green (HC) (Starkville, MS) - They better not fall asleep on the Falcons - Win
10/19/13 bye
10/24/13 Kentucky (Starkville, MS) - We Believe! - Win
11/2/13 South Carolina (Columbia, SC) - The first of a tough three game stretch - Loss
11/9/13 Texas A&M (College Station, TX) - Loss
11/16/13 Alabama (Starkville, MS) - Loss
11/23/13 Arkansas (Little Rock, AR) - Arkansas is still in rebuilding mode. Playing away from Fayetteville might actually hurt the Hogs - Win
11/28/13 Ole Miss (Starkville, MS) - will this game be Mullen's undoing? - Loss

Let's go Bowling! Just barely.