First Quarter Live Blog: LSU at Mississippi State

LSU @ Miss. St. | 1st Qtr | 2nd Qtr | 3rd Qtr | 4th Qtr

Rejoice! Well, sort of. The SEC nuts will enjoy this matchup, the rest of us will have to squint at Mississippi State and hope there's maaaaaybe a bowl team in that roster. Whatever, at least college football's back and we're here to merrily observe. Today is our Christmas and no matter the gifts we're darn well going to enjoy it.

Fear not, CSI ("Loco Motives") and The Office ("Women's Appreciation") fanatics: tonight's episodes are re-runs and you can catch up on Season III of The Office on the soon-to-be released DVD (September 4th). So stick with college football as it's OPENING NIGHT. You gotta be here with us, just set your recorder.

Vitals, storylines and pregame notes below. LIVE BLOG commences at 8 Eastern (after the jump). Bring on the cowbells!

Vitals
- (No. 2 AP) LSU at (Unranked) Mississippi State (8 Eastern) ESPN

- LSU is favored by ~ 20 points

- Announcers: Chris Fowler, Doug Flutie, Craig James and Erin "Poopsie" Andrews

- Harmon Forecast: LSU 32, Mississippi State 11

- Phil Steele Facts LSU: LSU has won 7 straight, 14 of L/15 vs MSU, outscoring them 250-43 in the last 6. MSU gained 153 of their 226 total yds in 2H LY vs LSU's 2nd & 3rd string defense.

- Phil Steele Facts Mississippi State: Mississippi State is just 1-14 vs LSU since 1992. The average score of the last 6 games has been LSU 42-7. The Bulldogs have lost 7 straight SEC openers.

Pregame Notes (continuously updated)

ESPN has reshuffled its Thursday night crew, shelving Herbstreit and adding Flutie and James ... Tonight's nationally televised undercard is Tulsa at Louisiana-Monroe (ESPN2) ... notable teams playing tonight: Rutgers (vs. Buffalo), Louisville (vs. Murray State), Boise State (vs. Weber State) and Oregon State (vs. Utah) ... LSU won this game last year 48-17 ... Mississippi State rushed for just 14 yards while LSU quarterbacks completed 19 of 23 passes for 338 yards ... I think LSU coaches are still shocked that Joe McKnight isn't part of this Tiger team as they walk into the stadium ... ESPN's calling this "Thirsty Thursday" ... Definitely an SEC game as it's LOUD already in pregame ... First Erin Andrews sighting ... Ok kickoff, continued after the jump!8:05 - Good to see Mississippi State quarterback Michael Henig hasn't gotten any better. Two awful throws in his first two relatively easy attempts. Ahhh, SEC football.

8:07 - Thumbs down on the celebrity roster intros, although Miss Mississippi 2006 has one of those saucy Southern drawls that makes a Yankee (now living in the South) like me wilt. Third and eight for LSU and Les Miles already looks offended. They converted, though.

8:11 - Great last name on the Mississippi State defense: Hannibal. Lots of shotgun and zone read runs for LSU so far.

8:18 - Gift interception. Mississippi State's offense is Godawful ...

8:21 - I wonder if there's something more to the rhyme link to these two names: Jacob Hester/Brad Muster. Anyone remember Brad Muster? He was another fullback/tailback hybrid who was a solid runner in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints among other squads.

8:26 - 27-yard field goal LSU. Oh look, another guy from Texas named Colt (David). LSU 3, Mississippi State 0 (6:27 left). The Bulldogs have to be happy that LSU didn't get a touchdown there.

8:29 - It only took until 6:00 left in the first quarter for Mississippi State to trot out its tailback. Nice work guys.

8:31 - You know the MSU coaches will be in the film room tomorrow doing high five's after finding a way to cross midfield in the first quarter.

8:36 - More mishaps. 4th and two and the Bulldogs fumble the snap, ESPN's blaming the rain. Why in the world does ESPN make this team its featured host for college football's debut game two seasons in a row? This makes me miss the old kickoff classics even more.

8:43 - End of the first quarter. Check back with us in the Second Quarter Live Blog.