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Mississippi St-LSU preview capsule

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

MISSISSIPPI STATE (3-0) at No. 8 LSU (3-0), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Line: LSU by 9 1/2.

Series Record: LSU leads 71-33-3.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The game marks the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. The winner will remain not only undefeated, but get an early jump on the race to win the ultra-competitive SEC West. The Tigers would remain firmly in the Top 10 with a win, while an upset would likely vault the Bulldogs into the Top 25.

KEY MATCHUP

Dynamic Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott vs. LSU’s suffocating defense. A dual-threat QB, Prescott is averaging 323 yards from scrimmage — 232 passing and 91 rushing. He has passed for nine TDs, run for two and even caught a TD pass. LSU has shut out two straight opponents and is allowing just 205.7 total yards, 94.3 yards passing and 8.3 points per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi State: RB Josh Robinson is the Bulldogs’ leading rusher, averaging 96 yards per game. He has scored three TDs. DL Preston Smith, who is 6-foot-4, 277 pounds, has two sacks, two interceptions and a blocked kick in MSU’s first three games.

LSU: WR Travin Dural has caught 12 passes for 370 yards and four TDs, averaging an SEC-high 30.8 yards per catch.

FACTS & FIGURES

LSU has won 14 straight over Mississippi State and 21 of the last 22 against the Bulldogs. … Mississippi State’s last win over LSU came in 1999 in Starkville by a score of 17-16. Its last win in Tiger Stadium came in 1991, 28-19. … MSU has piled up more than 500 yards of total offense in each of its last four games, starting with the 2013 Liberty Bowl. That represents the longest streak of 500-yard games in school history. .. Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen, now in his sixth season with the Bulldogs, is seeking his 40th victory. His 39 victories rank third all-time at MSU. … LSU’s defense has gone 31 straight possessions without allowing a point. The streak spans nearly 10 quarters, beginning with Wisconsin’s second possession of the second half in the season-opener. … True freshmen have accounted for seven of LSU’s 15 TDs so far. … Now in his 10th season at LSU, coach Les Miles is seeking his 99th victory with the Tigers.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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