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No. 8 LSU looks to extend dominance over MSU

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has sought to drive home to his players that LSU’s past dominance of the Bulldogs shouldn’t mean a thing this Saturday night in Death Valley.

LSU coach Les Miles has been delivering much the same message to the eighth-ranked Tigers (3-0), warning them that they’ll have to “earn the victory” over the unbeaten Bulldogs (3-0).

The Tigers have been listed as more than one-touchdown favorites, but they seem more comfortable taking their cues from Miles than from odds makers.

“This is probably the best Mississippi State that I’ve seen,” LSU senior offensive tackle La’el Collins said. “They have a great quarterback that’s mobile, that can do a lot of different things. I think that defense is going to come out really strong.”

LSU has won its past 14 games against Mississippi State and 21 of the past 22. The Bulldogs’ last victory in the series came in 1999 in Starkville, not in LSU’s Tiger Stadium, which is expected to be louder than ever thanks to the addition of new end zone seating that has increased capacity to more than 102,000.

“That is the loudest stadium in the conference,” Bulldogs running back Nick Griffin said. “It’s crazy and their fans are crazy and full of energy. You just have to be prepared and tune all of that out.”

Much like Mullen wants the Bulldogs to tune out talk of their unflattering record against LSU during the past couple decades.

“Every game we have ever played there has no impact on this game,” Mullen said.

Led by dynamic quarterback Dak Prescott, Mississippi State hasn’t had any close calls in its first three outings, outscoring opponents 131-37 combined.

LSU had a rough first 33 minutes of its season, falling behind Wisconsin 24-7. Since then, however, LSU has outscored its opponents 108-0, starting with 21 consecutive points in a second-half comeback over the Badgers.

Now the stakes rise as both teams open Southeastern Conference play.

“If we win this game we are going to be where we want to be in the SEC race,” Mullen said. “It is always important to win your first game in conference play because that really gives you a big jump start.”

The road to the top of the SEC West looks daunting. LSU is one of five teams in the division ranked in the top 10 in the nation. Mississippi State is unranked, but Miles insists the Bulldogs should be in the Top 25 as well. Certainly, that should be the case if they improve to 4-0 by beating LSU.

Here are some things to know about Mississippi State’s latest incursion into Death Valley:

LIGHTS OUT: The LSU defense has shut out two straight opponents, not allowing a point in nearly 10 quarters. The shutouts are a source of pride, even if they’ve come against seemingly overmatched opponents in Sam Houston State and Louisiana-Monroe. “We don’t downplay it,” LSU safety Rickey Jefferson said. “We definitely notice what we did and know that it’s a hard thing to do.”

RUNNING WILD: Mississippi State’s offensive strength is the run game, which has averaged 260.3 yards over the first three games. Josh Robinson leads the team with 288 yards on the ground with three touchdowns, but Prescott isn’t far behind with 273 yards and two touchdowns. He’s averaging nearly seven yards per carry. “We still haven’t shown all of our offense yet,” Mullen said.

PASSING FANCY: While LSU’s offensive play-calling consists predominantly of runs, the Tigers have been explosive through the air, thanks in large part to quarterback Anthony Jennings’ chemistry with receiver Travin Dural. The pair have connected 12 times for 370 yards — an average of 30.8 yards — including touchdowns of 94 and 80 yards.

STELLAR SMITH: MSU defensive end Preston Smith has been a big-play machine for the Bulldogs lately. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound senior has grabbed two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and has consistently been disruptive in the backfield during wins against Southern Mississippi, UAB and South Alabama. He’s the first player in SEC history to win the league’s defensive lineman of the week three weeks in a row.

FRESH FACES: LSU has played 17 true freshmen, and they’ve accounted for seven of LSU’s 15 touchdowns scored. Running back Darrel Williams leads all LSU freshmen with three TDs, followed by fellow running back Leonard Fournette with two.

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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