Craig Steltz had three of LSU's six interceptions of Mississippi State quarterback Michael Henig and the second-ranked Tigers manhandled the Bulldogs again in a 45-0 victory Thursday night in Starkville, Miss.
LSU's new starting quarterback Matt Flynn and new offensive coordinator Gary Crowton struggled to find a rhythm early, but they received plenty of help from Henig, who tied a school record by throwing six picks.
It was LSU's eighth straight win overall and eighth straight in the series with the Bulldogs. Since Mississippi State's last win in 1999, LSU has outscored the Bulldogs 340-81, including three shutouts by 42 or more points.
Mississippi State has lost 12 straight games to top 10 opponents and 11 of its last 13 home games.
LSU's Steltz, Curtis Taylor, Jonathan Zenon and Danny McCray had interceptions in the first half and Steltz added two more in the second half. The Tigers needed the help as a stout Bulldogs defense held them scoreless on every drive but one that wasn't set up by a turnover.
Henig also fumbled the snap on a fourth-and-1 attempt after he led the team on a nine-play drive in the first quarter that put the Bulldogs at the Tigers 36. It was one of only two serious forays into LSU territory.
Henig tied the school record for interceptions in a game that had stood since 1949 before giving way to freshman Wesley Carroll midway through the fourth quarter. It was Henig's fifth multiple-interception game in 10 career starts and the most picks he's thrown since giving away three passes against Alabama on Nov. 5, 2005, as a freshman.
While Henig struggled, Flynn gained confidence as the game progressed. After completing 3 of 7 passes for 23 yards in the first quarter, JaMarcus Russell's replacement zeroed in on Early Doucet. The fifth-year senior finished with 128 yards on 12 of 19 passing with two touchdowns and no turnovers in his second career start. That included an 11-yard touchdown to Doucet, who had nine catches for 78 yards.
No. 10 LOUISVILLE 73, MURRAY ST. 10: At Louisville, Ky., Brian Brohm threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns and the 10th-ranked Cardinals sparkled in coach Steve Kragthorpe's debut. Brohm led Louisville (1-0) to touchdowns on each of the Cardinals' first eight drives, guiding an attack that looked awfully similar to the wide-open system that former coach Bobby Petrino used to lead the Cardinals to national prominence. Louisville rolled up 655 yards of total offense, and worked with a stunning efficiency. The Cardinals averaged a touchdown once every four plays in the first half, and their longest scoring drive with the starters in took all of 2:58.
No. 16 RUTGERS 38, BUFFALO 3: At Piscataway, N.J., Ray Rice rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns, Tiquan Underwood had 10 catches for a school-record 248 yards and Mike Teel passed for a career-best 328 yards as the Scarlet Knights opened their most anticipated season. Coming off an 11-2 season and its first bowl victory, Rutgers gave the crowd of 43,091 — the third largest at home in school history — plenty to cheer about, scoring touchdowns on its first three series and rolling up 563 yards in total offense against a Buffalo team that won two games last season and is picked to finish around the bottom of the Mid-American Conference again this year.