Mullen on preseason polls: They vote us last every year

Despite climbing to No. 1 in the country last year, the respect hasn't followed Mississippi State into 2015.

The Associated Press projected MSU to play in the Birmingham Bowl. Athlon Sports slotted the Bulldogs to finish last in the Southeastern Conference's west division. Las Vegas' Golden Nugget placed Mississippi State as underdogs in seven SEC games and Bovada set the over/under win total at seven.

The next prediction will come during SEC Media Days, which begin next week. MSU coach Dan Mullen hopes nothing changes.

"If they're not going to vote us first, hopefully they vote us last so our guys get motivated and get kind of pissed," Mullen said on the Finebaum Show on Wednesday.

Mississippi State held similar expectations heading into last year. The Bulldog reached No. 1 in the polls and finished the regular season with 10 wins for the first time in school history. They ended the year in Miami at the Orange Bowl.

The media voted Mississippi State to finish 10th in the league and fifth in the west last year at SEC Media Days.

"I think they vote us last every year," Mullen said. "They voted us last last year and we did OK."

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.