This week’s game between the Kentucky Wildcats (4-2) and the Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-2) promises to be a pivotal SEC matchup. The SEC’s second-leading passer, Dak Prescott (1,700 yards, 11 TDs), will be key to the outcome of this matchup. Players will take the field Saturday, Oct 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET and it will air on SECN.
Mississippi State cruised past Louisiana Tech 45-20 last week. Dak Prescott had an outstanding performance throwing the ball in the win, completing 30 of 43 passes for 347 yards and three TDs. De’Runnya Wilson had a big game as well, totaling 85 receiving yards and two TDs on seven receptions. Kentucky didn’t have the same success as Mississippi State, barely losing to Auburn 30-27. Garrett Johnson had a big game for the Wildcats, registering nine receptions for 160 yards. Patrick Towles also had a big game with 359 yards through the air.
Oddsmakers have deemed the Mississippi State and Kentucky game as an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is unavailable at the moment.
The Bulldogs enter the game with records of 5-2 Straight Up (SU) and 4-3 Against The Spread (ATS) this season. The Bulldogs have an efficient passing attack that has a completion percentage of 66.3%, good enough for 22nd in the country. The Mississippi State pass defense has played at another level the past five games. It has given up 213.2 passing yards per game during that span. A pivotal part of the game will be whether the Bulldogs can attack Kentucky’s offensive line, which currently is 116th in the nation in sacks allowed with 3.2 per game. Don’t anticipate many blunders or oversights from Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are one of the least penalized teams in Division I (sixth), averaging only 35 penalty yards per game.
Across the field, the Wildcats are unsuccessful ATS with a 2-4 record this season even though they have a 4-2 SU record. Lately, the Wildcats have had a better pass defense. They’re allowing only 202.4 passing YPG over their last five matchups.
Predictions: SU Winner – Mississippi State, ATS Winner – Mississippi State
Notes
Mississippi State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games.
Mississippi State is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Mississippi State’s last 5 games at home.
Mississippi State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kentucky.
Mississippi State is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Kentucky.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Mississippi State’s last 5 games when playing at home against Kentucky.
Kentucky is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Mississippi State.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kentucky’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Mississippi State.
Kentucky is 3-0 SU when leading at the start of the 4th quarter this season. Mississippi State is 5-0 SU when carrying a lead into the fourth quarter.
Since the start of last season, Mississippi State is 7-4 SU against SEC opponents, while Kentucky is just 4-8 SU against conference foes.
