SEC Football

Mississippi State Takes on Wildcats

DATE & TIME: Saturday, November 1st, 2:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Davis Wade Stadium (55,082) -- Starkville, Mississippi. Television: Pay-Per-View. Home Record: Kentucky 4-1, MSU 3-1. Away Record: Kentucky 1-2, MSU 0-4. Neutral Record: Kentucky 0-0, MSU 0-0. Conference Record: Kentucky 1-3, MSU 1-3. Series Record: Kentucky leads, 20-15.

GAME NOTES: SEC action will take place this Saturday afternoon, as the Mississippi State Bulldogs host the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium. After opening the year with four straight victories, the Wildcats have lost three of their last four contests, including an embarrassing, 63-5 loss to Florida this past weekend. The Wildcats have not enjoyed a lot of success on the road over the previous five seasons, posting a mere 5-19 ledger away from home. As for the Bulldogs, they have won two of their last three games, including a 31-22 victory over Middle Tennessee this past weekend. MSU is only 3-5 on the season, but all three of those wins have come at Davis Wade Stadium. However, the Bulldogs have struggled in league play since 2002, accumulating a terrible 8-28 record against SEC foes. In terms of the all-time series between the two schools, the Wildcats have a 20-15 edge over Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs won the last battle, defeating Kentucky 31-14.

The Wildcats have been inconsistent offensively, as the team is producing just 317.8 and that has led to just 22.9 ppg. The team does not have a main option in the backfield, which is why the tea is only averaging 125.5 ypg on 4.0 ypc. Derrick Locke has done the most damage, rushing for 303 yards and one score. The passing attack has not been much better, as Mike Hartline has not performed at a high level. The signal caller has thrown for just 1,298 yards and has eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. The Wildcats could get nothing going in the recent loss to Florida, as the team racked up just 268 total yards. Hartline was extremely ineffective, throwing for just 33 yards and one interception. He was replaced by Randall Cobb, who threw for 78 yards, but also led the team with 52 rushing yards.

Poor offensive play has overshadowed the strong defensive performances put forth by Kentucky. The Wildcats are currently limiting teams to just 302.6 total ypg, which has led to only 18.2 ppg. The defense has done an exceptional job against the pass, holding teams to just 165.2 ypg through the air, while also collecting 11 interceptions. Overall the defense has forced 21 turnovers, and has also pressured the quarterback frequently, racking up 19 sacks. Unfortunately nothing went right for Kentucky this past weekend, as the defense was tortured by Florida for 446 total yards en route to a 63-5 loss. The Wildcats were embarrassed by Florida's ground game, allowing 214 yards and five touchdowns on 5.2 ypc. Kelley Braxton was by far the most noticeable player for this unit, as the linebacker racked up a team-high 11 tackles.

The Bulldogs have had very little success on the offensive side of the football and come into this matchup averaging just 294.9 total ypg, and that has led to a mere 16.2 ppg. The passing attack has been pathetic, as the team is posting just 174.0 ypg through the air, and out of the 16 TDs scored by MSU, only five have come via the pass. Out of the backfield Anthony Dixon has been the main source of production, as the tailback has rushed for 599 yards and six touchdowns. In the team's recent 31-22 victory over Middle Tennessee, the Bulldogs put forth a solid offensive effort, racking up 366 yards, including 169 yards on the ground. Dixon did a tremendous job in the win for Mississippi State, as the junior rushed for 126 yards and three scores on 27 totes. Tyson Lee managed the game well under center, completing 17-of-25 passes for 197 yards.

Where the Bulldogs have performed at a high level is defensively, as the team is limiting opponents to just 298.6 total ypg, and that has led to 22.1 ppg. The one problem area has come against the run, as teams are producing 144.5 ypg on the ground and out of the 18 touchdowns allowed by MSU, 13 have come via the run. The Bulldogs have also struggled to make big plays, collecting just 11 takeaways, while recording 12 sacks. Surprisingly, the defense put forth a tremendous effort against the run in the win over Middle Tennessee this past weekend, as the Bulldogs limited MT to just 80 yards on 2.9 ypc. Marcus Washington and Jasper O'Quinn led the way with nine tackles apiece, while Dominic Douglas added eight stops.

This should be a tough SEC battle between two teams trying to fight upward in the standings. The Bulldogs should have a slight edge in this contest with their ground game, and strong defensive play, so expect MSU to walk away with a narrow win.

Predicted Outcome: Mississippi State 17, Kentucky 10

Web Producer- Brett Haas