This one wasn’t supposed to be very close.

Coming into the season, LSU was considered a national championship contender and Mississippi State was supposed to be going through a post-Dak Prescott hangover.

But two weeks into the season, things look different. LSU is offensively challenged and has already changed starting quarterbacks. Mississippi State looked like it would go through a down year after a Week 1 upset loss to South Alabama but bounced back with a strong performance in a 27-14 win over South Carolina.

Now, it’s game on. This one looks like it’ll be fun. Here are three keys for both teams.

Mississippi State

1. Make Danny Etling beat you: How do you do that? By stopping Leonard Fournette and the running game.

And before you scoff at the notion of the Bulldogs being able to do that, do note that they are allowing opponents just 64 yards per game and 2.1 yards per carry. Granted, neither South Alabama nor South Carolina are anywhere near as good as LSU running the ball, but given LSU’s issues on the offensive line early this year, MSU has to feel it has a chance to win the line of scrimmage.

To win this one, MSU may have to.

2. Get the ball to Fred Ross: LSU has lockdown corners who allow the Tigers to beat the run game with numbers because the corners might not need help.

If quarterback Nick Fitzgerald can get the ball to his best passing game weapons, notably star receiver Fred Ross, then LSU may have to adjust. The Tigers would have to play the pass honest, giving the run game, notably the bread-and-butter zone-read option, a better chance to work.

3. Better running back play: So far this season, Fitzgerald and backup quarterback Damian Williams have carried the MSU run game where starting running back Brandon Holloway is averaging a mere 3.7 yards per carry.

Don’t think for a minute Dave Aranda hasn’t noticed that the Bulldogs’ better run options are the guys taking the snaps. Expect LSU to try to make the running back, not the quarterback, beat them in the option game. Holloway and backfield stable mates Ashton Shumpert and Aeris Williams need to make plays to help Fitzgerald, who rushed for 195 yards in the South Carolina win, find room to do his thing.

LSU

1. Play pitch-and-catch: It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is (and it will be Danny Etling). The Tigers have to throw the ball more accurately and catch it better.

He emerged as a hero last week, but Etling missed throws just like Brandon Harris had been missing them. On one play, he overthrew Derrius Guice for what might have been a touchdown. On another, he underthrew Malachi Dupre on a deep ball and it was intercepted.

But on both plays, both sides had issues. While Etling overthrew Guice, he made a half-hearted, one-handed effort at the catch. And while Etling missed Dupre, the receiver didn’t really make a play on the ball, allowing an easy interception.

LSU has to get better on both sides of the passing game, otherwise that risks being too one-dimensional to win big SEC games.

2. Avoid big plays: A 76-yard touchdown pass by Jacksonville State. Numerous breakdowns leading to chunk plays by Wisconsin.

Missed assignments are exactly what an offense like Dan Mullen’s group thrives on. The zone-read option turns blown assignments into long runs. If defensive backs don’t stay with their man and come charging up to help against the run, that turns into a wide open receiver on play-action.

Making those mistakes this week can lead to another big dual-threat day for Fitzgerald.

3. A healthy No. 7: Leonard Fournette missed last week’s game with an ankle injury.

Against a pretty good run defense, the Heisman Trophy candidate needs to be at full speed. Certainly, Guice is a capable backup, but with SEC play here, LSU will need for Fournette to perform, and at the highest possible level.