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The Matchup: Mississippi State (3-0) at No. 8 LSU (3-0)
The Venue: Tiger Stadium
The Kick: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Series Record: LSU leads 71-33-3.
Last Meeting: The Tigers scored 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rout Mississippi State by 33 points. Bulldogs’ quarterback Dak Prescott was a woeful 9-of-20 passing with an interception, but did run 12 times for 103 yards and a touchdown to lead his team. LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger shined, completing 25-29 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns. The then-No. 10 Tigers improved to 5-1 on the season and 2-1 in SEC play. Mississippi State dropped to 2-3 on the season and 0-2 in the conference.
Coaches: MSU — Dan Mullen (39-28 overall); LSU — Les Miles (126-45 overall, 98-24 at LSU).
Last game (Mississippi State): Prescott threw for 200 yards and rushed for 100 yards for the second straight week, and the Bulldogs’ defense returned to form in a 35-3 road win over South Alabama.
Last game (LSU): The Tigers’ offense started slow but hit its stride in the second half, and the defense shut out its opponent for a second straight week as LSU defeated Louisiana Monroe 31-0.
Mississippi State wins if: The Bulldogs’ front seven can contain the LSU rushing attack, and if Prescott can find different ways to attack the Tigers’ defense, keeping it off-balance with accurate passes and successful designed runs.
LSU wins if: Quarterback Anthony Jennings has his best game of the season, taking advantage of a Mississippi State secondary that has looked vulnerable at times this season.
What it means if Mississippi State wins: The Bulldogs would likely become the sixth of seven SEC West teams to crack next week’s Associated Press poll, and would have a leg-up on half the SEC in the early conference standings.
What it means if LSU wins: The Tigers would further entrench themselves among the top 10 in the next AP Top 25, and would have a chance to gain ground on fellow SEC West mates Auburn (faces on No. 20 Kansas State this week) and Alabama (faces Florida on Saturday).
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
