No. 5 LSU has one more hurdle to face before the showdown with No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 3.

It comes Saturday night in Tiger Stadium against No. 22 Mississippi State.

It’s an opportunity for the Bulldogs to show they’re closer to the team that thrashed the Tigers 37-7 in Starkville last season than the one that fell out of the Top 25 after anemic offensive performances in losses to Kentucky and Florida.

LSU (6-1, 3-1) has to put last week’s victory against then-No. 2 Georgia behind it in a hurry. State (4-2, 1-2) has had two weeks to build on its win against then-No. 8 Auburn.

It’s October and it’s the SEC, so it should be a fierce, physical battle under the lights in Death Valley.

Here are 10 bold predictions for Mississippi State-LSU:

1. The State running game will hum

The Bulldogs won’t dominate the line of scrimmage like they did in last year’s matchup, but they will run the ball better than any previous LSU opponent has.

Georgia had a lot of success running right at the Tigers early, but it was too quick to get away from it after LSU adjusted. State will keep pounding and pounding and will pile up yards even though it won’t break long runs.

2. Jeffery Simmons, Montez Sweat will provide pressure

Again, the Bulldogs won’t dominate on this line as much as they did last year, but they will go toe-to-toe with the Tigers offensive line.

Simmons and Sweat will both find their way into the Tigers’ backfield and disrupt things for quarterback Joe Burrow.

3. State will lose a fumble

The Bulldogs have been exceptional at taking care of the football. They have thrown just 4 interceptions and haven’t lost any of their mere 3 fumbles.

But that will change against LSU, which took the ball away from Georgia 4 times last week.

State will fumble, and this time the bounce will go against it and a Tiger will pounce on the football.

4. More of the same from Nick Fitzgerald

Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulldogs’ dual-threat quarterback will help the running game have consistent success, but he’ll come up short in the passing game.

That has kind of been the pattern this season. State and first-year coach Joe Moorhead have tried to increase Fitzgerald’s productivity in the passing game, but it hasn’t happened. It won’t happen against the Tigers’ pass defense, either.

5. State won’t reach 30 points

The Bulldogs will move the ball, run the clock and score some points. But there will be more field goals than touchdowns, and State won’t be able to reach its scoring average.

But that won’t be devastating because …

6. Neither will LSU

The Tigers will move the ball, run the clock and score some points. But there will be more field goals than touchdowns, and LSU won’t be able to reach its scoring average.

7. Nick Brossette will be in the spotlight

Clyde Edwards-Helaire has had better stats in recent games, and the Tigers will continue to alternate backs.

But it will be Brossette’s physical running between the tackles that will prove to be more useful in this matchup. He’ll have more carries and more yards than Edwards-Helaire, but both will be heavily involved.

8. Michael Divinity Jr. will step forward

LSU’s marquee defensive players have been Devin White and Greedy Williams. Grant Delpit has emerged this season as an elite defender as well.

On this night, though, it will be Divinity who opens some eyes as he continues to be the Tigers’ top pass rusher.

9. Greedy Williams will end drought

Williams has 2 interceptions this season, but he hasn’t had one in the last four games as Delpit, John Battle IV, Ed Paris and Kristian Fulton have stepped to the forefront in takeaways.

That will change as Fitzpatrick tries to challenge Williams once too often and Greedy makes an important interception.

10. Cole Tracy will keep it up

It’s going to be tight and low-scoring, so field goals will be key.

Tracy has been everything LSU could have hoped for after he transferred from Division II Assumption College. He is 17-of-19 on field goals, and he made all 5 of his attempts in the victory against Georgia last week.

The Tigers won’t need that many in this game, but they’ll get 4 from Tracy and they’ll need every one of them to escape with a 26-23 victory.