Mississippi State is 19th in the NCAA and 5th in the SEC in scoring defense.

 

But 56th in total yards allowed. Definitely the definition of a bend don't break D

...

 

I don't understand the predictions that have UK getting to 20+ points. What am I missing?

 

Mississippi State wins by 17-24, with a score something like 31-13, or thereabouts. My opinion.

 

MSU is very physical up front on both sides of the ball. They dominated an LSU team who blew UK out of the water this past week.

 

UK has beaten a bad South Carolina team (whose blowout loss to Texas A&M early looks worse and worse each week) and played with a Florida team that was outscored by Missouri 42-0 before getting a garbage TD for a 42-7 final last week.

 

Mississippi State might not be the best team in the country, but they went to Death Valley on a Saturday night and won by 10. UK did the same and got spanked 41-3.

 

I'm not sold on Mississippi State being the #1 team in the country. I think they'll definitely drop a game (both them and Ole Miss), with one of them losing at least 2 (since they play one another). I also think that their wins at LSU and a 2 TD win over Auburn means they have no trouble coming in and handling UK.

 

Vegas set the line at MSU -13.5/-14, according to the book. UK is too sexy of a pick to make me a believer. Too trendy, and people think that a team which is largely the same unit that only won 2 games last season has the talent and psyche to just come back from a manhandling at the hands of an unranked team and beat the #1 team in the country.

 

Maybe they do, but if I were a betting man, I'd lay the points on MSU and feel alright about it.

The only thing Kentucky really has going for them right now is that this is our common SEC West opponent and in the series' history, there's a real precedence for the team who isn't supposed to be as good playing close and/or pulling the upset. How many "up" years in Kentucky's recent history (i.e., the Woodson and Cobb years) were spoiled by a loss to Mississippi State when a win would have meant a bigger bowl?

 

I would LOVE to see UK pull the upset, but I'm not going to be holding my breath either. Again, it's not going to stop me from being for UK, but I just don't really see it. MSU is going to be too big, too physical in the trenches and our team's struggle with mobile QBs is only going to continue.

But 56th in total yards allowed. Definitely the definition of a bend don't break D

 

 

Yards don't win games. Points are all that matter. Why would a UK offense that scored 37 total points on Ohio and Vandy combined do better than anyone the MSU has played. I guarantee you that UK is not near the best offense that the Bulldogs have faced.

Oh yea... and Mississippi State is coming off of a bye.

Yards don't win games. Points are all that matter. Why would a UK offense that scored 37 total points on Ohio and Vandy combined do better than anyone the MSU has played. I guarantee you that UK is not near the best offense that the Bulldogs have faced.

 

121st in pass defense. Their pass defense is worse than Ohios and Vandy... The only issue UK faces with the D is their line. If PT can get time I see no reason for him to have a bad game. UK could have trouble running the ball too.

According to CBS MSU is the 89th best D in the country. Pardon me for calling their number 1 ranking fools gold. No matter how good Prescott and their O is, the D will eventually get exposed and they will start losing. Probably won't be against UK but it's coming.

MSU is a tad bit overrated but is still very good and Prescott has been great so far. I don't see UK slowing them down much. UK is a year away from competing with the "big boys". I find it hard to envision them covering the spread.

 

MSU 45

UK 20

121st in pass defense. Their pass defense is worse than Ohios and Vandy... The only issue UK faces with the D is their line. If PT can get time I see no reason for him to have a bad game. UK could have trouble running the ball too.

 

 

Well, they will have trouble with any defense really. Tell me how UK's 113th ranked offense is going to ravage that defense that is 19th in giving up points in the NCAA....

121st in pass defense. Their pass defense is worse than Ohios and Vandy... The only issue UK faces with the D is their line. If PT can get time I see no reason for him to have a bad game. UK could have trouble running the ball too.

 

And Ohio and Vandy haven't seen a three game stretch like Mississippi State's @LSU, vs. Texas A&M, and vs. Auburn either. The SEC West has 4 teams rated in the Top 5 in the nation. That's unprecedented. Arkansas is in last place in that division, and it's not even close, but I'd bet my life that they'd beat or tie over 2/3rds of the team in the country in a series of heads-up games played 10 times on a neutral field.

Well, they will have trouble with any defense really. Tell me how UK's 113th ranked offense is going to ravage that defense that is 19th in giving up points in the NCAA....

 

If UAB can score 34, I'd like to think UK can score 21

Probably won't be against UK

 

Now we are in full agreement. UK's offense, when the wildcat is shut down (which it will be), is below average. Like I said, I just can't imagine any scenario that nets them 3 offensive TD's.

 

UK's only chance of winning and storming the field (again....at least this time will be justified) is to win a slobber-knocker in the 13-10 area. Possible....but not likely with Prescott running the Bulldogs' show.

Possible....but not likely with Prescott running the Bulldogs' show.

 

He has been really impressive from what I've seen this year.

Vegas set the line at MSU -13.5/-14, according to the book. UK is too sexy of a pick to make me a believer. Too trendy, and people think that a team which is largely the same unit that only won 2 games last season has the talent and psyche to just come back from a manhandling at the hands of an unranked team and beat the #1 team in the country.

 

I don't disagree with a lot of what you said, but same unit as last year?

 

QB: RS13

Top RBs (by yards): Soph, Transfer, Frosh, Frosh, RS13, RS13

Top WRs (by yards): Soph, SR, Frosh, SR, Frosh, Frosh, Frosh, Frosh

 

The defensive side is a different story, but the offenses is 0% like last year's team.

Good article explaining that no one though Mississippi State-UK would be the CBS prime time game.

 

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