Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) is back at Davis Wade Stadium for the final time this season to host No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3) at 3:15 p.m. Saturday on SEC Network. The Tigers are unbeaten at home this year but have struggled on the road, and lost a heartbreaker last week at South Carolina that ended their College Football Playoff hopes.
Here are five keys to victory for the Bulldogs as they seek their first conference win of the season.
Start fast
MSU has received the opening kickoff in all 10 games this year. The Bulldogs have turned those opening possessions into six three-and-outs, a turnover on downs, a fumble and just two touchdowns, one of which came against an overmatched Eastern Kentucky team.
Head coach Jeff Lebby, unlike most coaches, typically chooses to receive if MSU wins the coin toss, so it will be up to the Bulldogs’ offense to throw the first punch. MSU has not led after the first quarter in any SEC game this year, and playing from behind forces teams to scrap portions of the game plan. So scoring first and staying in front is critical for the Bulldogs to grab the upset.
Run the ball
Even against an excellent Tennessee run defense two weeks ago, MSU had success on the ground, with Davon Booth rushing for 125 yards on 20 carries and Johnnie Daniels also averaging more than six yards per rush. Missouri is excellent against the pass, with only Texas allowing fewer passing yards per game among SEC teams, but rank 11th in the conference in rushing yards allowed per game.
The Bulldogs’ offensive line has made considerable improvements in run blocking throughout the season, while pass protection remains a struggle. Even if MSU is trailing, keeping the plays on the ground and opening up holes for Booth and Daniels is the best course of action for the Bulldogs’ offense.
Contain Brady Cook
The Tigers’ starting quarterback is not 100 percent as his throwing wrist continues to heal, but Cook is a dual threat who is dangerous with his legs as well as his arm. The only truly mobile quarterback MSU has faced in SEC play was Arkansas’ Taylen Green, and that matchup did not go well for the Bulldogs. With a still-depleted defensive line, it will be up to MSU’s linebackers to set the edges and make sure Cook doesn’t get into the secondary.
Keep track of Wease and Burden
Missouri has one of the best wide receiver duos in the SEC with Theo Wease Jr. and Luther Burden III, both of whom will beat most defensive backs in single coverage. Burden in particular is a matchup nightmare, although the Tigers have had some trouble getting the ball his way. The Bulldogs’ safeties will need to keep everything in front of them and play zone coverage against those wideouts.
Stay focused
With a bowl game out the window, MSU has nothing meaningful to play for Saturday, but the Bulldogs would still like to send their seniors out on a high note, avoid finishing winless in conference play and give their fans something to cheer about — not to mention build some momentum heading into their rivalry game next week.
Missouri will play in a bowl, but the Tigers also have very little at stake in this game. This is a big opportunity for Lebby and the Bulldogs to open some eyes outside the program heading into the Egg Bowl and then a critical offseason.
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