No. 16 Mississippi State faces a ranked challenge on the road, while No. 9 Ole Miss hopes to remain perfect.
The Bulldogs will visit No. 22 Kentucky on Saturday night, while the Rebels will host Auburn, hoping to break a six-game losing streak to the Tigers.
Here’s how to watch each game, plus our staff predictions.
No. 16 Mississippi State (5-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 22 Kentucky (4-2, 1-2 SEC)
Where: Kroger Field (61,000), Lexington, Kentucky.
TV: 6:30 p.m., Saturday, SEC Network.
Series: MSU leads 25-24.
Coaches — Kentucky: Mark Stoops, 63-55 at Kentucky (10th year), 63-55 overall (10th year); Mississippi State: Mike Leach, 16-14 at Mississippi State (3rd year), 155-104 overall (21st year).
Notes: MSU coach Mike Leach served as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under head coach Hal Mumme in 1997 and 1998 … Quarterback Will Rogers is one passing touchdown shy of Dak Prescott’s career record of 70 … With a win, Mississippi State would be 3-1 in SEC play for the first time since 2014, when the Bulldogs started 5-0 in conference competition … Mississippi State has forced 12 turnovers, tied for the most in the SEC and 14th best in FBS football … Kentucky won 24-2 in the last matchup between the two teams in Lexington in 2020.
Prediction: Mississippi State 28, Kentucky 17.
— Theo DeRosa
Auburn (3-3, 1-2 SEC) at No. 9 Ole Miss (6-0, 2-0 SEC)
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038), Oxford.
TV: 11 a.m., Saturday, ESPN.
Series: Auburn leads 35-10.
Coaches – Auburn: Bryan Harsin, 9-10 at Auburn (2nd year) and 85-34 overall (10th year). Ole Miss: Lane Kiffin, 21-8 at OM (3rd year) and 82-42 overall (11th year).
Notes: Ole Miss has won its last 13 home games, the last loss coming to Auburn on Nov. 14, 2020 … The Rebels are third in seconds per play nationally (20.5) … Auburn has won its last six against Ole Miss … Ole Miss is tied with Georgia for the national lead with 21 rushing touchdowns … Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford is second in the SEC at 14.8 yards per completion … The Tigers have allowed just one opponent to score in the first quarter this season.
Prediction: Ole Miss 31, Auburn 21.
— Michael Katz, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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