Mississippi State (4-4, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) hosts Kentucky (5-3, 2-3) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Wildcats.

 

Quarterback

MSU’s quarterback situation remains up in the air after an inconsistent showing from Mike Wright against Auburn. Will Rogers missed his second straight game with an injured left shoulder, and true freshman Chris Parson has not yet seen the field on game day. Kentucky’s Devin Leary, a transfer from North Carolina State, was on his way to a disappointing season before a breakout performance last week against Tennessee, when he completed 28 of 39 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns.

Edge: Kentucky

 

Running back

Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks missed the Bulldogs’ last game after battling leg injuries for more than a month, but Jeffery Pittman and Seth Davis filled in admirably, combining for 113 rushing yards on 17 carries. The Wildcats have the SEC’s leading rusher in Ray Davis, and while Davis struggled last week as the Volunteers sold out to stop him, he remains as dangerous as anyone MSU has faced all year, with nine touchdowns on the ground and another five as a receiver.

Edge: Kentucky

 

Wide receiver/tight end

Zavion Thomas was the big story for the Bulldogs last week, as the sophomore caught nine passes for 112 yards and his first MSU touchdown. He will continue to be a focal point, and the Bulldogs need to get the ball in Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin’s hands more as well. Kentucky has far more depth in its receiving corps, led by Dane Key, Tavion Robinson and Barion Brown. Each of them has at least 330 receiving yards and a combined eight touchdowns.

Edge: Kentucky

 

Offensive line

This has turned into a strength for MSU — the Bulldogs did not allow a sack last week and the line committed just two pre-snap penalties, all while delivering a strong performance in run blocking for Wright, Davis and Pittman. The Wildcats’ front was named to the midseason honor roll for the Joe Moore Award, which recognizes the most outstanding offensive line unit in college football. Kentucky’s line is led by center Eli Cox and right tackle Jeremy Flax.

Edge: Kentucky

 

Defensive line

After a dominant showing against Arkansas, MSU struggled to generate pressure against both the run and the pass against Auburn and did not register a sack on Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne. The Wildcats rank in the middle of the pack in the conference in sacks, just behind the Bulldogs, though defensive tackle Deone Walker is a budding star and potential future first-round NFL Draft pick.

Edge: Kentucky

 

Linebackers

Auburn was able to somewhat neutralize the Bulldogs’ duo of Jett Johnson and Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson, but they still combined for 16 tackles and are the centerpieces of everything MSU does defensively. Kentucky’s top linebacker is Trevin Wallace, who was excellent early in the season but has battled injuries of late.

Edge: Mississippi State

 

Secondary

The Bulldogs were burned by a few big mistakes from the defensive backs last week. Freshman cornerback Brice Pollock got beat for the Tigers’ first touchdown, and Decamerion Richardson misread his receiver’s route and safety Marcus Banks was too late to arrive for help on Auburn’s second first-quarter score. The Wildcats’ secondary has been a bit boom-or-bust, but they do have the SEC’s leader in interceptions in Maxwell Hairston, who has five picks through eight games.

Edge: Kentucky

 

Special teams

MSU kicker Kyle Ferrie bounced back from a missed chip shot against Arkansas, connecting on both of his field goal attempts against Auburn, and punter Keelan Crimmins also rebounded from a poor showing against the Razorbacks. Neither Thomas nor Griffin has returned a punt or kickoff to the house, but both have shown signs that a big play is coming. Kentucky kicker Alex Raynor is 8-for-9 on field goals with a long of 50, and Brown is arguably the best return man the Bulldogs have faced this season.

Edge: Even

 

Starters

Mississippi State

Offense

QB 2 Will Rogers Sr. OR 14 Mike Wright Sr.

RB 7 Jo’Quavious Marks Sr. OR 25 Jeffery Pittman Jr.

WR 3 Justin Robinson R-Jr. OR 19 Freddie Roberson R-Sr.

WR 5 Lideatrick Griffin Sr.

WR 1 Zavion Thomas So.

TE 88 Ryland Goede Gr. OR 98 Malik Ellis Fr.

LT 69 Kwatrivous Johnson Gr.

LG 66 Nick Jones Sr.

C 57 Cole Smith Gr.

RG 64 Steven Losoya III R-Sr.

RT 58 Kameron Jones Gr.

Defense

DE 91 Deonte Anderson So.

NG 22 Nathan Pickering Sr.

DT 94 Jaden Crumedy Gr.

SLB 36 Donterry Russell R-Fr.

MLB 14 Nathaniel Watson Gr.

WLB 44 Jett Johnson Gr.

CB 3 Decamerion Richardson Sr.

S 7 Shawn Preston Gr.

S 10 Corey Ellington Jr.

S 1 Marcus Banks Sr.

CB 4 DeCarlos Nicholson Sr.

Special teams

K 80 Kyle Ferrie Fr.

P 83 Keelan Crimmins Fr.

 

Kentucky

Offense

QB 13 Devin Leary Sr.

RB 1 Ray Davis Sr.

WR 9 Tayvion Robinson Sr.

WR 6 Dane Key So.

WR 7 Barion Brown So.

TE 80 Brendan Bates Sr. OR 84 Josh Kattus So.

LT 69 Marques Cox Sr.

LG 73 Dylan Ray So. OR 68 Kenneth Horsey Sr.

C 75 Eli Cox Sr.

RG 62 Jager Burton So.

RT 77 Jeremy Flax Sr. OR 74 Courtland Ford Jr.

Defense

DE 8 Octavious Oxendine Sr.

NG 97 Josaih Hayes Sr. OR 9 Keeshawn Silver So.

DT 0 Deone Walker So.

SLB 3 Alex Afari So. OR 20 Keaten Wade So.

OLB 13 J.J. Weaver Sr.

MLB 54 D’Eryk Jackson Sr.

WLB 32 Trevin Wallace Jr.

CB 31 Maxwell Hairston So.

S 11 Zion Childress Jr.

S 14 Ty Bryant Fr. OR 25 Jordan Lovett So.

CB 23 Andru Phillips Jr.

Special teams

K 16 Alex Raynor Sr.

P 93 Wilson Berry R-Fr.