Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) hosts No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3) on Saturday for a 3:15 p.m. kickoff on SEC Network. Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Tigers.
Quarterback
MSU freshman Michael Van Buren is coming off his worst game as the starter, finishing just 10-of-26 for 92 yards with an interception against Tennessee. Sacks remain an issue — he took four against the Volunteers, including one where he was stripped from behind for a turnover. Missouri’s Brady Cook is still recovering from a wrist injury, but was still 21-of-31 last week at South Carolina for 237 yards. He is also a threat to run, and his four rushing touchdowns are second-most on the team, although he has not been as effective with his legs in recent weeks.
Edge: Missouri
Running back
With Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels, the Bulldogs have two backs with more than 500 rushing yards, and each averaged more than six yards per carry and scored a touchdown two weeks ago against an outstanding Volunteers run defense. The Tigers’ Nate Noel is good outside the tackles — outside zone runs are a staple for Eliah Drinkwitz’s team — and had 27 carries for 157 yards a week ago, while Marcus Carroll is their short-yardage and goal-line back, leading Missouri with seven touchdown runs.
Edge: Even
Wide receiver/tight end
MSU got freshman Mario Craver back two weeks ago from an injury, but the only receiver in sync with Van Buren was Kevin Coleman, who is up to 756 yards for the season. Tight end Seydou Traore has come on strong in recent weeks as Kelly Akharaiyi has fallen off the map. The Tigers’ duo of Theo Wease Jr. and Luther Burden III is as good as it gets in the SEC, and Mookie Cooper had 84 yards on just two catches last week. Burden, who had 1,212 receiving yards last year, is a big matchup problem for defenses.
Edge: Missouri
Offensive line
Bulldogs center Ethan Miner and right guard Marlon Martinez were outstanding in run blocking against Tennessee, opening up holes for Booth and Daniels, but pass protection remains poor, particularly at the left tackle spot with Luke Work and Makylan Pounders. Like MSU, Missouri brought in experienced linemen via the transfer portal, including left tackle Marcus Bryant and left guard Cayden Green. Center Connor Tollison is out for the year, but right guard Cam’Ron Johnson is a returner and a fan favorite.
Edge: Missouri
Defensive line
The Bulldogs are as healthy here as they’ll be the rest of the season, with Trevion Williams and De’Monte Russell back and Sulaiman Kpaka the most consistent performer up front. Still, MSU has problems getting to the quarterback and clogging the running lanes. The Tigers are led by Johnny Walker Jr., who has a sack in four straight games, while Chris McClellan and Zion Young have excellent numbers as well.
Edge: Missouri
Linebackers
Branden Jennings is the Bulldogs’ best pass rusher, leading the team in tackles for loss and quarterback hurries, and Stone Blanton and Nic Mitchell help clean things up in the middle. Corey Flagg Jr. leads Missouri in tackles, with Tryston Newton not far behind. The Tigers did miss 15 tackles in their loss at South Carolina last Saturday.
Edge: Even
Secondary
MSU safety Isaac Smith had 20 tackles in the Tennessee game and leads the SEC in that category, and is the Bulldogs’ nominee for the C Spire Conerly Trophy recognizing the best college football player in Mississippi. There were some breakdowns in coverage against the Volunteers, but Missouri also has that issue at times despite ranking second in the conference in passing yards allowed per game. Daylan Carnell leads the Tigers with seven pass breakups, tied with MSU’s leader in that category, Brice Pollock.
Edge: Missouri
Special teams
The Bulldogs have two solid specialists in kicker Kyle Ferrie and punter Nick Barr-Mira, though Ferrie has not attempted a field goal from 50 yards or longer this year. Booth and Coleman can be dangerous in the return game if given the chance. Missouri kicker Blake Craig has been busy and is in the midst of an up-and-down year, although he is 4-for-7 from 50-plus yards. Marquise Johnson had a 63-yard kickoff return against Texas A&M but has otherwise been quiet.
Edge: Mississippi State
Starters
Mississippi State
Offense
QB 0 Michael Van Buren Fr.
RB 21 Davon Booth Sr. OR 20 Johnnie Daniels Jr.
WR 3 Kevin Coleman Jr.
WR 6 Jordan Mosley Jr.
WR 7 Mario Craver Fr. OR 1 Kelly Akharaiyi Sr.
TE 18 Seydou Traore R-Jr. OR 84 Justin Ball Sr.
LT 51 Luke Work Fr. OR 66 Makylan Pounders Jr.
LG 75 Jacoby Jackson Jr.
C 67 Ethan Miner Sr.
RG 77 Marlon Martinez Sr.
RT 76 Albert Reese IV Jr.
Defense
DT 23 Trevion Williams R-Fr.
DT 8 Sulaiman Kpaka Sr. OR 90 Kai McClendon Fr.
DE 9 De’Monte Russell Sr.
JACK 11 Ty Cooper Jr. OR 44 Branden Jennings Jr.
MLB 7 Stone Blanton Jr.
DIME 40 Nic Mitchell Jr. OR 5 John Lewis Jr.
STAR 2 Isaac Smith So.
FS 10 Corey Ellington Sr.
SS 21 Hunter Washington Jr.
CB 3 Brylan Lanier Jr.
CB 14 Brice Pollock So.
Specialists
K 80 Kyle Ferrie So.
P 82 Nick Barr-Mira Sr.
Missouri
Offense
QB 12 Brady Cook Gr.
RB 8 Nate Noel Sr. OR 9 Marcus Carroll Sr.
WR 3 Luther Burden III Jr.
WR 5 Mookie Cooper Gr.
WR 1 Theo Wease Sr.
TE 87 Brett Norfleet So.
LT 52 Marcus Bryant Sr.
LG 70 Cayden Green So.
C 69 Drake Heismeyer Sr.
RG 74 Cam’Ron Johnson Gr.
RT 79 Armand Membou Jr.
Defense
DE 9 Zion Young Jr. OR 97 Eddie Kelly Jr.
DT 7 Chris McClellan Jr.
DT 5 Kristian Williams Gr.
DE 15 Johnny Walker Gr.
LB 14 Triston Newton Gr.
LB 30 Chuck Hicks Gr. OR 11 Corey Flagg Gr.
S 28 Joseph Charleston Gr. OR 4 Tre’Vez Johnson Sr.
S 1 Marvin Burks So.
S 13 Daylan Carnell Jr.
CB 12 Dreyden Norwood Jr.
CB 2 Toriano Pride Jr. OR 24 Nicholas Deloach R-Fr.
Specialists
K 19 Blake Craig R-Fr.
P 93 Luke Bauer Gr.
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