STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team hasn’t had the best of luck against Missouri.
The good news for the Bulldogs is both of their losses in the series came in the early 1980s.
MSU (6-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) will look to change its fortunes at 8 tonight (ESPN) when it takes on Missouri (4-4, 1-4) at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge for us,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “We’re going to have to go out and execute and play at an extremely high level.”
MSU lost to Missouri 14-3 in 1981 in Jackson. In 1984, Missouri beat MSU won 47-30 in Columbia, Missouri. This will be the first time the teams meet as SEC foes. Missouri and Texas A&M left the Big 12 Conference in 2012 to join the SEC.
The Bulldogs enter the game on a three-game winning streak, while the Tigers have lost three in a row. Either way, it should be a good game. Here are five things to watch:
1. Can MSU’s offense keep it up?
The Bulldogs have scored 42 or more points in three-straight games in a season for the first time in school history. It’s the first time MSU has scored 40 or more points in three-straight games since 1994.
In victories against Troy, Louisiana Tech, and Kentucky the Bulldogs have 1,362 yards of offense. In that span, senior quarterback Dak Prescott, who was named Wednesday one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, has 923 yards and 11 touchdowns. Overall, he has thrown for 2,048 yards and 14 touchdowns (one interception). He also has rushed for 371 yards and seven touchdowns.
“We’ve got the confidence going. Everybody’s just working well together,” Prescott said. “It’s all coming together.”
2. Will Missouri’s offense score a touchdown?
Missouri hasn’t scored a touchdown since Oct. 3 against South Carolina.
In the last three games, Missouri has managed four Andrew Baggett field goals. Freshman quarterback Drew Lock was thrust into a starting role after junior Maty Mauk was suspended before the South Carolina game. Mauk was reinstated last week, but it was announced Sunday he has been suspended for the rest the season. Lock has thrown for 763 yards and three touchdowns (three interceptions). As a starter, Lock has thrown one touchdown.
“He wants to get better and keep improving,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “I think that’s what his focus is, and I think he learns things every day.”
The Tigers are averaging 14.9 points and 277.6 yards per game. In five SEC games, the Tigers are averaging 9.8 points and 249.2 ypg.
MSU is allowing 19 points and 416.2 ypg. in four SEC games.
“We understand on the board what we’re going to get,” MSU defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “They have good coaches, they have good players, and they know what they’re doing.”
3. Will either team have to knock off some rust?
Both teams had last week off and haven’t played in 12 days.
MSU’s last game was one of its best. The offense had 586 yards, while the defense allowed 423 yards and only six points in the final three quarters of a 42-16 victory against Kentucky.
The MSU coaching staff hit the practice fields hard early last week and the first day of preparation was Thursday. The team had Friday and Saturday off before it practiced Sunday.
“Our guys took the field with a lot of energy and juice,” Mullen said. “We picked up right where we left off.”
Missouri’s last game was a 10-3 loss at Vanderbilt.
4. Will a running back step up for MSU?
The Bulldogs are 11th in the league in rushing (1,197 yards).
Prescott leads the team in rushing, while junior Brandon Holloway leads the running backs with 196 yards, but he hasn’t scored a touchdown. He has started the last two games. Junior Ashton Shumpert, who has been nursing a back injury, has rushed for 159 yards and one touchdown. Redshirt freshman Dontavian Lee has 135 yards, and fellow redshirt freshman and former West Point High School standout Aeris Williams has 118 yards, but he leads the running backs with two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs are averaging 149.6 rushing ypg., but that number slips to 124.8 in SEC games. If MSU can find a running back, it would help its chances in the final three games. Look for one of the four to have a breakout game.
5. Can Mullen continue dominance against teams from the SEC East?
Mullen is 7-1 in his last eight games against SEC East opponents. The loss was to South Carolina in 2013 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Overall, Mullen is 12-4 against SEC East opponents. He has never played Missouri.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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