Following a bye week, Mississippi State is back in action Saturday with a trip to No. 5 Georgia at 3:15 p.m. Central Time (4:15 p.m. local) on SEC Network.
UGA has won two national championships already this decade and is in contention for another this fall, though Georgia did fall at Alabama on Sept. 28 in an instant classic, coming all the way back from a 28-point deficit only to lose by a touchdown. Last week, UGA rebounded with a win over Auburn in its first Southeastern Conference home game.
What: Mississippi State at Georgia
When: Saturday at 3:15 p.m. Central Time/4:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia
TV: SEC Network
Betting line: Georgia by 34
Weather: Sunny with a high of 81 degrees and winds out of the west-southwest at 2 miles per hour, per AccuWeather
Records/rankings: MSU is 1-4 overall and 0-2 in SEC play, while UGA is 4-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Georgia is No. 5 in the AP Top 25 and No. 4 in the AFCA Coaches Poll; MSU is not ranked or receiving votes in either poll.
Series history: Georgia leads 20-6. UGA won the last meeting 45-19 in 2022 at Davis Wade Stadium, as well as the last meeting in Athens, 31-24 in 2020. Georgia has won four straight games against MSU, and the last State victory was a 24-12 win in Starkville in 2010.
Mississippi State update: The bye week came at an ideal time for MSU, in between back-to-back road games against top-5 opponents. Mississippi State trailed top-ranked Texas by just one score at halftime before the Longhorns pulled away late, and head coach Jeff Lebby’s team was able to control the ball and win the turnover battle. True freshman Michael Van Buren will make his second start this week in an environment just as hostile as his first.
Safety Isaac Smith, who leads the SEC in tackles, is back this week after missing the Texas game, but running back Keyvone Lee and defensive lineman Kalvin Dinkins remain out.
Georgia update: UGA is undefeated since 2020 against teams not named Alabama, though Georgia had to scrape out a one-point win at Kentucky back in Week 3. Carson Beck is putting up outstanding numbers for head coach Kirby Smart, completing just under two-thirds of his passes for 1,359 yards, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. The offense runs through Beck and running back Trevor Etienne, who is averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
Georgia also has one of the best defensive fronts in college football, with 33 tackles for loss through five games. Despite forcing just four turnovers so far, UGA has allowed no more than 13 points in every game except the loss to Alabama. That includes a 34-3 blowout against Clemson in the season opener.
Georgia players to watch: QB Carson Beck, RB Travis Etienne, WR Arian Smith, DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, ILB Raylen Wilson.
Prediction: If MSU can replicate its performance against Texas, fans will come away relatively satisfied, even in another decisive loss. UGA may no longer be undefeated, but this game will likely never feel close. Georgia 49, Mississippi State 17.
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