Following a 58-25 home loss to Arkansas, Mississippi State hosts Massachusetts for a 3:15 p.m. kickoff Saturday on SEC Network.
The Minutemen are one of just three FBS independent schools, along with Notre Dame and Connecticut, and have not won more than four games in a season since moving to the FBS level in 2012. UMass is winless on the road this year and its only two wins have been against FCS opponents Central Connecticut State and Wagner.
What: UMass at Mississippi State
When: 3:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville
TV: SEC Network
Betting line: Mississippi State by 18
Weather: Mostly sunny skies with a high of 80 degrees and winds out of the east-southeast at 5 miles per hour, per AccuWeather
Records/rankings: The Bulldogs are 1-7 overall and 0-5 in Southeastern Conference play. The Minutemen are 2-6. Neither team is ranked or receiving votes in either the AP Top 25 or the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Series history: Mississippi State leads 2-0. Saturday’s game completes a three-game agreement signed between the schools in 2015. The Bulldogs defeated the Minutemen 47-35 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in 2016, then won 34-23 in Starkville the following year.
Mississippi State update: The Bulldogs had shown signs of progress against Texas, Georgia and Texas A&M but took a step back last week against Arkansas, giving up 673 total yards and allowing its most points in a game since 2016. Despite being without their top running back, the Razorbacks still racked up 359 rushing yards on 9.7 yards per carry.
MSU’s offense wasn’t blameless either — the Bulldogs drove inside the Arkansas 25-yard line on four consecutive drives in the first half and came away with a total of three points. They also turned the ball over five times, with freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren fumbling twice on sacks and throwing two late interceptions.
UMass update: The Minutemen allow the sixth-fewest passing yards per game among FBS schools but have struggled to defend the run thanks to an undersized defensive line. The secondary is a strength, although not much went right the first time UMass faced a Southeastern Conference team this year when the Minutemen fell 45-3 at home to Missouri.
Quarterback Taisun Phommachanh can make plays with his legs and is dangerous outside the pocket, although sacks have been an issue for him and this UMass offense. Phommachanh has a good rapport with both leading receiver Jakobie Keeney-James and deep threat T.Y. Harding.
UMass players to watch: QB Taisun Phommachanh, RB CJ Hester, WR Jakobie Keeney-James, DE Louce Julien, LB Jalen Stewart.
Prediction: As bad as things look for MSU, the Bulldogs have much more talent on their roster than the Minutemen and should have success running the ball Saturday. The defense will bend but not completely break. Mississippi State 38, UMass 27.
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