After three consecutive losses to open Southeastern Conference play, Mississippi State will get a break from SEC competition as Western Michigan visits Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday for an 11 a.m. kickoff on SEC Network.

The Broncos, out of the Mid-American Conference, opened their season with a win over Football Championship Subdivision foe Saint Francis, then lost three in a row. Two of those losses came against power conference opponents in Syracuse and Iowa, and Western Michigan dropped its MAC opener to Toledo before defeating Ball State last week.

Here is what to know and watch for as the Bulldogs look to snap their skid.

What: Western Michigan at Mississippi State

When: 11 a.m. Saturday

Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville

TV: SEC Network

Betting line: Mississippi State by 20

Weather: Sunny skies with a high of 69 degrees and winds out of the north at 9 miles per hour, per AccuWeather

Records/rankings: MSU is 2-3 and 0-3 in SEC play. The Broncos are 2-3 and 1-1 in the MAC. Neither team is ranked or receiving votes in the AP Top 25 or the AFCA Coaches Poll.

Series history: Saturday’s game will be the teams’ first-ever head-to-head meeting.

Mississippi State update: The Bulldogs have lost their first three SEC games for the first time since 2011, and although there were a few encouraging signs last week against Alabama, quarterback Will Rogers threw three interceptions for just the second time in an MSU uniform, and the defense continued to struggle against both the run and the pass.

Opposing starting quarterbacks in conference play have completed 58 of 66 passes against the Bulldogs’ defense for 813 yards. The Crimson Tide leaned heavily on their ground game, rushing for nearly 200 yards.

Western Michigan update: Redshirt freshman quarterback Treyson Bourguet had his best game as a Bronco last week, finishing 24-of-39 passing for 328 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Jalen Buckley will get a heavy workload and is on pace for a 1,000-yard season, while Anthony Sambucci is Western Michigan’s top receiver.

The Broncos have struggled mightily on defense, ranking second to last in the MAC and 121st out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in scoring defense. They have been especially bad in the red zone, allowing a score on 21 out of 22 trips. But they have been good at getting to the quarterback with 15 sacks, second in their conference.

Western Michigan players to watch: QB Treyson Bourguet, RB Jalen Buckley, LB Donald Willis, DL Mason Nelson, S Tate Hallock.

Prediction: MSU gets the better of Western Michigan in the trenches, paving the way for big games from both Rogers and Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks. The Bulldogs’ defense bends but does not break, getting some much-needed mojo back going into the bye week. Mississippi State 34, Western Michigan 14.