Mississippi State is back on the road in SEC play this week, traveling to Columbia to take on Missouri in primetime on SEC Network.
Here’s a look at who has the edge at each position.
Quarterback
Both teams have the unfortunate task of readying freshman quarterbacks for action due to injuries to starters, but MSU head coach Jeff Lebby expressed his confidence in Kamario Taylor should he have to start in place of Blake Shapen.
Taylor saw action in both the Georgia and Arkansas games after big hits knocked Shapen out of action, and the freshman has proven more than capable of leading drives down the field and finding the end zone. Taylor has eight total touchdowns to his name this year, with five in the last two games.
Mizzou on the other hand has seen a steep drop off since freshman Matt Zollers had to take over for Beau Pribula. The freshman has taken good care of the ball, but has just one touchdown while carrying a limited load for the offense.
Even without Shapen, MSU has the edge here.
Edge: Mississippi State
Running back
Davon Booth and Fluff Bothwell had another slow week against Georgia, but even at their best they haven’t produced quite like the Tigers’ backs this season.
Ahmad Hardy, a Mississippi native, leads the Tigers, and most of the country for that matter, with 1,046 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on 6.1 yards per carry.
Hardy also has a very talented supporting act in Jamal Roberts, who has 538 yards and an average of 6.25 yards per carry this season.
Both players have greater tallies than either MSU back, and their success will likely determine how effective the Tigers can be against an MSU defense that has struggled to stop big plays on the ground in recent weeks.
Edge: Mizzou
Wide receiver/tight end
One of MSU’s biggest strengths has remained effective even with starting QB Shapen off the field in recent weeks. Brenen Thompson is tied with Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II at 808 receiving yards this season, and Anthony Evans isn’t too far behind at 680 yards.
The Tigers will have a familiar face out wide in former Bulldog Kevin Coleman Jr., who has 559 yards this season, but Marquis Johnson and Donovan Olugbode have been reliable playmakers as well, as has tight end Brett Norfleet, who leads the team with five receiving touchdowns.
This one is a slight edge for the Bulldogs.
Edge: Mississippi State
Offensive line
This one, like last week, is not close.
The Tigers have allowed 17 sacks this season compared to 32 by MSU, and while sacks are a quarterback statistic as well, it’s more than fair to point to the struggling offensive line for pass protection issues with the Bulldogs.
Mizzou, on the other hand, has one of the top-graded offensive tackles in FBS with Keagen Trost. The rushing offense as a whole ranks eighth in FBS, with the Tigers averaging 232.3 yards per game.
Edge: Mizzou
Defensive line
Again, the Tigers have the edge in the trenches.
The pass-rush duo of Damon Wilson II and Zion Young has a combined 11.5 sacks this season, and gets plenty of help on the line from Darris Smith, Sterling Webb and Chris McClellan. It’s a deep unit that can make life very difficult for the Bulldogs up front.
Edge: Mizzou
Linebackers
Mizzou’s front end is loaded, with playmakers like Josiah Trotter and Khalil Jacobs filling the gaps between the defensive line to help stop the run. Trotter leads the team with 59 total and 30 solo tackles, and his quick step off the snap is a big reason why teams have struggled to rush against the Tigers.
Mizzou’s defense ranks 20th in FBS in stopping the run, allowing just 107.3 yards per game, and the linebackers are a big reason why.
Edge: Mizzou
Secondary
This one still goes to the Bulldogs, although the Georgia game was a rude awakening for a group that has proven strong in most contests this season. Cornerback Kelley Jones remains one of the most effective perimeter defenders in college football, but the Bulldogs were burned for eight explosive plays through the air with coverage struggles, missed tackles and missed reads by the secondary against UGA.
The Tigers have some reliable pass defenders as well, but have been limited in terms of takeaways this season.
Edge: Mississippi State
Special teams
The Tigers have three kickers capable of making field goals on their roster, though Robert Meyer has made most of them. He is 9-12 on the season, replacing Blake Craig after he suffered a season-ending injury in September, but has not attempted a kick of 50 yards or more yet.
Kyle Ferrie is also 9-12, kicking 2-2 from 50+ for MSU while missing three kicks in the 40-49 yard range.
With comparable production in the kicking game, it’s hard to separate here.
Edge: Even
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