Kentucky @ Mississippi State preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2016 ) Mississippi State 38, Kentucky 40

Kentucky has struggled against a variety of non-Power 5 teams this season, but the bottom line is the Wildcats are 5-1 and squarely in the SEC East race heading into Saturday’s road game against Mississippi State. The Wildcats aim to reach 6-1 for the second time in 40 years, and head coach Mark Stoops is not apologizing for his team surviving against the likes of Missouri, Eastern Michigan and Eastern Kentucky, three teams with a combined record of 4-14.

“Finding ways to win, and putting yourself in a position to win football games is bottom line, and I think this team has done that very well,” Stoops told reporters Monday. Mississippi State’s once-promising season took a sharp turn south after being outscored 80-13 in losses to Alabama and Georgia, but the Bulldogs rebounded in beating BYU last week. Mississippi State comes into this matchup averaging 261.7 rushing yards per game (third in the SEC), a strength that will be challenged by a Kentucky defense allowing just 97.2 yards on the ground (also third in the league). “They attack you from a lot of different directions,” Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen told reporters Monday. “They pose some unique challenges.”

TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Mississippi State -11

ABOUT KENTUCKY (5-1, 2-1 SEC): The Wildcats used last week’s bye to get healthy, as linebacker Jordan Jones looks ready to return this week. Kentucky’s duo of defensive end Josh Allen and linebacker Denzil Ware have combined for 19.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and 29 tackles for loss, helping the Wildcats rank 10th nationally in rushing defense. Running back Benny Snell Jr. is fifth in the SEC in rushing yards per game (87.2).

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-2, 1-2): Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two scores against BYU, helping the Bulldogs surpass 500 yards of total offense for the third time in six games. Running back Aeris Williams recorded his fifth career 100-yard rushing game with 114 last week and ranks sixth in the SEC in rushing yards (523). The Bulldogs defense leads the nation in first downs allowed (72), ranks fourth in passing defense (155 yards per game) and is eighth in total defense (284.8 yards per contest).

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bulldogs have scored 35 points or more nine times in their past 13 games dating to last season.

2. Kentucky QB Stephen Johnson is 12-5 in his past 17 starts and has eight touchdown passes of 40-plus yards (fifth in school history).

3. Kentucky K Austin MacGinnis booted a 51-yard field goal as time expired as the Wildcats beat the Bulldogs last season 40-38, snapping a seven-game Mississippi State winning streak in the series and tying the all-time series at 22-22.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 21, Kentucky 17