Mississippi State @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2016 ) Texas A&M 28, Mississippi State 35

It has been an all-or-nothing kind of season for Mississippi State, which will look to record its third consecutive blowout victory Saturday night against host Texas A&M. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 80-17 over the previous two games following a pair of one-sided defeats, and will look to tame an Aggies team that has looked terrific in conference play.

Every one of Mississippi State's games this season has been decided by 25 or more points - and thankfully for the Bulldogs, they've been on the right side of the ledger in back-to-back drubbings of BYU and Kentucky. "We still got it," wide receiver Donald Grey said after the game. "We've still got some growing to do, but we haven't fallen all the way off." The maturity continues Saturday against Texas A&M, which had a bye last week but is coming off a narrow victory over Florida and gave top-ranked Alabama its toughest test of the season the week before that. This weekend marks the opener of a three-game homestand for the Aggies, and the home team has won the last four meetings in the series.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Mississippi State -1.5

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-2, 2-2 SEC): Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was humbled in losses to Georgia and Auburn - throwing for just 260 yards with four interceptions in the defeats - but has righted the ship with nearly 400 passing yards and seven total scores - including four on the ground - over the past two games. Fitzgerald has spread the wealth, with seven Mississippi State receivers accounting for the team's 11 scores through the air; no player has more than two receiving touchdowns to date. He has also benefited from a sensational showing from a Bulldogs offensive line that has surrendered just three sacks; only Army has allowed fewer among Division I schools.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (5-2, 3-1): That Mississippi State line will face its stiffest test of the season Saturday against a relentless Aggies pass rush that leads the nation in total sacks (28) and sack yards lost (175). Texas A&M had five sacks against Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks and came close several other times. The Aggies' defense also rank in the top 10 nationally in average tackles for loss per game (8.0) and has been on the field for just 475 snaps, more than 100 fewer than it had through seven games last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mississippi State has made good on 48.1 percent of third-down opportunities this season, 13th-best in the country.

2. Texas A&M RT Keaton Sutherland is expected to be back in the lineup after missing the win over Florida with appendicitis.

3. Aggies pass-throwers rank 95th in the nation in completion rate (55.1 percent).

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 31, Texas A&M 28