Mississippi State @ South Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2011 ) South Carolina 14, Mississippi State 12

With its division title hopes rejuvenated, No. 16 South Carolina returns home Saturday to take on struggling Mississippi State in a Southeastern Conference cross-divisional matchup. After entering the game in the third quarter and engineering a comeback last week against Missouri, South Carolina starting quarterback Connor Shaw is questionable this week. While he overcame a knee sprain last week, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said Shaw didn’t practice Monday or Tuesday because of a virus, meaning Dylan Thompson once again could get the start under center.

Mississippi State is coming off an SEC victory of its own - its first of the season - on Oct. 24 over Kentucky but still faces an uphill battle for bowl eligibility with games at No. 12 Texas A&M and at home against No. 1 Alabama over the next two weeks. The Bulldogs, who lost five of their final six games in 2012, will have to step it up to avoid a similar fate this season. “We see it as a great opportunity. A great opportunity against the teams to show the world what we’ve got,” Bulldogs defensive back Cedric Jiles told the Jackson Clarion Ledger.

TV: 12:21 p.m., ET, ESPN3. LINE: South Carolina -13

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (6-2, 4-2 SEC): The Gamecocks are coming off their biggest win of the season, rallying back from a 17-0 fourth-quarter deficit to win 27-24 at Missouri and cut the Tigers’ lead in the SEC East to a single game. Running back Mike Davis has been quick to fill former Gamecocks star Marcus Lattimore’s shoes, leading the SEC in rushing yards per game this season with 116.2. While defensive end Jadeveon Clowney gets the majority of the headlines for South Carolina on the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles also has terrorized opponents’ backfields this season, racking up 10 tackles for loss thus far - good for second in the league - and is the SEC’S reigning Defensive Lineman of the Week.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-3, 1-2): Despite being kicked in the left shin by a fellow student on Mississippi State’s campus early this week, according to the school’s website, dual-threat quarterback Dak Prescott will get the start for the Bulldogs. Prescott has just five touchdowns against three interceptions since taking over for an injured Tyler Russell in the opening week, but he has rushed for over 100 yards three times in the Bulldogs' last five games. On defense, linebackers Benardrick McKinney and Deontae Skinner both are coming off season-high tackling performances against Kentucky.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mississippi State has lost six straight to South Carolina dating back to 1999.

2. South Carolina’s current 14-game home winning streak is tied for second-longest in the nation with Ohio State, trailing only Michigan (19).

3. Bulldogs G Gabe Jackson will make his 47th consecutive start Saturday, the second-longest streak in the nation behind Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray.

PREDICTION: South Carolina 31, Mississippi State 10