Texas A&M
6th SEC10-2
Mississippi State
8th SEC8-4
Texas A&M @ Mississippi State preview
Davis Wade Stadium
No. 18 Mississippi got its first taste of top competition last weekend and realized it has a little more work to do to get to the top tier of the SEC. A home win over No. 16 Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon would be a step in the right direction. The Bulldogs were trounced at Alabama 38-7 in their first game of the season against a ranked team and will continue to fight through the teeth of the SEC with a trip to LSU after the Aggies. Texas A&M has had its own troubles with ranked conference foes but has been impressive offensively against everyone else. Freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel bounced back from a rough performance at LSU by totaling five touchdowns in last Saturday’s 63-21 triumph over Auburn. Texas A&M will test its third-ranked scoring offense against Mississippi State’s stingy defense as both schools try to stay in the running for second place in the SEC West.
TV: 12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Texas A&M -7
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (6-2, 3-2 SEC): The Aggies’ only two losses came at home against Florida and LSU by a total of eight points. Not coincidently, those happened to be the only two games in which Texas A&M managed less than 30 points. With a trip to Alabama set for Nov. 10, Manziel and company are going to need to learn how to attack a top SEC defense. They have had no problems against the rest of their schedule. In Texas A&M’s six wins, Manziel has thrown for 1,767 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 706 yards and 12 scores. His five TD performance against Auburn last weekend came despite sitting out most of the second half with the big lead. Manziel’s performance has made up for a lack of explosiveness on the other side of the ball. The Aggies defense has not forced a turnover in the last three games.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (7-1, 3-1): Bulldogs quarterback Tyler Russell hasn’t gotten much publicity but has been one of the most consistent and productive QBs in the country. The junior ranks fourth nationally with a 15-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has been able to lean on running back LaDarius Perkins most of the season. Both Russell and Perkins were held out of the end zone for the first time this season in the loss at Alabama. The weak competition earlier in the season allowed the defense to put up some impressive numbers but Alabama’s size and strength up front exposed the Bulldogs’ line. The Aggies will provide a different test because of Manziel. While All-American defensive back Johnthan Banks leads a strong secondary, the front seven will still have to deal with Manziel outside of the pocket. Mississippi State allowed the Crimson Tide to rush for 179 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The last time two ranked teams met in Starkville, Miss., was on Sep. 20, 2001, when then-No. 18 South Carolina took on the 17th-ranked Bulldogs.
2. Mississippi State is 22-1 in its last 23 games when winning the turnover battle.
3. Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin is 4-3 in his career against ranked teams.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 35, Mississippi State 25
TV: 12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Texas A&M -7
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (6-2, 3-2 SEC): The Aggies’ only two losses came at home against Florida and LSU by a total of eight points. Not coincidently, those happened to be the only two games in which Texas A&M managed less than 30 points. With a trip to Alabama set for Nov. 10, Manziel and company are going to need to learn how to attack a top SEC defense. They have had no problems against the rest of their schedule. In Texas A&M’s six wins, Manziel has thrown for 1,767 yards, 16 touchdowns and three interceptions while rushing for 706 yards and 12 scores. His five TD performance against Auburn last weekend came despite sitting out most of the second half with the big lead. Manziel’s performance has made up for a lack of explosiveness on the other side of the ball. The Aggies defense has not forced a turnover in the last three games.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (7-1, 3-1): Bulldogs quarterback Tyler Russell hasn’t gotten much publicity but has been one of the most consistent and productive QBs in the country. The junior ranks fourth nationally with a 15-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has been able to lean on running back LaDarius Perkins most of the season. Both Russell and Perkins were held out of the end zone for the first time this season in the loss at Alabama. The weak competition earlier in the season allowed the defense to put up some impressive numbers but Alabama’s size and strength up front exposed the Bulldogs’ line. The Aggies will provide a different test because of Manziel. While All-American defensive back Johnthan Banks leads a strong secondary, the front seven will still have to deal with Manziel outside of the pocket. Mississippi State allowed the Crimson Tide to rush for 179 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The last time two ranked teams met in Starkville, Miss., was on Sep. 20, 2001, when then-No. 18 South Carolina took on the 17th-ranked Bulldogs.
2. Mississippi State is 22-1 in its last 23 games when winning the turnover battle.
3. Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin is 4-3 in his career against ranked teams.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 35, Mississippi State 25