Tennessee-Martin @ Mississippi State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2011 ) Tennessee-Martin 17, Mississippi State 55

Top-ranked Mississippi State appears headed for an easy Saturday when it hosts Tennessee-Martin from the Ohio Valley Conference. The Bulldogs are also atop the College Football Playoff poll and must avoid overlooking the Skyhawks with a showdown looming against Alabama. Mississippi State will look to clean up its offense against UT Martin after committing eight turnovers over the last three games and needing to overcome a 10-point deficit to defeat Arkansas last Saturday.

The Bulldogs are vying for a 9-0 start for only the second time in school history and their 11-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak behind Florida State's (24). Quarterback Dak Prescott is among the leading Heisman Trophy candidates thanks to his ability to both throw (2,025 yards, 16 touchdowns) and run (725 yards, 10 TDs). The Skyhawks are 1-17 all-time against FBS schools – they beat Memphis in 2012 – and fell to 0-4 against SEC schools when they were clobbered 59-14 by Kentucky this season.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: None.

ABOUT TENNESSEE-MARTIN (5-5): The Skyhawks are getting big production from running back Abou Toure, who has rushed for 886 yards and eight touchdowns. Toure, who began his college career at Utah State, rolled up 234 rushing yards – third-most in UT Martin history – and scored three touchdowns in last week’s win over Murray State. Quarterback Jarod Neal has passed for 1,681 yards and 13 touchdowns while linebackers Devontay Barnett (65 tackles, 11 for losses) and Tony Bell (60 tackles, 17 for losses) lead the defense.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (8-0): Prescott is only the second-leading rusher on the Bulldogs as Josh Robinson has emerged to enjoy a big season. Robinson has rushed for 951 yards and 11 scores – topped by a career-best 198 yards against Kentucky – and is closing in on the school’s first 1,000-yard rushing season since LaDarius Perkins had 1,024 in 2012. Defensively, linebacker Benardrick McKinney leads the way with 50 tackles – including three sacks – and linebacker Richie Brown and cornerback Will Redmond share the team lead with three interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mississippi State won the lone previous meeting, 45-17 in 2011.

2. Bell is UT Martin’s all-time career sacks leader with 20.

3. Bulldogs WR De’Runnya Wilson has a team-best six touchdown receptions but hasn’t caught one since Oct. 11.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 59, Tennessee-Martin 12