Louisiana State University (LSU) and Mississippi State University (MSU) have been college football rivals since 1893, when the first game between the two teams took place. Although these schools are separated by over 600 miles, they have met every year since their first meeting, with their only interruptions occurring during World War I and II. This November 2nd, the two teams will face off once again, in what promises to be a thrilling battle between two powerhouses of American football in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Quarterback talk
Both teams have started their freshman QBs, who have performed well beyond expectations so far in 2017. Mississippi State’s Keytaon Thompson has 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 64% of his passes through eight games; similarly, LSU’s Myles Brennan has seven touchdowns and one interception while completing 66% of his passes on a route to a 5-3 record for Les Miles’ squad (including wins over Miami and Auburn).
Both Thompson and Brennan are extremely mobile within the pocket; they’re good at avoiding rushers, getting outside, and utilizing their legs to move downfield for either a first down or a touchdown run. As such, don’t be surprised if both QBs take off a few times in Baton Rouge on Saturday night.
What will be interesting to watch is how MSU attempts to defend Brennan’s deep ball against their cornerbacks. In last week’s win over Florida, Brennan threw for 205 yards and four touchdowns on just 11 passes that traveled 10 or more yards in air; he also completed two other long balls (of 22 and 25 yards) which fell incomplete due to dropped passes or inaccurate throws by his receivers.
All about the running backs
LSU’s stable of running backs is really something to watch. Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice are both running backs with great size, speed and vision who can hit a home run any time they touch the ball. But in certain situations, each guy has specific advantages over one another—and it’s important to know when to use which player.
Guice and Fournette are different types of running backs who specialize in different types of runs, so understanding when to use each player is key to a successful rushing attack. Here’s a look at each player’s specialty plays
Guice has been a more effective runner in short yardage situations, with 17 rushing touchdowns and an average of 6.7 yards per carry on second- or third-and-goal from inside the five-yard line compared to Fournette, who has eight rushing touchdowns and averages 4.5 yards per carry in those situations. Guice also gains an extra 0.4 yards per carry in short yardage as well when compared to Fournette (see above).
The receivers and tight ends
LSU’s receivers and tight ends should be able to exploit a vulnerable Mississippi State secondary, especially with young cornerback Johnthan Banks suspended for Saturday night’s game.
LSU has depth at receiver with senior Rueben Randle, junior Terrence Toliver, sophomores James Wright and Russell Shepard, and freshman Odell Beckham Jr., who caught six passes last week against Georgia.
The Bulldogs don’t have an elite pass rusher to worry about, but linebackers Chris White and K.J. Wright are among a handful who have combined for 241⁄2 tackles for loss, including 101⁄2 sacks.
They will be matched against LSU’s big offensive line, anchored by senior guard Will Blackwell, junior tackle Josh Dworaczyk and sophomore center P.J. Lonergan .
The offensive line
The LSU offensive line played one of its worst games in a long time, but it was still able to create running lanes for Derrius Guice. He rushed for over 120 yards on 29 carries and showed his special ability to make defenders miss tackles and run through contact.
The return of Will Clapp should help solidify that group, but even he couldn’t prevent a sack or two from going through on Saturday night against Troy.
LSU also struggled with penalties throughout, committing eight for 60 yards in total. The line was flagged for holding four times and false starts twice, hurting LSU’s ability to control tempo and extend drives downfield on crucial third downs.
The defensive line
The biggest mismatch of Saturday’s matchup will be in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where LSU’s offensive line goes head-to-head with Alabama’s defensive line.
The Crimson Tide’s defense has been rolling since Week 2 and is coming off another strong performance against a Miami offense that averages 397 yards per game on offense.
After scoring just four points through two quarters against Alabama, Miami scored three touchdowns in less than five minutes to close out the third quarter.
But Alabama’s defense didn’t budge in that second half, and as long as it keeps performing at its current level, LSU is going to have a very difficult time putting points on the board.
Summary
The LSU Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs face each other in one of college football’s most historic rivalries. It all starts at 8pm on November 21st, 2017 in Starkville, MS at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. LSU is currently ranked No. 15 with a record of 7-2 while Missisippi St are 4-5 and looking to upset their SEC East rivals and climb back into conference contention for a bowl bid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What channel is LSU Miss State game on?
Watch live on ESPN or stream it online through Sling TV (try a free 7-day trial!) The ESPN app is also available to download on various smart TV devices, mobile devices and gaming systems like XBOX One and PS4. Find out more info here!
What time does LSU play Miss State?
According to Oddsshark, LSU vs. Misssissippi Stataon is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on October 13th, 2018 and will be played in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Which college football network will broadcast LSU-Mississipi State?
Who won the LSU Miss State game?
The LSU Mis siss ippi State game was played at Davis Wade Stadium on October 13, 2017 and won by MSU 41 -3 with a final score of 56-14. At one point in the 1st half, LSU seemed to be gaining ground but it didn’t last for long before MSU got their momentum back up as they dominated and jumped ahead by 28 points.
Conclusion
Looking at these two teams, it’s easy to see that there are advantages on both sides. The game itself will likely come down to execution, and will be sure to provide some exciting plays for viewers throughout LSU-Mississippi State game day! Whether you’re cheering for one of these two teams or simply a fan of football, make sure you don’t miss out on what is sure to be a high-scoring, back and forth battle between these 2 rivals!
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