First time Nos. 1 have had trouble on the road in the past -- will Mississippi State be any different? The Bulldogs travel to face a resurgent Kentucky Wildcats squad Saturday.
How to watch Mississippi State vs. Kentucky: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Can the Wildcats knock off the top team in the country?
Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Mississippi State is one of the few undefeateds left, rising to the top of the polls after three straight victories over top-10 opponents. Two of those three teams have tumbled significantly since (LSU and Texas A&M), but the Bulldogs' win over Auburn still stands as one of the best in the country. Mississippi State has a Heisman contender in quarterback Dak Prescott, a strong group of skill players to support him and a ferocious defense playing on top of its game.
This game is a huge recruiting opportunity for Kentucky, but it’s also a chance for the Wildcats to grab bowl eligibility. Kentucky has improved under Mark Stoops in his brief time at the school both in talent acquisition and in on-field results, and SEC wins over Vanderbilt and South Carolina currently have the Wildcats at .500 in conference play. A win here would take them above that mark, clinch a bowl spot and likely see the recruiting boom under Stoops reach new heights.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET.
TV: CBS
Online streaming: CBSSports.com.
Our blogs on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Mississippi State is ranked No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. Kentucky is unranked in both polls. The Bulldogs are 6-0, with a 3-0 record in SEC play. The Wildcats are 5-2, with a 2-2 record in SEC play. Kentucky holds a 21-20 lead in the all-time series, but Mississippi State has won the last five games between the two schools.
Vegas: Mississippi State opened as a 13-point favorite. The line is now minus-15, with an over/under of 59.
Weather forecast: High of 71 and partly cloudy.
Two things at stake
A loss would hurt Mississippi State’s playoff chances significantly.
A win for Kentucky would be its biggest under Stoops and would grant the Wildcats bowl eligibility.
One big matchup
Dak Prescott vs. Ketucky secondary. Prescott is likely the Heisman front-runner, and it’s easy to see why. Beyond the general “quarterback on the top-ranked team” distinction, the junior has 22 total touchdowns on the season. The Wildcats have playmaking ability in their secondary, with 12 interceptions on the season and three different players with multiple picks. They have yet to allow 300 yards passing in a game, and have held four opponents under 200 yards.
Further reading
For full coverage of Mississippi State, head to For Whom the Cowbell Tolls. For more on Kentucky, check out A Sea of Blue.
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