LSU and Mississippi State begin their respective SEC seasons when the Bulldogs visit Tiger Stadium Saturday night.
How to watch LSU vs. Mississippi State: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds
The Tigers and Bulldogs open SEC play Saturday night in Death Valley.
Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Both teams have had a mix of close calls and easy wins. LSU had to rally from a 24-7 deficit midway through the third quarter to get past Wisconsin in the season opener, but the Tigers rolled over Same Houston State and Louisiana-Monroe in their last two games to the tune of 87-0. With significant contributions from a number of talented freshmen, some inconsistency is to be expected.
Mississippi State thumped Southern Miss, 49-0, to start the year, and the Bulldogs are coming off a 35-7 win over South Alabama. But in between there's a closer-than-expected 47-34 victory over UAB. Fans in Starkville are hoping for a breakout year, but quarterback Dak Prescott will have to improve on his 59.7 completion percentage for that to happen. With a tough slate ahead, the next month may define the Dan Mullen era.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Radio: LSU; Mississippi State
Online streaming: WatchESPN
More from our team sites
The numbers
Rankings and records: LSU is 3-0 and ranked No. 3 in the ESPN Coaches’ Poll and AP Top 25. Mississippi State also enters at 3-0 and is in the “others receiving votes” category of both polls.
Vegas: LSU opened as a seven-point favorite, and the line has jumped to 10 points at most sportsbooks. The over/under is set at 50.
Weather forecast: 71 degrees and mostly clear.
Two things at stake
It’s the conference opener for LSU and State, and its an intra-divisional game. With Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Texas A&M left on the schedule for both, a loss Saturday could end any SEC Championship Game aspirations.
Mullen has beaten Ole Miss a few times, but he hasn’t been able to come up with a signature win against one of the SEC’s elite. This might be his best chance.
One big matchup
LSU WR Travin Dural vs. Mississippi State’s secondary
Yes, LSU has a great stable of running backs, and yes, Mississippi State will have to stop the Tigers’ ground attack if the Bulldogs are going to have a chance to win. But if they’re not careful, Dural might go wild.
In three games, the sophomore is averaging 123.3 yards, and he’s already scored four touchdowns. And all that’s coming on just 12 receptions, an average of four per game. Obviously, Dural is a big-play threat who can take it to the house from anywhere on the field. If State’s DBs get caught creeping toward the backfield to stop the run, Dural will make them pay.
Further reading
For more Mississippi State coverage, visit For Whom the Cowbell Tolls. For all things LSU, check out And the Valley Shook. Team Speed Kills is the place to get your SEC fix.
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