Mississippi State vs. Kentucky – Game Preview – October 15, 2022 – ESPN

No. 16 Mississippi State (5-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 22 Kentucky (4-2, 1-2), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Community)

Line: Mississippi State by 4 1/2 in line with

Sequence: Mississippi State leads 25-24.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Mississippi State has outscored opponents 127-55 throughout its three-game successful streak, its longest below coach Mike Leach, and seeks to enter SEC West competition. Kentucky has dropped two straight and hopes QB Will Levis returns from a left foot harm that saved him out of Saturday’s 24-14 residence loss to South Carolina.

KEY MATCHUP

Mississippi State QB Will Rogers vs. Kentucky go protection. The SEC’s high passer (2,110 yards, 22 TDs) has thrown for 1,133 yards and 12 touchdowns the previous three video games, together with 395 with three TDs in a 40-17 victory over Arkansas. He turned the convention’s profession chief with 946 completions and is one TD shy of tying Dak Prescott’s college report of 70 passing TDs. Kentucky counters with the SEC’s No. 3 go protection (174.2 yards allowed per sport) and third-ranked unit general (307.2).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi State: LB Jett Johnson has a team-high 57 tackles that rank fourth within the SEC. He had 11 stops final week in opposition to Arkansas and recorded a career-best 13 within the opener in opposition to Memphis. Johnson’s totals embrace 2.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and a go breakup. He recovered a fumble in final 12 months’s win over Kentucky in Starkville.

Kentucky: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed 22 instances for 126 yards in opposition to South Carolina in his second sport again from suspension and moved into fifth place on the varsity’s profession record with 2,938.

FACTS AND FIGURES

MSU is off to its greatest begin since going 6-0 in 2014 on the best way to a No. 1 rating. … Dillon Johnson final week turned the primary Bulldog to hurry for 100 yards below Leach. His 402 yards rank eighth amongst SEC rushers. … Caleb Ducking ranks second within the SEC with seven receiving TDs. … Kentucky’s 25 sacks allowed ranks 129th out of 131 FBS faculties. … LB DeAndre Sq. wants 15 tackles to develop into the twentieth Wildcat with 300 in his profession. Jacquez Jones, who missed the South Carolina sport with an harm, wants one.

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