LSU vs. Mississippi State Prediction
Number 14 LSU travels to Starkville to face unranked Mississippi State at 12:00 PM ET on Saturday on ESPN. Can the Tigers cover the 9.5-point spread as road favorites this weekend?
LSU is 1-1 straight up this season and 1-1 against the spread. Their only win came against Grambling.
Mississippi State is 2-0 straight up this season and 1-1 against the spread. Their best win came against Arizona.
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
131 LSU Tigers (-9.5) at 132 Mississippi State Bulldogs (+9.5); O/U 54.5
12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2023
Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
LSU vs. Mississippi State Public Betting Information
As of this writing, the public is favoring the Tigers in this game. Our CFB Public Betting page shows that 63% of public bets are on LSU -9.5. Note that these numbers are subject to change and could be different once game time rolls around.
LSU Tigers Game Notes
LSU starting tight end Mason Taylor left his team’s last game with an ankle injury, but he’s officially listed as probable for Saturday’s tilt against Mississippi State. Taylor has 5 catches for 39 yards this season and was third on the team with 414 receiving yards last season. Tigers running back John Emery Jr. has sat out the team’s first two games this season, but he’s listed as probable for Saturday’s game. He had been dealing with an unspecified injury but should be good to go this weekend. Emery was fourth on the team in rushing last season with 375 rushing yards.
Ohio State transfer defensive back JK Johnson is dealing with a rather severe leg injury and he’ll likely be sidelined until December. The St. Louis native was a four-star recruit in the class of 2021 and may make an impact once he returns later this season.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Game Notes
Mississippi State backup free safety Ja’Kobi Albert will miss the rest of the campaign with a knee injury. Albert was a sophomore who transferred to Mississippi State from Kentucky and was expected to take on a key role within the Bulldogs’ defense this season.
The Bulldogs will also be without backup tight end Geor’quarius Spivey this weekend. Spivey transferred to Mississippi State from TCU. The 6’5” 240-pound senior from Monroe, Louisiana was denied an eligibility waiver that would have allowed him to suit up for Mississippi State this year. Spivey had 11 catches for 136 yards and a touchdown as a member of the Horned Frogs last season.
LSU vs. Mississippi State Betting Trends
The over is 9-1 in LSU’s last 10 games.
LSU is 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
Mississippi State was 3-5 ATS in conference games last year.
Mississippi State was 2-3 ATS against ranked opponents last season.
LSU vs. Mississippi State Betting Prediction
LSU got manhandled by Florida State in Orlando during their Week 1 matchup. The Seminoles outscored the Tigers 31-7 in the second half and wound up winning the game 45-24. It wasn’t really that close. LSU proceeded to take care of business the following week against Grambling, as they blew out the Tigers 72-10. I still think LSU is one of the better teams in the country, both when it comes to on-field talent and the quality of head coach Brian Kelly and his staff. The Tigers could still win the SEC West and make it to the SEC Championship Game if they can beat who they’re supposed to beat and do what Texas just did last weekend: beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa. I think it’s far more likely that LSU ascends than falls apart, and I believe that this week’s game in Starkville will be a bit of a turning point for the Tigers. I like LSU to win this one by double digits.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 3 PREDICTION: LSU TIGERS -9.5