Texas A&M vs. Miss State Prediction
Since its upset win over LSU in its season-opener, Mississippi State has dropped back-to-back games versus unranked opponents in Arkansas and Kentucky. Will the Bulldogs rebound on Saturday afternoon when they host No. 11 Texas A&M or will the Aggies roll for bettors today?
Game Snapshot
143 Texas A&M Aggies (-5) at 144 Mississippi State Bulldogs (+5); o/u 55.5
Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
4:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, October 17, 2020
TV: ESPN
Texas A&M Aggies Game Notes
Texas A&M senior QB Kellen Mond completed 25-of-35 throws for 338 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s 41-38 victory over Florida. Mond broke Jerrod Johnson’s school record for passing yards in the game with a 30-yard strike to Ainias Smith in the first half. Perhaps most importantly, Mond (6’3/217) avoided turnovers. Despite the strong stat line, as has frequently been the case in his career, Mond left onlookers wanting a little more. Mond, a talented dual-threat prospect, has a bad habit of mitigating what he’s capable of because he can fall into robotic spurts in the pocket where his progressions become lethargic, losing him valuable time. During the game, Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline tweeted: “My feeling on Kellen Mond three weeks into the TAMU season remain the same as they were over the summer. He’s a physically gifted prospect who will need time and a real good quarterback coach at the next level.” A Day 2 prospect on our board right now, Mond and the Aggies get Mississippi State next week.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Game Notes
Mississippi State HC Mike Leach said he may need to “purge” the roster and “figure out who really wants to be here” following Saturday’s brutal 24-2 loss to Kentucky. It is one thing to be frustrated as a coach after your team throws six interceptions and loses to Kentucky. It is another to outright say you want to purge the roster in the middle of the season. “We’re going to have to check some of our group and figure out who really wants to play here . . . because any malcontents, we’re going to have to purge a couple of those.” Whether or not Leach will actually force players off the team is to be seen, as opposed to this just being a scare tactic, but it’s clear the HC’s plan for the season is no longer on track despite the early upset over LSU.
Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State Betting Prediction
Despite what Leach said about “purging” his roster, Mississippi State isn’t as bad as what it showed last week in Kentucky. The Bulldogs also aren’t as good as what they showed in their upset win over LSU, but they’re more component than what we saw last Saturday night in their 2-point effort versus the Wildcats. Meanwhile, the Aggies are ripe for the picking from a betting standpoint. They’re coming off a dramatic 41-38 victory over No. 4 Florida in which the two sides left everything on the field in a wild, back-and-forth affair that came down to the wire. Now A&M is taking on a Miss State team that yes, beat LSU, but has also dropped back-to-back games and showed little to no offense a week ago. How can anyone assume the Aggies will get up for this one? I think the Bulldogs catch the Aggies napping and at least covers.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 7 BETTING PREDICTION: MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS +5