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After facing a gauntlet in October, Mississippi State is back home and playing one of the three teams below it in the SEC standings.
The Bulldogs host the Vanderbilt Commodores Saturday in a battle between two of the bottom five teams in the SEC standings. Vanderbilt is 0-5 in the SEC, 3-5 overall, and is in the midst of a five-game losing streak, four of those by double digits.
Here is what to watch for.
What: Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
When: 3:15 p.m.
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville
TV: SEC Network
Betting line: MSU is favored by 2.5, per FanDuel
Weather: Mostly sunny and 61 degrees with North winds at 8 mph, per Accuweather
Records and rankings: Vanderbilt is on a five-game losing streak and is winless in SEC play. The Commodores are 3-5 overall. MSU is on a four-game skid and is 2-4 in SEC play. The Bulldogs are 4-4 overall.
Series history: MSU leads the all-time series 15-7-2.
MSU update: Quarterback AJ Swann and running back Fluff Bothwell were off MSU’s initial injury report, meaning they are good to go for Saturday. Safety Isaac Smith and linebacker Derion Gullette are listed as out along with Kamario Taylor, Jalen Smith, Trevion Williams and Diesel Moye, all four of whom are out for the season.
Linebacker Tyler Lockhart is listed as questionable. Wide receiver Ayden Williams, who has been listed as out all season, is probable.
Vanderbilt update: Vanderbilt has six players ruled out for Saturday: quarterback Blaze Berlowitz, linebacker Josiah Broxton, running back Evan Hampton, linebacker Daniel Vollmer Jr., offensive lineman Gunner Givens and defensive lineman Aaron Bryant.
Defensive lineman Nikhil Jefferson and edge rusher Khalil Poteat are questionable. Cornerback Jaylin Lackley, edge Brian Allen Jr. and linebacker Jamison Curtis are probable.
Prediction: Having Swann and Bothwell healthy and ready to go is huge for MSU. The Bulldog offense finally looked competent with Swann at the helm at Texas, and should score against a Commodore defense giving up 35 points per game in conference play.
MSU 28, Vanderbilt 17
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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