Predictions

Game Predictions:
Kentucky has to come into this game a little bit on the angry side after narrowly missing a chance to upset Auburn two weeks ago, then getting blown out of the tub vs. Georgia last week. MSU is breathing a sigh of relief after almost getting supplanted by UAB on its home field. Coach Dan Mullen hopes to find that confidence that his team showed in the win at Florida. Because last week, though it was a win, was an awful performance that brought out the boo-birds from the stands at times.

What’s At Stake:
Both teams are still in the hunt for solid bowl destinations. The losing team has to worry about having their season go into the tank and missing out on the post-season altogether.

Three Things That Kentucky Must Do:
1- Play ball control.
Mike Hartline and Co. are way better offensively than State and can move the ball on anyone. If they can keep sustained drives all game long, it will wear down the Dogs D and lead to some easy scores.
2- Go big.
WR Randall Cobb and RB Derrick Locke (scratched from the game--- ugh, but Raymond Sanders is pretty good) are great talents, but against MSU’s smallish corners, UK needs to utilize 6’6″ Chris Matthews and 6’4″ La’Rod King to open up the offense even more and get some big plays.
3- Gotta lock down the run.
MSU is 15th in the country in running the ball and UK is 89th in defending it. That’s not a good formula for the Cats. D-Coordinator Steve Brown has an experienced front four to work with and will need to have their best game yet.

Wanna win some green?
Kentucky has gone “over” on the over-under line in seven straight games.
Three Things That Mississippi State Must Do:
1- Use your brains man.
The Bulldogs made some awful mental blunders against the Blazers, including some needless penalties and poor decisions that kept the game close. Must clean that up guys, because this is SEC play again.
2- Use your playmakers.
LaDarius Perkins, Brandon Heavens and Chad Bumphis 9stupidest name ever) are two of the lesser-known yet more exciting players in the SEC. They’ll need to be difference-makers here against Kentucky’s questionable defense, especially in the running game.
3- Play with more confidence.
The UAB game was awful. The body language of the Bulldogs was obvious and the team looked defeated most of the time. The coaching staff needs to get their team to do a 180 in preparation for this game.
Wanna win some more green?
The Dogs have failed to cover in three of the last four games with Kentucky that have been played in Starkville.

The Pick:
MSU’s tenuous trip in the Top 25 will come to an end here.
Kentucky 41-31.

As always!
#GoCats
#FreeEnes