[10:15 PM] Mississippi State @ Brigham Young

Who will WIN this matchup?

Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-3)

@ Brigham Young Cougars (3-3)

 

Current odds:

Mississippi State Bulldogs: (+240)

Brigham Young Cougars: (-280)

 

• ESPN simulations have Brigham Young as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Brigham Young to win as (TBD) underdogs.

• The line for this game is BYU by 7 points.

• After a big road win over one Power 5 team, BYU aims to make it two in a row when it returns home to take on Mississippi State on Friday night. Following five games decided by a total of 11 points to open the season, the Cougars impressed with a 31-14 win at Michigan State on Saturday in a game that was more one-sided than the score might suggest.

• Sophomore Nick Fitzgerald leads the Bulldogs in passing (784 yards) and rushing (390), almost all of which has come in the four games since he was benched in a season-opening loss. He is averaging 152.5 rushing yards in two wins and 28.3 in the three losses, and when he turns to the air Fitzgerald often finds senior Fred Ross (29 catches, 317 yards, five TDs). Defensive end A.J. Jefferson continues to dominate on the other side of the ball with nine tackles for a loss, good for third in the SEC, and fellow senior Richie Brown recorded 14 tackles – the highest total for a Bulldog since 2012 – in the loss to Auburn.

• The Cougars have been incredibly balanced thus far, totaling 1,264 passing yards and 1,260 rushing as they ride Williams and senior quarterback Taysom Hill. The latter had TDs through the air and on the ground against the Spartans while making it through his second straight game without an interception, a notable development after he tossed six in a three-game span earlier in the season. Williams needs 64 yards to become the school’s all-time leading rusher, a position currently held by Cougars graduate assistant coach Harvey Unga (3,455).

• Ross has five touchdown catches in his last four games.

• Williams ranks second in FBS play with 10 rushing TDs.

• Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen went 2-0 against the Cougars while serving as Utah’s quarterback coach in 2003-04.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Brigham Young Cougars

Confidence: 7/10

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