Missouri Tigers vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 23rd 2024
Preview and Prediction
Following their elimination from the College Football Playoff race, the 23rd ranked Missouri team has shifted their focus towards securing the best possible bowl game opportunity.
This will serve as the driving force for the Tigers (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) as they travel to Starkville, Mississippi to face off against Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6) on Saturday.
"Our main goal is to finish strong," stated quarterback Brady Cook. "With only two weeks left, we want to secure nine wins in the regular season and ultimately reach 10 wins with a bowl game. That is our ultimate goal."
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Cook made his return to the field last Saturday after recovering from wrist and ankle injuries. He threw for 237 yards and a late touchdown, but unfortunately, the Tigers fell short in a last-second 34-30 loss to South Carolina.
"Despite dealing with multiple injuries that haven't fully healed, Brady made the decision to play, just like he did in previous years. This is a testament to his leadership and dedication to his team," said Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz.
Due to a lingering foot injury, Nate Noel was not able to perform at his full potential for the Tigers. However, he was able to rush for 150 yards and score a touchdown in their last game.
Mississippi State has struggled defensively this season, allowing over 40 points in four games. However, in their most recent game against Tennessee, they only allowed 13 points in the second half of a 33-14 loss.
The Bulldogs have found success in their running game, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and gaining a total of 179 yards in their last game against Tennessee. Davon Booth led the team with 125 yards on 20 carries.
"Their running game has been very effective in the past four weeks," noted Drinkwitz.
Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. has thrown for 1,415 yards and nine touchdowns for Mississippi State. However, he has also thrown five interceptions and has been sacked 22 times.
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Missouri will have to keep a close eye on wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., who has caught 62 passes for 756 yards and five touchdowns this season.
"He is a dynamic wide receiver with exceptional route-running skills and the ability to gain yards after the catch. In my opinion, he is one of the most challenging wide receivers to defend in the SEC," said Drinkwitz.
As a first-year coach, Jeff Lebby is still in the process of building the Mississippi State program.
"As we come to the end of the season, these players have played a crucial role in laying the foundation for our program. They have given us the opportunity to build something sustainable, which is why it is important for us to finish strong for these older players," said Lebby.
During their bye week, the Bulldogs had extra time to prepare for their upcoming game against Missouri.
"We have a chance to finish the season on a high note," stated Lebby. "Our focus is on playing our best football in these last two games and creating a vision for the future. We have a tough opponent in Missouri this weekend, and our goal is to handle what we can control and give our best performance of the year on Saturday."