Texas A&M Aggies vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 19th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Texas A&M is soaring after an impressive triumph, but the 14th-ranked Aggies are determined not to falter on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Starkville, Mississippi for a Southeastern Conference showdown against Mississippi State.
The Aggies (5-1, 3-0) are coming off their most impressive win of the season - a dominant 41-10 victory over then-No. 9 Missouri on October 5th. Le'Veon Moss ran for a career-best 138 yards and three touchdowns against the previously undefeated Tigers, propelling his team from No. 25 to No. 14 in the AP Top 25 rankings.
"We are in a mindset of growth. ... We are striving to improve every single day," stated Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, whose team had a bye week last week.
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Moss ranks second in the SEC and 17th nationally in rushing yards per game (101.5), but it certainly helps when Conner Weigman is as efficient as he was against Missouri (18 of 22 for a season-high 276 yards).
Meanwhile, Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3) is in the midst of a tough stretch against top-15 teams. The Bulldogs suffered a 35-13 loss to No. 1 Texas on September 28th and then fell short against No. 5 Georgia 41-31 last weekend - both games on the road. Now, they return home to face their third consecutive ranked opponent and try to avoid their sixth straight defeat.
Michael Van Buren Jr. had a strong showing against Georgia, throwing for 306 yards and three touchdowns in a competitive loss. Kelly Akharaiyi caught two touchdown passes, while Kevin Coleman Jr. led the receiving corps with eight receptions for 103 yards.
"They answered the challenge, they answered the call," said Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby, whose team is starting a true freshman (Van Buren) at quarterback after losing starter Blake Shapen (shoulder) for the season. "I hate that we're sitting here disappointed, frustrated, that we're not on the right side of it. But our guys are continuing to fight like crazy for each other. And I'm proud of them."
The Bulldogs were actually the first team since Tennessee in 2016 to score at least 30 points against Georgia in Athens.
"I think they're starting to establish an identity," Elko remarked.
On the defensive side, Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith will likely be a key focus for the Texas A&M game plan. Smith ranks second in the SEC with 56 tackles, which is good for 12th nationally.
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For the Aggies, defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe is a crucial contributor with three interceptions in the last five games, while Nic Scourton leads Texas A&M with 4.5 sacks.
From a broader perspective, the two programs have had opposite seasons thus far. Mississippi State won their opener before dropping five consecutive games, while Texas A&M lost their first game against then-No. 7 Notre Dame before winning five straight contests.
Texas A&M had lost two consecutive meetings with Mississippi State before dominating them in a 51-10 victory in last year's matchup. However, the Aggies have struggled in Starkville, losing four of their last five road games against the Bulldogs.
"We haven't had much success in Starkville as a program," Elko admitted. "That's something we're very aware of. So we're going to have to play our best football to come out on top on Saturday."
Texas A&M Aggies vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Buddy Johnson and Aaron Hansford paced a dominating defensive performance as the 11th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies cruised to a 28-14 over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss.
Johnson and Hansford combined for 21 tackles, two TFLs and two sacks as the Aggies (3-1, 3-1 SEC) limited the Bulldogs to 217 yards and 3.6 yards per play. The Aggies totaled six sacks, forced two turnovers and blocked a punt that resulted in a first-and-goal at the Bulldogs' 1-yard line.
Hansford sacked Bulldogs quarterback K.J. Costello just prior to the blocked punt, with Aggies linebacker Chris Russell recording the block on Bulldogs punter Tucker Day. Aggies running back Isaiah Spiller, who capped an 8-play, 66-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter, added his second scoring run on the ensuing snap after the block.
Johnson forced a Costello fumble with his sack midway through the third quarter, with Jayden Peevy returning the fumble 19 yards to the Bulldogs 8. Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond followed with a 6-yard scoring pass to Ainias Smith that pushed the Aggies to a 28-7 lead.
Costello, who tossed his FBS-high 10th interception in the first quarter, was benched following his fumble.
Will Rogers provided able relief, completing 15 of 18 attempts for 120 yards and a 32-yard touchdown pass to Malik Heath with 11:11 left to play that snapped a stretch of 28 consecutive scoreless drives for the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State recorded its first touchdown when Emmanuel Forbes returned a deflected pass 60 yards with 11:38 left in the third quarter.
Mond, the SEC Offensive Player of the Week following his 300-yard, three-touchdown effort against No. 4 Florida last weekend, had a modest showing with 139 passing yards and two scores. His 51-yard touchdown pass to Chase Lane at the 10:05 mark of the third served as a response to Forbes' pick-6 and allowed the Aggies to reclaim their two-touchdown advantage.
Spiller rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns against a Bulldogs (1-3, 1-3 SEC) rush defense that entered play ranked fifth nationally, allowing just 75 yards per game.