Kentucky @ Mississippi State preview
Davis Wade Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2009 ) Mississippi State 31, Kentucky 24
The last one wasn't pretty, but when your program hasn't had a five-game winning streak for more than a decade, style points — or lack thereof — aren't a priority.
Nonetheless, No. 23 Mississippi State knows it will have to be sharper to extend that streak to six games when it plays host to Kentucky in a Southeastern Conference matchup Saturday.
The Bulldogs (6-2, 2-2 SEC) kept their winning streak alive with a 29-24 defeat of Alabama-Birmingham last week, maintaining their national ranking in the process. But they needed two late field goals to do it.
The Blazers outgained the Bulldogs 207-103 in the first half, but Mississippi State used its powerful running game to claw back into it and got a school-record five field goals from Derek DePasquale to pull out the victory.
The Bulldogs rank 15th in the nation in rushing with 219.3 yards per game, and they've topped 200 yards in four consecutive games. They kept up that pace last week despite the absence of leading rusher Vick Ballard, who sat out with a sprained ankle.
Even after sitting out last week, Ballard remains tied for the SEC lead with 72 points and 12 touchdowns. He should be back Saturday.
In Ballard's absence, freshman LaDarius Perkins had a big game, rushing for 131 yards on 18 carries and scoring two touchdowns — one rushing, one receiving — to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors for the second time this season.
One of the biggest keys to Mississippi State's five-game winning streak has been its ability to force turnovers while taking care of the ball on offense. The Bulldogs have forced 10 turnovers and committed only three during the winning streak after going minus-3 in turnover margin during their first three games.
Turnovers have been a barometer for the Wildcats, as well. They are minus-7 in turnover margin in four losses and plus-8 in their four wins.
After starting 3-0, the Wildcats (4-4, 1-4 SEC) have dropped four of five to SEC opponents, including last week's 44-31 home loss to Georgia. The one win was an impressive one — a comeback victory against then-No. 12 South Carolina — but the Wildcats' defense has let them down during the rough stretch, allowing 37 or more points in all four conference losses.
The offense hasn't been the problem. The Wildcats have topped 30 points in four consecutive SEC games for the first time since 1999 and the passing game has been especially sharp. Senior quarterback Mike Hartline threw for a career-high 353 yards against Georgia and matched his career-high with four touchdown passes. Hartline's previous record of 349 yards came against South Carolina and lasted only one week.
If the Wildcats are going to keep up their success on offense, they'll likely need to exploit Mississippi State's secondary, especially with leading rusher Derrick Locke working his way back from shoulder and elbow injuries that kept him out the past two games. The Bulldogs are tough against the run, ranking fifth in the SEC (118.5 yards per game), but they allow 217.0 passing yards per game, which ranks eighth in the conference.
Filling in for Locke, freshman Raymond Sanders had a big game against Georgia, rushing for 79 yards and catching seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Kentucky leads the series 21-16, but the teams have split the past 10 meetings. Mississippi State won 31-24 last season in Lexington.
The Wildcats haven't beaten a ranked SEC opponent on the road since knocking off No. 21 LSU in Baton Rouge on Oct. 17, 1998.