STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team is looking to go 2-for-2 in its first back-to-back Southeastern Conference road trip.
Last week, MSU beat Auburn 17-9 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. No. 21 MSU (3-1, 1-1) will complete its first two-game road trip of the season at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) against No. 14 Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0) at Kyle Field.
Since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012, the Bulldogs are 1-2 against them. The series is tied 4-4, and the teams are 1-1 in College Station,
Texas. MSU won 6-0 in 1913, while Texas A&M won 51-41 two seasons ago.
Here are some things to watch:
1. Will MSU’s defense break?
Last week against Auburn, the Bulldogs allowed the Tigers to get in the red zone four times, but they only walked away with six points (two field goals).
MSU allowed 389 yards, but it made plays when it mattered. Its defense has allowed only four touchdowns in 14 red-zone attempts. Teams have kicked six field goals, but the Bulldogs have been tough when the field shrinks.
“They draw a line in the sand (and) bend but don’t break,” MSU senior quarterback Dak Prescott said. “They’ve given up some yardage and been in bad positions in the red zone, but they’ve come out with four-down stops and no points on the board. They have flipped a switch and locked in and make plays which is great to see.”
Standing strong in the red zone could be the difference Saturday. The Aggies have scored 21 times in 24 red-zone attempts (15 touchdowns). MSU has surrendered one touchdown in the last nine quarters.
Texas A&M scored two touchdowns in four red-zone attempts last season against MSU in Starkville.
2. Can MSU get the running game going?
The Bulldogs all but abandoned the run last week against the Tigers, rushing 21 times for 56 yards (an average of 2.7 per carry).
Through four games, MSU has 579 yards rushing. Junior running back Brandon Holloway leads the team with 134 yards. Junior running back Ashton Shumpert has 128, while Prescott has 121.
“You know one word that hasn’t been brought up in an offensive meeting? Balance,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “What’s brought up is how do we get first downs, how do we move the ball, how do we the ball in the end zone?
“Whatever is working, I want to go with it.”
MSU didn’t eclipse the 100-yard mark against LSU or Auburn, but the Bulldogs have been solid through the air with Prescott.
Texas A&M has allowed 179.2 yards rushing per game. It allowed 232 last week to run-heavy Arkansas.
3. Which quarterback will have the better day?
Everyone in the SEC and the country knows about Prescott. He burst onto the scene last year and was impressive in his first year as the full-time starter. This season, Prescott has had to carry the offense, going 95 of 142 for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns. Dating back to last season, he has thrown 191 passes without an interception.
The Haughton, Louisiana, native has rushed for 121 yards on 30 carries this season (two touchdowns).
“(He) gets bigger every time I see him,” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said. “(He’s) patient back there, (he’s a) tough guy to tackle, strong, and is a leader.”
Sophomore Kyle Allen leads Texas A&M. He is 64 of 98 for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns (two interceptions). He has 28 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s been calm, and the look in his eye is real good,” Sumlin said. “(He’s) a lot different than last year at this time when he wasn’t playing.”
The Aggies have run the ball better than the Bulldogs, which has taken the pressure of Allen, but Prescott is more experienced. Either way, it should be a quarterback-friendly day.
4. Who will win the fourth quarter?
The game might be decided in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs are outscoring opponents 34-6 in the final 15 minutes, while the Aggies hold a 42-27 lead in the final period.
In SEC games, the Bulldogs are outscoring opponents 13-3 in the fourth quarter. MSU scored 13 points in a 21-19 loss to LSU, but didn’t score last week against Auburn. The Tigers only managed a field goal in the final 15 minutes.
Last week, the Aggies rallied in the fourth quarter for a touchdown and a two-point conversion against the Razorbacks. Texas A&M scored the only touchdown in overtime to claim the victory.
The Aggies have a 97-27 scoring advantage in the first half. MSU holds a 65-30 scoring advantage in the first 30 minutes.
5. Can MSU’s offensive line hold up?
Texas A&M’s defense is tied for second in the nation (first in the SEC) with 17 sacks.
Sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett leads Texas A&M with six-and-a-half sacks, while junior defensive tackle Daeshon Hall has four.
The Bulldogs’ offensive line has allowed five sacks — 41st in the nation, fifth in the SEC. Against Auburn, the MSU line held up and didn’t give up a sack.
“I have to make sure I know what the offensive line is thinking in terms of protection, be on the same page with the offensive line, make sure we are sliding to the right guys, and know my matchups in case a defensive lineman ends up on the running back,” Prescott said.
Last season against the Aggies, Prescott was sacked three times for a loss of 20 yards.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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