STARKVILLE, Miss. – The top rushing offense in the Southeastern Conference collides with the top rushing defense in the league tonight as third-ranked LSU faces 25th-ranked Mississippi State here at Davis Wade Stadium.
Kickoff for tonight’s game is set for 7:06 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN and ESPN 3D. The game will also be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network with Jim Hawthorne, Doug Moreau and Gordy Rush on the call.
Tonight’s game marks just the second non-holiday Thursday night game in school history for the Tigers. LSU opened the 2007 season with a 45-0 win over Mississippi State on a Thursday night in Starkville.
LSU brings a 2-0 mark into the game after a 49-3 win over Northwestern State last week, while the Bulldogs are 1-1 overall and 0-1 in league play after their 41-34 loss to Auburn last week. LSU has won 11 straight and 18 of its last 19 games against Mississippi State, which includes a 29-7 win in Tiger Stadium last year. LSU is also riding a school-record 19-game winning streak in September games, a run that dates back to the 2006 season.
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LSU GameDay Info #3 LSU at #25 Mississippi St. Ticket Will Call for LSU fans opens at 5:30 p.m. CT. at Gate 6 of Davis-Wade Stadium (west side). LSU will wear white jerseys and will occupy the east sideline (opposite press box). TV: ESPN (National) Kickoff: 7:06 p.m. CT Driving Directions (Baton Rouge to Starkville, Miss. — 304 mi.; 5h, 5m) |
“It’s been a short week, but we were able to get a lot done,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “The players have done a great job of responded to the adjusted schedule. We’ve had good focus in practice and there’s been a very sincere approach to our preparation this week.
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One of the key matchups in determining who will win tonight’s game will be that of the Mississippi State rushing attack against that of the LSU run defense. The Bulldogs lead the SEC in rushing with 321 yards per game, while LSU is first in the conference in defending the run at 45.5 yards per contest. Mississippi State is coming off a 333-yard rushing effort last week against Auburn, while LSU limited Northwestern State to minus-4 yards rushing in its last outing.
The Bulldogs also feature the SEC’s leading rusher in Vick Ballard, who’s averaging 150 yards per game.
“This is a very good Mississippi State team,” Miles said. “They do a great job running the football but they are also very good in the passing game. Vick Ballard is very talented and their quarterback Chris Relf is a very good all-around player who can does a great job both running and throwing it.
“We are going to have to play well up front on defense and we are going to have to be sound with our assignments.”
The Tigers will counter Mississippi State’s offensive attack with a very active defensive front, one that is led by tackle Michael Brockers (7 tackles, 0.5 TFL) and end Sam Montgomery (9 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks).
Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu leads the Tigers in tackles with 14, which includes two for losses and a half sack. Mathieu, considered one of the top playmakers in college football, has also broken up three passes, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and scored a defensive TD for the Tigers this year.
Offensively, the Tigers will continue to look for balance. LSU is averaging 44.5 points per game and 336.5 total yards (175.0 rushing, 161.5 passing). Quarterback Jarrett Lee has completed 59.4 percent of his passes (19-of-32) and he’s thrown for 231 yards and a pair of scores.
Michael Ford leads the Tigers rushing attack with 168 yards and four scores. He’s joined in the running back rotation by Spencer Ware (119 yards, 3 TDs) and Alfred Blue (55 yards, 1 TD).
True freshman Odell Beckham Jr. leads the Tigers in receiving with seven catches for 50 yards, while Rueben Randle has caught six balls for 131 yards and a score.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to play on a Thursday night in front of a national television audience on ESPN,” Miles said. “This is our conference opener and it’s on the road. It’s going to be a very competitive game. We are going to have to play well in all three phases to have success.”