LSU returns to Baton Rouge carrying the frustration of last weekend’s loss to Kentucky, and Mississippi State comes in with its own baggage after falling to Alabama in Week 5. That sets up a Saturday matchup where the central question is simple: which version of LSU shows up, the sloppy one from Lexington or the cleaner one that was expected all along?
The LSU On SI staff sees a bounce-back coming, and most of the predictions point toward the Tigers using home field to steady things. The common thread is execution.
LSU cannot afford the kind of mistakes that cost it against Kentucky, and the offense, defense and special teams all have to play in sync for four quarters. If that happens, the Tigers should be able to take care of business and restore some of the shine that slipped away in the loss.
A big part of the discussion centers on Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor. One projection says Taylor’s deep-ball ability would force LSU to respect the long field all game, which could lead to more tight man coverage after last weekend’s defeat. That same outlook sees LSU leaning on the run at home, with Dilin Jones helping the offense establish itself against Mississippi State’s 3-3-5 look, and the Tigers escaping with a close win late in the fourth quarter.
There’s also the question of what Mississippi State looks like if Taylor cannot go. One prediction notes that the backup picture is unsettled, with redshirt freshman Parker Puckett having started in Taylor’s place against Alabama, while SEC veteran AJ Swann is another possible option. Without Taylor, the Bulldogs are viewed as less dangerous, and that leads to a more comfortable LSU win at home.
Fluff Bothwell’s status matters too. Another forecast says that if Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell are both out or limited, LSU’s defense should have the edge in Tiger Stadium. That read has the Tigers coming out with a clear purpose after the overtime loss to Kentucky and doing enough to control the game.
Not every take is fully on the LSU side, though. One outlook points to the Tigers still dealing with injuries to Spears and Whit Weeks, while also noting that the receivers have not been consistent catching the ball and that Sam Leavitt’s interception issues could create problems.
Even so, the overall lean remains toward LSU, especially because Mississippi State has allowed the second-most passing yards per game in the SEC. That weakness could give Lane Kiffin room to open things up and attack through the air, pushing the Tigers to a home win.
In Other News...
LSU Has Bigger Problems Than A Homecoming Kickoff Debate
LSUs week has turned into one long reminder that the biggest issue in Baton Rouge is not the homecoming kickoff time. After dropping to 22nd in the rankings following the loss to Kentucky, the Tigers are still trying to steady themselves heading into Mississippi State, with linebacker TJ Dottery and coach Lane Kiffin both stressing the need for cleaner execution. The schedule gripe has drawn some student reaction, but it sits well behind the more immediate concern of getting the football team back on track.
The campus mood could use a lift, and the mens basketball team provided one with an 85-81 win over UCF in a wildly thin rotation. LSU played with only six players amid an eligibility controversy, yet Donovan Dent still delivered the game-winning layup and Abdi Bashir Jr. led the way in scoring. It was the kind of gritty result that gives the program something to point to while the football side works through its own far bigger problems. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Catch A Huge Break In Mississippi State's Backfield
Mississippi State arrives on LSUs schedule with a couple of key offensive questions hanging over its backfield, and both of them trace back to the same injury-hit trip through Alabama. Quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell were each listed as questionable for the matchup with LSU after leaving the previous game hurt, leaving Jeff Lebby and his staff to sort through contingency plans as kickoff gets closer.
For LSU, the uncertainty matters because the Bulldogs offense could look very different if either player is limited or unavailable. Lebby has already identified possible replacements, but the Tigers will be watching to see whether Mississippi State can get either Taylor or Bothwell back in time, since their status could shape how much stress LSUs defense has to absorb on Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
LSU's Defensive Problems Look Worse Than An Overtime Loss
LSUs overtime loss to Kentucky exposed more than a late-game stumble. It put a spotlight on a defense that has been struggling to line up, communicate and finish plays cleanly enough to give the Tigers a reliable chance to control games. From the failed adjustment on Kentuckys empty formation to the missed tackles that showed up on key snaps, the breakdowns were broad enough to leave the coaching staff with more than one area to clean up.
Lane Kiffin acknowledged that not every defender got the call on the two-point conversion adjustment, which only underscored how fragile the operation looked when the game tightened. Add in the long run by Kentuckys CJ Baxter and Brock Coffmans punt return touchdown, and the concern is not just one blown sequence but a pattern of gap discipline and execution problems that LSU has to correct quickly. [Read more 🡒]