Kentucky vs. Mississippi State odds: Early point spread released on Wildcats vs Bulldogs

Kentucky and Mississippi State are set to do battle in Starkville in a game that both clubs desperately need to win in order to save their respective seasons.

With both clubs coming off intra-divisional losses this past weekend — Kentucky to Tennessee, Mississippi State to Auburn — there ought to be a sense of urgency when those cow bells are ringing under the lights at Davis Wade Stadium. As for the spread, FanDuel has just released the opening line and over/under for this annual SEC crossover matchup.

According to FanDuel, Kentucky opens as a 3.5-point favorite over Mississippi State. Meanwhile, the over/under for the contest has been set at 45.5 points.

Regardless of who was favored, each team will enter this weekend expecting to win the game. For Mississippi State, Kentucky is very likely the easiest conference opponent the Bulldogs will face at home this year, since they’ve already hosted LSU and Alabama with a game against Ole Miss awaiting on Thanksgiving. Seriously, they’ll play all three of the currently ranked teams in the SEC West at home while playing all the unranked ones on the road.

Is that an ideal schedule or a horrendous one? In theory, you want your toughest games at home and the easier opponents on the road. But then you’re struggling to win any of your home games while facing all the seemingly lesser opponents with the added challenge of having to win on the road.

Regardless, if Mississippi State wants to avoid a winless home SEC stand for the year, a win vs. Kentucky may be a must. Not only that, but the Bulldogs currently sit at 4-4 after having split games against Arkansas and Auburn the last two weeks. To get to six wins and become bowl eligible, MSU just has to beat Southern Miss in Week 12 and then either Kentucky at home, Ole Miss at home, or Texas A&M on the road. It feels doable, but the Kentucky game is certainly the best opportunity to get that second win, assuming they beat Southern Miss.

For the Wildcats, a 5-0 start against an easy schedule has turned into three straight losses to Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee. Those are all ranked teams and the sky may not be falling in Lexington like a three-game slid would normally suggest, especially after a terrific offensive performance vs. the Vols. However, there’s no coming back from four straight losses and the ‘Cats have to get right against a Mississippi State team that’s down compared to prior years.

Here’s the kicker, though: Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has never won in Starkville despite playing there every other year since he took over the job in 2013. In fact, the Wildcats haven’t left Davis Wade victorious in 15 years.

With the series tied 25-25 all time and both teams needing a win to revive their seasons, the stakes are as big as they get in the Kentucky-Mississippi State rivalry.