Kentucky vs. Mississippi State National Media Predictions

Kentucky is No. 12 in the country with a 6-1 record, the only loss at No. 1 Georgia. Mississippi State is not ranked, with a 4-3 record that includes losses to No. 5 Alabama (49-9), LSU (28-25), and Memphis (31-29). Add in the fact that the Cats are coming off a bye week and on paper, it would seem they should be a heavy favorite in tonight’s game.

Enter the cowbells, the SEC’s great equalizer. The Cats haven’t won in Starkville since 2008, a stat you’ve heard ad nauseam this week. Mississippi State opened as a 2-point favorite on Sunday. The line fluctuated throughout the week, but as of now, the Bulldogs are still a 1.5-point favorite in Vegas. National media predictions are equally mixed. Here’s a roundup.

ESPN’s College GameDay: Toss Up

The ESPN broadcast in East Lansing did not officially predict the outcome of Saturday night’s game in Starkville. While riffing, the crew split on who they believe will win the game.

• Kirk Herbstreit: UK
• Lee Corso: Mississippi State
• Rece Davis: Mississippi State
• Desmond Howard: UK

They left the tiebreaker up to The Bear, and you’re not going to like what you hear.

Chris Fallica, aka “The Bear”: Mississippi State (+1.5)

Kentucky has four one-score wins this year, which means it very easily could be, say, 4-3 as opposed to 6-2. The Bulldogs are 2-2 in close games, so their record could be a game better. I’m a fan of going against line moves across zero as well. Will Rogers looked like his shoulder was fine last week. We’re gonna cash that UK over ticket, but given its struggles offensively vs. Florida, South Carolina and Chattanooga, I can see the Cats coming up on the short end of the stick here.

Pick: Mississippi State +1.5

ESPN Football Power Index: Mississippi State

CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee: Kentucky (-1.5)

If there’s one thing we know more than anything else about the Wildcats, it’s that Stoops is a defensive wizard. With two weeks to prepare for a predictable Mississippi State offense, he’s as dangerous as any coach in the country. The Wildcats forced 6 interceptions in this game last year. While they might not hit that mark this time around, they’ll do enough to win and cover against Will Rogers and Co. Pick: Kentucky (-1.5)

USA Today Staff

The Sporting News’ Bill Bender: Kentucky

The Wildcats won this matchup 24-2 in Lexington last year. The Bulldogs will be better this time around, but Kentucky had a week to refocus after the Georgia loss. This could get wild, and that’s why it’s a pick-em line. The home team has won the last six meetings, but we’re going against the trend.

Pick: Kentucky wins 30-27 in an UPSET. 

Sports Illustrated Staff

Athlon Sports’ Eric Sorenson: Kentucky

Let’s face it, nothing gives an SEC team more confidence than playing Vanderbilt. And at the same time, there is no bigger and colder slap of reality than moving on to play any one of the other 13 squads. That’s where we are at with Mississippi State. I mean, give ’em an atta-boy for bouncing back from that horrifically humbling 49-9 loss to Alabama. The domination of Vanderbilt was just the tonic this program needed.

However, now you’ve gotta go out there and take on a legit team again. Barring a call to the Ghostbusters, State will be the team that gets slimed here. Kentucky will be the ones echoing Bill Murray, “We came. We saw. We kicked its arse!”

Prediction: Kentucky 31, Mississippi State 27

The Athletic Staff

Sam Khan Jr.: Kentucky dominated this matchup a year ago. It’ll be tougher to do on the road, and Mississippi State has improved its form since their last meeting (although, so has Kentucky). These Bulldogs have been unpredictable. Still, the Wildcats defense makes me think they’ll break the six-year series streak of the home team coming out on top. Kentucky 30-24.

Brody Miller: After using data and my brain with the last three picks, sometimes it’s really about who you trust. I trust Mark Stoops and Liam Coen to manage this game and win, even if Mississippi State might have the advantage in a few areas. Kentucky 27-17.

Allan Taylor: Maybe Kentucky really is good enough to earn a New Year’s Six bowl bid, but I spy a team with a super-slim margin of error. The Wildcats have four one-possession wins and a yardage-per-play margin that ranks only eighth in the SEC. That makes this game a toss-up. For all the Air Raid chatter, Mississippi State’s defense is just a tick behind Kentucky in yards allowed per game. This is a win that guarantees the Bulldogs will go bowling. Mississippi State 27-20.

CBS Sports Staff

Against the Spread:

Straight Up:

Feel free to share your prediction in the comments.