Mississippi State vs Eastern Kentucky Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Let’s get this thing going.

The Mississippi State offense should get a jolt of life with new head coach Jeff Lebby coming in from Oklahoma to try getting this thing going.

How bad was it in the 5-7 2023 campaign? The Bulldogs failed to score more than 13 points in five of their last six games.

Eastern Kentucky brings a decent passing game - even without QB Parker McKinney around - for a program used to dealing with early games against power conferences. The Colonels got rolled by Cincinnati to start last season, but it pushed Kentucky in a 28-17 loss.

Mississippi State vs Eastern Kentucky Preview

Mississippi State vs Eastern Kentucky How to Watch
Date: Saturday, August 31, 2024
Game Time: 6:00 pm ET
Venue: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
How to Watch: SEC Network
2023 Records: Mississippi State (5-7), Eastern Kentucky (5-6)
- Week 1 Schedule, Predictions

Why Eastern Kentucky Will Win

That passing game might need new parts - okay, the offense as a whole has to revamp the skill guys - but it should still work against a retooled Bulldog team. The MSU safeties are good, but the corners will be a wee bit questionable early on.

The other side of the ball will get more of the spotlight. The Bulldog offense should be better under Lebby, but there’s a total overhaul of personnel being done.

This is supposed to be the warm up for everything else that’s coming. EKU has to keep bombing away to make the SECers push and press.

Why Mississippi State Will Win

The offense might need a little while to get up and flying, but again, Lebby will make this far more interesting.

Start with this. The Mississippi State offense will be far better than it was at the end of last year.

The receiving corps is a plus, Baylor transfer Blake Shapen is a good enough quarterback to get by, and the Eastern Kentucky defense that got roasted a bit too often - especially though the air - should have a tough time even though the pass rush might not be too bad.

Mississippi State vs Eastern Kentucky: Who Will Win

It won’t exactly be a cathartic moment for the program, but the fans will have some fun.

There hasn’t been a mediocre offensive performance by Mississippi State against an FCS team since the shocking 9-7 loss to Maine back in 2004.

This program absolutely rips it up against the FCSers, and it’ll come out hot against this one, too.

Mississippi State vs Eastern Kentucky Prediction, Betting Lines

Mississippi State 48, Eastern Kentucky 13
Line: Mississippi State -24.5, o/u: 60.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Mississippi State vs Eastern Kentucky Must See Rating: 1.5

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