Mississippi State vs Toledo Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

It was a better loss than it seems.

Arizona State ran all over Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs showed tremendous fight to battle back in a 30-23 loss.

That was okay, but losing to a MAC team - even one that could end up in the College Football Playoff if it wins the conference champion - would be a disaster for the start of the Jeff Lebby era.

Florida and the start of the SEC season is next, but that’s followed up by uh-oh road games against Texas and Georgia.

Toledo hasn’t been tested - Duquesne and UMass - but it hasn’t been all that sharp. Everything leads up to this. Win here, and 12-0 isn’t a crazy regular season dream.

Mississippi State vs Toledo Preview

Mississippi State vs Toledo How to Watch
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Game Time: 7:30 pm ET
Venue: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
How to Watch: ESPNU
Mississippi State (1-1), Toledo (2-0)
- Week 3 Schedule, Predictions
Week 2 5 Overrated | 5 Underrated
5 Top Takeaways From Week 2
CFN Week 3 Rankings 1-134
Bowl Projections | Heisman Rankings

Why Toledo Will Win

Arizona State beat up the Bulldogs on the line.

This is an SEC team with SEC talent and SEC bulk, and the Sun Devils rumbled over them like they weren’t even there.

Meanwhile, the Mississippi State running game was non-existent, mostly because the team had to throw to get back into the game.

Toledo has a terrific offensive line with the potential to start running a whole lot better. The downfield passing game is good, there haven’t been any turnovers, and overall the team played like it’s been tuning up for a game like this.

However …

Why Mississippi State Will Win

That’s all being kind to Toledo. It might be the best team in the MAC, and it’s not playing anything like it.

The O line has yet to generate a decent push, the passing game has been more efficient than steady - if that makes any sense - and going on any long, sustained drives hasn’t happened on a regular basis.

Mississippi State should be better back at home.

Blake Shapen and the passing attack has the midrange production to wine and dine on the second level of the Rocket defense, and after last week, the time of possession battle will feel like Christmas.

Mississippi State vs Toledo: Who Will Win

Mississippi State had one really, really bad start against Arizona State, but it got nasty and fought back well in the second half. This time it’ll get hot from the start against a dangerous Rocket team.

Toledo will play better than it did against UMass, but it’s about to get hard by a Mississippi State offense that will run just to show that it can.

Mississippi State vs Toledo Prediction, Betting Lines

Mississippi State 34, Toledo 17
Line: Mississippi State -10.5, o/u: 57.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Mississippi State vs Toledo Must See Rating: 3

Week 3 Expert Picks
Alabama at Wisconsin
LSU at South Carolina | Memphis at FSU
BC at Missouri | Oregon at Oregon St
Tulane at Oklahoma | ND at Purdue
Texas A&M at Florida | Wash St at Wash
Georgia at UK | Colorado at Colorado St
UCF at TCU | San Diego State at Cal