Nick Fitzgerald will return to action for Mississippi State in a meeting with the Kansas State Wildcats. Here is everything you need to know before watching Saturday’s game.
In the first meeting between these teams since 1974, the Mississippi State Bulldogs travel to Bill Snyder Family Stadium to battle the Kansas State Wildcats. This will be the third Big 12/SEC showdown this year, with the conferences coming into the game split at 1-1.
The Bulldogs took care of business last week, in a dominant fashion, by destroying Stephen F. Austin 63-6. Mississippi State backup quarterback Keytaon Thompson filled in for suspended Nick Fitzgerald and finished with video game-like numbers by putting up 364 yards through the air with five touchdowns while adding another 109 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Kansas State, on the other hand, wasn’t as fortunate last week, but escaped with a slim 27-24 victory over South Dakota. Quarterback Alex Delton got the start for the Wildcats, but was pulled from the game after going 5-14 with no touchdowns and an inception. After benching Delton, quarterback Skylar Thompson helped the Wildcats outscore South Dakota 15-0 in the fourth quarter to win the game, but comeback aside, Thompson was less than impressive.
However, fans shouldn’t put too much stock into the Week 1 outcomes heading into this game, because any team visiting Manhattan on a Saturday will have their hands full.
How to watch and bet on Mississippi State vs. Kansas State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 8
Start Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Manhattan, KS
Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN, FuboTV
Betting Odds
Points Spread: Mississippi State -8
Money Line: MSU -330, KSU +260
O/U: 53
Keys to Victory
Mississippi State – The Bulldogs came into the season as one of the most experienced teams in the SEC. With quarterback Nick Fitzgerald returning, alongside running back Aeris Williams, they also field one of the most dynamic backfields in the country. Fitzgerald will look to regain his form after suffering a season-ending injury against Ole Miss in 2017, but before the injury, he was lighting up the SEC and considered a Heisman Trophy candidate. If the Mississippi State defensive line can continue to dominate the trenches and shut down the Kansas State offense, Fitzgerald and company should have no problems putting up the points needed to escape Manhattan with a victory.
Kansas State – Bill Snyder has his work cut out for him this weekend and plenty to fix after nearly suffering a meltdown in Week 1. The Wildcats will have to settle on a quarterback and take care of the ball after giving it away four times against Stephen F. Austin. The one bright spot from last weekend was special teams, which should come as no surprise to anyone who has watched a Bill Snyder-coached team in the past. If the Wildcats can control the field position for 60 minutes and cut back on the penalties that nearly cost them the game in Week 1, fans in the Little Apple could help carry this team to a victory on Saturday.
Prediction
Nick Fitzgerald will return this weekend and show the fans why he was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2017. Bill Snyder will have the Wildcats prepared, but it won’t be enough to stop this potent Mississippi State offense.
Final Score: Mississippi State 34, Kansas State 21