Mississippi State, a squad that ripped off four straight wins to kick off the season, including a massive W over then-ranked Missouri, just got hit with a reality check: they’ve opened as a staggering 20.5-point underdog against the Texas Longhorns, according to FanDuel. This isn’t just a tough matchup, folks; this is a full-blown crisis for the Bulldogs.
What Happened to Mississippi State’s Offense?
Remember when the Bulldogs had one of the country’s top offenses? Yeah, that feels like ancient history now. Star quarterback Kamario Taylor has been battling *multiple* injuries, and it’s completely sapped their momentum. They’ve dropped three straight, including a couple of absolute blowouts to Alabama and LSU. Taylor even had to leave the OU game early, which probably sealed their fate as heavy underdogs in this one.
Freshman Billy Puckett stepped in at QB, but it’s been rough, man. He’s got just one touchdown pass against two interceptions in his four appearances. The only bright spot? Running back Fluff Bothwell, who somehow managed to churn out over 6.5 yards per carry against a tough Oklahoma defense as OU tries to move up the standings. Their against-the-spread record tells the whole story: a red-hot 4-0 start, then they lost the last three straight against Alabama, LSU, and Oklahoma. Ouch.
Texas Isn’t Exactly Healthy, Either
Now, don’t think Texas is coming into this game smelling like roses, either. They barely scraped by Ole Miss, narrowly avoiding a late-game disaster. And it looks like they’re gonna be without some serious firepower. Star left tackle Trevor Goosby was seen on crutches Saturday night, and wide receiver Cam Coleman returned to the sideline in street clothes after his early exit.
No official updates on their status for the game, but crutches and street clothes don’t exactly scream ‘ready to play.’ The Longhorns’ front will have its work cut out for them, especially trying to claw out of that SEC cellar. Their own against-the-spread record isn’t pretty, sitting at 2-5 for the year, with their only covers coming against Texas State in the opener and that narrow victory over the Rebels in Austin.
So, Texas is a big favorite heading into this one against Mississippi State. On one side, you have a Bulldogs team that’s completely lost its way due to injuries and a struggling offense. On the other, a Longhorns squad that’s also hurting and has its own issues against the spread. Can Mississippi State find a way to stop the bleeding, or will Texas, even with its own woes, prove why they’re such heavy favorites? This game is going to be a real test for both coaching staffs. Can the Longhorns exploit Mississippi State’s quarterback situation, or will the Bulldogs find some magic to cover that massive spread? We’ll find out when these two teams clash.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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