The Kentucky Wildcats(1-4) host the 20th ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs(4-0) in Commonwealth Stadium at !2:21 on the SEC Network.
Dave Neal and Andre Ware will be the announcers and Cara Capuano is the sideline reporter.
Mississippi State is favored by 10.5.
Lets take a look at the matchup.
Kentucky and Mississippi State are meeting for the 40th time in school history. UK leads the all-time series 21-18, including a 12-7 advantage in Lexington but are looking to snap a three-game losing skid to the Bulldogs and capture their first win over Mississippi State in Lexington since 2005.
In a scheduling quirk due to conference expansion, Mississippi State will make rare back-to-back trips to Lexington.
The Bulldogs and Wildcats have played each season since 1990, and faced off in Starkville both in 2001 and 2002 when the SEC schedule was last adjusted.
The road team has won five of the last six games in the series, with Kentucky beating Mississippi State in
Starkville in 2006 and 2008 and MSU claiming wins in Lexington in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
In recent seasons, no stat has been a better harbinger of success for the Bulldogs than turnover margin. Over the last three plus seasons, State has won 20 of 21 games when victorious in the turnover column. Conversely, the Bulldogs have won just four times out of 12 when losing the turnover battle.
Biggest UK win: 28 (42-14) 1973 … Biggest MSU win: 40 (47-7) 1994 … Games decided by 7 points or less: Kentucky leads 9-7 … Current streak: MSU has won three.
Mississippi State’s defensive backfield has gotten off to a quick start in 2012. The group has intercepted nine passes and held opposing offenses to a passing efficiency of less than 100. The Bulldog defense ranks 15th nationally in pass efficiency.
The Wildcats have thrown 202 passes in five games, the 10th-most pass attempts in the nation. UK’s 60 pass attempts vs. WKU were the most in a UK game since the 2007 season.
Since head coach Dan Mullen’s arrival in 2009, Mississippi State has posted a 6-3 overall record against Southeastern
Conference Eastern Division foes. The Bulldogs have won three straight against Kentucky, including a pair of wins in Lexington.
Offensive Starters
Kentucky
QB: Jalen Whitlow or Patrick Towles
TB: Jonathan George
WR: La’Rod King
WR: Demarco Robinson
WR: Gene McCaskill
TE: Ronnie Shields
Mississippi State
QB: Tyler Russell
RB: LaDarius Perkins
WR: Arceto Clark
WR: Chad Bumphis
WR: Chris Smith
TE: Marcus Green
