Mississippi State Bulldogs 8/31/2024 – As the 2024 college football season gets underway, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels are set to clash against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Both teams enter the game with a clean slate, looking for a solid start to their respective seasons. With Eastern Kentucky carrying the weight of a challenging recent performance and Mississippi State aiming to bounce back, this matchup promises to provide crucial insights into how both programs will navigate the new season. For those interested in NCAAF exclusive free tips, this game may offer a unique opportunity to examine the potential for surprises and standout performances.
Mississippi State Bulldogs 8/31/2024 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, August 31, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET |
| Where: | David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium |
| TV: | ESP+ |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Eastern Kentucky Colonels (0-0) vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (0-0)
In terms of their upcoming clash against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels are coming off a positive trend in terms of betting spreads, which is something that has seen them attain 5 wins and 1 loss against the spread over their last 6 games. Compared to this positive result, however, they also bring on board a recent history that is nothing to write home about; having won only 1 game and lost 17 in their last 18 contests, this is a dire situation to be in. More worryingly for the Colonels is the second aspect, namely the inability to win CFB games, especially against the SEC, where they are in the last 8 meetings, have come away with 0 wins. This very dichotomy presents a fundamental hiccup in the camp of Eastern Kentucky, looking at the fact that they are set to come up against a Mean Mississippi State team.
On the season opener, however, Mississippi State Bulldogs are determined to leave the relics of their troubled campaign last year as they prepare for the 2024 season. Even though they opened the season with a perfect 6-0 in the previous season’s openers, the last season was a tough one for the Bulldogs, as seen in their performance in the previous five games, where they had only one win. Mississippi State has enough talent and resources to play the way they intend from the start of the game, and they will use the fact that they open home schedule to win big against Eastern Kentucky.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels Rushing and Receiving
The Colonels’ key offensive players are expected to step up, particularly in the light of Eastern Kentucky’s scoring ability. Parker McKinney plays at the quarterback position and has shown some promise, throwing for 3033 yards last season. He is essential for the team since he has a passer rating of 134.1 with a completion percentage of 63.2 and this means he is capable of directing the Colonels’ offense. If Eastern Kentucky is to have any hopes of covering the sizeable spread against their SEC foes, McKinney’s performance of orchestrating plays and hitting targets will be imperative.
Also, McKinney’s efforts are supplemented by the running back Braedon Sloan who forms a core part of the offense. Sloan rushed for 765 yards with an average of 5.3 yards per carry last season, and he has explosive potential in the rushing game, which may, however, be difficult for Mississippi State to defend. The Colonels could do well in this fixture if they can run the ball early, just like some other exciting games like Old Dominion vs. South Carolina.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Rushing and Receiving
Mississippi State Bulldogs will have their share of dynamic players as well with the aim of enhancing their positives from the previous seasons. Quarterback Will Rogers should have an excellent back to work from, having netted 1,626 passing yards and 12 touchdowns in total. For sure, the figures lie around 59.9, especially during practice; at least there is an upside due to the level of talent available. Rogers will have to step up his game and strive to make more plays as the Bulldogs intend to do against the Colonels and utilize the offensive unit effectively.
Another name poised to make a significant contribution to the Mississippi State outfit is running back Woody Marks, who was able to garner a commendable 573 rushing yards on 121 attempts during the previous season. With all his 4 rushing touchdowns, it is evident the Bulldogs cannot afford not to use him wisely in this game. Given his proficiency in crossing the white lines, some of the pressure that is on Rogers might be lifted as he attempts to blend into the new season. Also, wide receiver Tulu Griffin measures up as an additional body to the team’s passing efficiency, as he was able to collect 658 yards off 50 receptions the previous season.
Parker McKinney QB vs. Will Rogers QB
Mississippi State Bulldogs will have their share of dynamic players as well with an aim of enhancing their positives from the previous seasons. Quarterback Will Rogers should have a perfect back to work from having netted 1,626 passing yards and 12 touchdowns in total. For sure, the figures lie around 59.9, especially during practice; at least there is an upside due to the level of talent available. Rogers will have to step up his game and strive to make more plays as the Bulldogs intend to do against the Colonels and utilize the offensive unit effectively.
Another name poised to make a significant contribution to the Mississippi State outfit is running back Woody Marks, who was able to garner a commendable 573 rushing yards on 121 attempts during the previous season. With all his 4 rushing touchdowns, it is evident the Bulldogs cannot afford not to use him wisely in this game. Given his proficiency in crossing the white lines, some of the pressure that is on Rogers might be lifted as he attempts to blend into the new season. Also, wide receiver Tulu Griffin measures up as an additional body to the team’s passing efficiency, as he was able to collect 658 yards off 50 receptions the previous season. His threat of going deep helps the Bulldogs keep Eastern Kentucky’s defense on edge. For Mississippi State, the goal will be to efficiently use their offense while mitigating the difficulties associated with facing lower-division teams. Another similar game will take place between Idaho State vs. Oregon State.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Mississippi State Bulldogs -24.5 (-110), Total Odds: 60.5 under -115
Currently, the odds are steep, depending on which team a punter puts their money on. Spreading the handicap on the Mississippi State Bulldogs at -24.5 suggests that the other participants in the competition stricture their expectations of Eastern Kentucky’s performance. Although there is an overall total of sixty sets, the bookmakers appear to expect a high score. However, they may be foreseeing a somewhat tentative approach in the current context, as one can see in the trend in the Colonels.
7 Mississippi State Bulldogs will also be confident of beating the spread this time, but one is cautioned as awarding them such expectations in August against the spread could be precipitative. The only vice, however, is one way out of determining to back the heavy favoritism, which is how the winning metric for home field television is positioning itself.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels Betting Trends
Eastern Kentucky’s betting trends reveal a few bright spots in an otherwise challenging landscape. Their 5-1 record against the spread in their last six games suggests they can be competitive, even against more formidable opponents. However, their overall straight-up record of 1-17 in their previous 18 games presents a stark reality of their struggles to secure victories. More worryingly, the Colonels have not fared well against SEC competition, highlighted by their 0-8 record in their last eight matchups. Nevertheless, their recent success in Week 1 has been promising. The total has also gone OVER in four of their previous five season-opening games, hinting at offensive opportunities.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Trends
On the flip side, the Mississippi State Bulldogs carry some troubling trends as well. Their 2-8-1 record against the spread in their last 11 games raises red flags for potential backers, indicating they have struggled to meet betting expectations in recent outings. Though they are 6-0 in season openers, their overall performance has suffered, evidenced by a 1-4 record in their last five games.
Notably, the Bulldogs have demonstrated scoring potential indicated by their OVER trend in 11 of their last 15 home games. However, their continued inability to cover the spread during August games poses a dilemma for bettors—can they shake off past trends to make a strong statement in this opening matchup?
Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs 8/31/2024 Betting Picks
As the season opener approaches, the consensus leans heavily towards picking Mississippi State, not only to win but to cover the sizeable spread. Eastern Kentucky’s past struggles highlight the concern that they may struggle to keep pace with the Bulldogs’ expectations and firepower. However, with the Colonels seemingly finding effectiveness against the spread in recent outings, they may also present an opportunity for wise bettors willing to take risks.
My final thoughts lean towards Mississippi State being the safer pick if you anticipate a potential blowout. However, considering the trends seen in the Colonel’s early games, a careful evaluation regarding prop bets, such as total yards gained by both quarterbacks and potential rushing touchdowns from Marks, could yield profitable returns. Handicapping top services may indicate that backing Mississippi State could provide a solid return on investment as the Bulldogs look to establish dominance.