The Bulldogs are riding high heading into Arkansas at Mississippi State week 5 betting after upsetting defending national champion LSU a week ago. That would normally put a team into a situation for a letdown, but new Mississippi State coach Mike Leach wants to impress in his debut in Starkville.
The Razorbacks are ready for a fight as +17 point road underdogs Saturday night. Arkansas debuted Sam Pittman’s new 3-2-6 defense last week and it gave Georgia fits last week with the Razorbacks taking a 7-5 lead into the half. The Bulldogs did find their stride in the 2nd half though, outscoring Arkansas 32-3 in the 2nd.
Will MSU struggle in a similar fashion – or have the Bulldogs already exposed how to attack this Arkansas defense? The betting total is an astonishing 68.5 points for this meeting.
Arkansas Defense Set for a Test
Leach’s Air Raid offense got off to a fast start, going into Baton Rouge and escaping with a 44-34 win as two touchdown underdogs. It’s safe to say the Razorbacks have their work cut out for them in Arkansas at Mississippi State week 5 betting after MSU QB K.J. Costello set the single game SEC record with 623 passing yards vs. the defending national champion Tigers.
Will we see the 1st half Razorbacks defense that held Georgia to a field goal – or the one that got lit up for 30 unanswered points by the Bulldogs? UGA did start slow in their opener, but they’re also going through some QB issues splitting time between Stetson Bennett and D’wan Mathis in the opener. Mississippi State knows who their QB is.
Georgia did end up with 42 carries for 121 yards on the ground vs. Arkansas in the opener. Mike Leach could care less about that stat though as he called 16 rushes for 9 yards in the win over LSU. Does Arkansas have the offense to get in a shootout? The Hogs’ ran the ball 28 times for just 77 yards in the opener and QB Feleipe Franks had 200 yards with a TD and 2 INTs.
𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗 | @kj_costello
In his first game as a Bulldog, K.J. Costello breaks the school record (508) for passing yards in a single game with 𝟱𝟭𝟲‼️#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/3pobeIytVC
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 26, 2020
Mississippi State Ready For Another Offensive Show?
The sky seems to be the limit for Costello and the Air Raid offense even playing in the SEC. The Bulldogs QB was 36/60 for 623 yards and 5 TD in leading Mississippi State to an opening week upset of LSU – at Baton Rouge.
What does Leach and the MSU offense have in store for a home opener that will seat around 25% of the 61,000 capacity crowd at Davis-Wade Stadium? Perhaps the real focus should be on the MSU defense. LSU lost a lot of players like Joe Burrow and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but the Bulldogs held the Tigers to 80 yards on 38 carries in the opener. Myles Brennan threw for 345 vs. Mississippi State last week, but on just 27/46 passing.
Arkansas at Mississippi State Week 5 Betting Free Pick
It’s an all-new regime in Starkville, but Mississippi State has had the Razorbacks’ number as of late. Mississippi State put up a 30-point win at Arkansas last season, and won 52-6 the last time the teams met in Starkville. That’s a 76-point win margin over the last two games – yes, please.
Mississippi State 48 – Arkansas 20
Free Pick: Mississippi State -17
