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No. 21 Mississippi St tries to keep momentum vs. La Tech
Louisiana Tech (6-2) at No. 21 Mississippi State (5-3, No. 18 CFP), 7:30 p.m. EDT (SEC Network)
Line: Mississippi State by 23½.
Series record: Mississippi State leads 10-3.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Louisiana Tech's had a very good season and already shown it can be competitive against an SEC team after playing LSU tough in a 38-21 loss. Mississippi State is trying to keep momentum after an impressive 28-13 victory over Texas A&M.
KEY MATCHUP
Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald vs. Louisiana Tech DE Jaylon Ferguson. Fitzgerald has had an up-and-down season but was very good in the win against Texas A&M, throwing for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Ferguson's among the most productive defensive linemen in the country and leads the nation with 10½ sacks this season. He's also the nation's active career leader with 38 sacks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Louisiana Tech: WR Adrian Hardy. He's the Bulldogs' deep threat in the passing game, catching 38 balls for 644 yards and five touchdowns.
Mississippi State: LB Erroll Thompson. The defensive line gets a lot of publicity, but Thompson is a great player in his own right. His 53 tackles are second on the team and his fourth-quarter interception against Texas A&M helped seal the win.
FACTS & FIGURES
Louisiana Tech is bowl eligible for a fifth straight season. The program has won four straight bowl games. ... Ferguson needs six more sacks to tie the NCAA's all-time career record, which is 44 by Terrell Suggs. ... Mississippi State has allowed just nine offensive touchdowns this season, which leads the nation. ... QB Nick Fitzgerald has run for at least 100 yards 18 times during his career. The Bulldogs have a 15-3 record in those games.
