No. 19 Mizzou visits No. 24 Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. CST (SEC Network); both teams are 3-0. Maroon and White Daily’s Colin Damms predicts a 34-23 Bulldogs win, pointing to Mississippi State’s explosive offense.
Damms identified quarterback and skill-position talent as Mississippi State’s strength. Kamario Taylor has 832 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception through three games; receivers Anthony Evans III, Zion Ragins and Sanfrisco Magee have three touchdowns each, and former Mizzou receiver Marquis Johnson has two. Damms said Taylor’s Heisman hopes remain a long way off with tougher opponents ahead. He cited concerns at left tackle and a thin defensive line after season-ending injuries to two interior linemen; linebacker Zakari Tillman missed the first three weeks.
Mississippi State beat South Carolina 41-34 on the road to open SEC play, while Missouri defeated Troy 27-17. Damms said preseason expectations among beat writers were 6-6 or 7-5; after the Bulldogs’ positive start, he said, the aim is a winning record.
