After starting the season 3-0, the Vanderbilt Commodores have lost five straight games and are now the only remaining team in the SEC without a conference win. They will have the chance to break that streak this weekend against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. After an exciting 4-0 start led by breakout quarterback Kamario Taylor, the Bulldogs have lost their last four games, and they have lost Taylor to injury for the season. Since Taylor went down, the Bulldogs have only scored 18 points in their last three games with freshman Parker Puckett under center. Puckett has only thrown for 390 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions so far. They will need him to get going if they want to avoid a fifth straight loss.
One of these two teams will break their losing streak this weekend. It will be a battle of freshman quarterbacks when Puckett squares off against Vanderbilt’s quarterback Jared Curtis. Curtis has thrown for 1,489 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has struggled with turnovers, but he has a slight experience edge over Puckett after starting each game this season. Despite the turnovers, Curtis has been able to get the ball to his top receiver, Junior Sherill. Sherill is 20th in college football with 706 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He should be in line for another big game against a Mississippi State defense that ranks 128th against the pass, allowing 261.5 passing yards per game.
Vanderbilt’s defense has been the unit that has let them down, allowing just over 30 points a game, but I don’t see their defense hurting them too badly against Puckett and the Bulldogs' offense that is only averaging six points per game in their last three games. The SEC is filled with great teams, and I don’t think any of them are bad enough to be held winless in conference games. I’ll back Vanderbilt to get their first conference win of the season.
Vanderbilt vs Mississippi State prediction: Vanderbilt Commodores ML (+130) available at time of publishing. Playable to that number.
