Predictions: No. 14 LSU at Mississippi State

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers will travel up to Starkville to take on a new-look Mississippi State squad with an opportunity to begin conference play on the right track.

It'll be an 11 a.m. kickoff for Jayden Daniels and Co. as the Tigers prepare to carry their Week 2 momentum into their third contest of the season.

Here's what to know about the Bulldogs ahead of the matchup, three Tigers to monitor, best bets for Saturday and a final prediction:

What to Know:

New Coach, New Offensive Attack

New head coach Zach Arnett has provided a balanced attack through two games for the Bulldogs. A program that has been known for their "air raid" style of offense, Arnett has certainly flipped the script through the first two weeks.

Jo’Quavious Marks has already totaled 250 yards on the ground through two games, leading the conference in total yards as the Bulldogs incorporate a rushing attack into their scheme.

But the passing game is still in the mix and Marks is a major component to what this program does through the air as well.

The senior running back is up to eight receptions in just two games played. Marks is second on the team in receptions while wideout Lideatrick Griffin leads the team with nine catches for 112 yards, adding a pair of touchdowns as well.

Seasoned Veteran at the Helm

It's no secret senior quarterback Will Rogers can sling the rock. He's been through the ups and downs of what college football has to offer, but it's never altered his production.

Rogers was an integral piece to what Mike Leach did in the passing game. A player who shined in the "air raid" offense, Rogers returned to Starkville with unfinished business, but his role is changing in a way.

He's averaged over 300 yards per game through the air over the last two seasons, but this season he's sitting at 195 yards a night.

It's a small sample size of just two games, but it's clear Arnett is changing this offensive approach during the new era of Mississippi State football.

Whether the Bulldogs continue their balanced offensive attack or look to utilize their passing game on Saturday night, they have a seasoned veteran at the helm who's one of the most accurate passers in the SEC.

Three Tigers to Watch:

Logan Diggs - Running Back

This one should come as no surprise. As the Tigers continue working on their rushing attack, while finding a true RB1, Diggs could be the answer.

A player who has the chance to be the dynamic, explosive back Kelly and Co. are looking for, Week 3 will be his time to shine.

Diggs missed the Tigers’ season opener against Florida State as he continued nursing a hamstring injury suffered during the offseason, but now back at full strength, this program will fall back on the Notre Dame transfer to take on a major workload against the Bulldogs.

In Week 2 against Grambling State, it was a true tune-up game for the Tigers. It provided Diggs a chance to get his feet back underneath him while getting into a groove.

Ending the night with 115 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown, the warm up game is in the rearview mirror with SEC play arriving.

Look for Diggs to be a player this coaching staff relies on to make big-time plays against a Mississippi State squad ready to battle.

Harold Perkins - Linebacker

Harold Perkins has been a main topic of conversation over the last few weeks. A player who many believe is being misused defensively, Week 3 will be an opportunity for this coaching staff to put its star defensive player in position to be successful.

Perkins is in the midst of a transition period. He’s moving from a "pass rush specialist" role to inside linebacker, and with learning curves, it’s raised eyebrows about whether the appropriate actions are being taken.

In Week 2, we saw defensive coordinator Matt House use Perkins at both inside linebacker as well as rushing the passer. Against a Mississippi State squad, it’s imperative Perkins is effective with the LSU secondary in question.

The SEC opener will provide the Tigers with an opportunity to get Perkins back on track before their gauntlet of conference games begins in late September/October. Keep an eye on the usage of Perkins in Starkville.

Greg Brooks - Defensive Back

The LSU secondary has been nothing short of disappointing through two weeks, but one bright spot has been the production of senior safety Greg Brooks.

He’s been a Swiss Army knife that has provided the Tigers with a reliable, heavy-hitter in the defensive backfield.

A Louisiana native, Brooks epitomizes the “DBU” culture with his tenacity and swagger, and with a secondary that has struggled mightily this season (even if it is a small sample size), they’ll need someone to pick up the slack.

Insert Brooks. The Tigers have shaken up their secondary in a variety of ways with Brooks playing both nickel and safety through two weeks. No matter where he lines up on Saturday against Mississippi State, expect Brooks to make an impact in some way, shape or form.

Best Bets? Our DraftKings Sportsbook analysts have you covered:

The Tigers have won each of their last two contests against the Bulldogs, and with QB Jayden Daniels having experience in this matchup, we fully expect them to continue that trend. Similarly, that trend goes back even further - they’ve won seven of their last 10 games against Mississippi State.

However, they’re 5-5 in terms of against the spread, so again, we’d rather not target that betting market. A different trend we can back is the fact that this matchup has stayed under the total in seven of the last 10 meetings. Of course, the most recent are the most important, as turnover in college football is a key aspect of making predictions.

Last season, there were 47 points scored, and the year prior, there were 53 points scored in LSU’s close 28-25 victory. Despite the Tigers’ 72 points this past weekend, they’ll be facing an SEC defense, not Grambling State. Mississippi State has started 2-0 by holding opponents to just 31 points across the first two weeks.

Bulldogs QB Will Rogers is also not on nearly as impressive of a pace as last season with just 389 passing yards on the year this far. They’ll likely want to slow the game down a bit, as will LSU being in one of the most difficult road environments in the country. With all that said, our best LSU vs. Mississippi State prediction is on Under 54.5 points (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook).

Score Prediction: LSU 31, Mississippi State 17