The Mississippi State Bulldogs are coming into Baton Rouge on Saturday with one of the biggest question marks of the entire weekend. Will starting quarterback Kamario Taylor be able to play?
Rumors suggest that Taylor is dealing with some degree of a turf toe injury, which has been hampering him since the Bulldogs played Missouri. If Taylor is not available for this game, it changes the entire outlook for the Mississippi State offense.
To add insult to injury, the Bulldogs are also hoping that starting
running back Fluff Bothwell will be able to play.
State potentially coming into this game without two of its three most important offensive players, including its quarterback with Heisman potential, spells disaster against an LSU defense looking to bounce back after a lackluster performance in Lexington.
Taylor has currently thrown for 1,450 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He is also completing 66.2% of his passes.
His production has helped State become the second-best offense in the SEC in both total offense, averaging 487 yards per game, and passing offense, averaging 309 yards per game. This is also one of the best offenses in the country.
One advantage LSU could exploit is that State has allowed 13 sacks so far this season. If the Bulldogs have to turn to backup walk-on quarterback Parker “Billy” Puckett, things could get ugly pretty quickly.
Puckett is in his second year with the program and was a walk-on who beat out Jaden Rashada and former LSU backup AJ Swann for the job.
Outside of Taylor, the State offense is pretty average.
The Bulldogs rank ninth in the SEC in rushing offense, averaging 177 yards per game. If Fluff Bothwell is unavailable, that will only amplify their struggles in the running game.
Even if Taylor can play, his ability to threaten defenses with his legs could be hampered by the injury.
State does have an absolute weapon at wide receiver in Anthony Evans III.
Evans is averaging 114 receiving yards per game and has already recorded 574 yards and five touchdowns on 40 receptions this season.
He will be the primary target regardless of which quarterback is playing. The question is whether they will be able to get the ball to him against this LSU passing defense.
Even after the loss to Kentucky, LSU’s defense still ranks first in the SEC in total defense, allowing only 250 yards per game. The Tigers are also allowing just 74 rushing yards per game.
LSU has the advantage defensively.
Mississippi State’s offense is built around attacking vertically through the passing game and running the football downhill.
Even if Taylor plays, the challenge for LSU’s defense becomes more difficult, but the Tigers should still be able to get the job done.
Taylor was sacked five times against Alabama, and LSU’s defense should be looking to generate significantly more pressure this week compared to last week’s performance.
The Tigers recorded only one sack against Kentucky, and the defense must produce more at the line of scrimmage to keep this Mississippi State offense from finding its rhythm.
Whether Taylor plays or not, if this defense lives up to its potential and gets back on track, the Tigers should be able to win this game convincingly.
LSU currently sits as a 14.5-point favorite heading into Saturday’s matchup.
How do you feel about the Tigers matching up against the Bulldogs, with or without Kamario Taylor?
Do you think we will see the defense that shut down Clemson or the defense that struggled for stretches against Ole Miss and Kentucky?
