The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Mississippi State Bulldogs will meet in the season opener at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
MSU was 4-7 last year, 3-7 in SEC conference play, in their first season under head coach Mike Leach. They made a statement in their first game last year, though, knocking off eventual national champs LSU in their house 44-34. Leach is leaning toward quarterback Will Rogers in the opener. Rogers took over midway through last season and completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 1,976 yards, 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
Louisiana Tech was 5-5 last season with a 4-2 mark inside the Conference USA. They’re returning 18 starters with 10 of them on the defensive side of the ball. Head coach Skip Holtz hopes to get their offense rolling early as they know the steep task ahead on the road.
Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:50 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Louisiana Tech +1100 (bet $100 to win $1,100) | Mississippi State -3000 (bet $3,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Louisiana Tech +22.5 (-108) | Mississippi State -22.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Mississippi State 31, Louisiana Tech 20
Money line
Mississippi State (-3000) will cost you 30 times your potential return, and that’s just too much risk for not much reward. Just focus on the spread instead.
AVOID.
Against the spread
LOUISIANA TECH +22.5 (-108) is not a pushover, having made seven consecutive trips to a bowl game. The offense gets a big shot in the arm with incoming transfer RB Marcus Williams from Appalachian State. The big question is whether QB Luke Anthony will be able to return to his pre-injury form after an ugly leg injury in December.
Mississippi State -22.5 (-112) should be able to win this game, but they have work to do. Leach has found it a slow-go trying to implement his “Air Raid” offense in Starkville, Miss.
Over/Under
UNDER 52.5 (-110) is worth a look for a small-unit play. While the focus on Mississippi State last season was its struggling offense, the defense quietly put together a great campaign. The Bulldogs allowed just 5.48 yards per play, fourth-best in the ultra-competitive SEC.
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