Mississippi State Football: 3 bold predictions for upset special vs. Memphis

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Nov 28, 2020; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) and head coach Mike Leach (R) look on from the sideline during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. (Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports) /

1. This game comes down to whoever has the ball last

As of this writing, the oddsmakers on WynnBET have pegged this as a 3-point advantage in Mississippi State’s favor. Expect a back-and-forth affair between Memphis and its SEC neighbors.

Memphis played two teams from Power Five conferences in 2019, going 1-1. The Tigers scored a win over Ole Miss 15-10 to start that season and ended the 2019 season with a loss in the Cotton Bowl to Penn State 53-39.

If this game comes down to a field goal, as the betting lines may suggest, then fans are in for a treat. Joe Doyle, the redshirt junior for the Tigers was originally brought on to be a punter but has taken over kicking duties. He’s been excellent so far, hitting 10 out of 11 PATs and 5-of-6 field goals this season.

For Mississippi State, it’s had equally good success from two different kickers, going a combined 8-for-8 on extra points and a combined 1-for-2 on field goals.

Memphis and Mississippi State are evenly matched on offense, so this game may come down to a last-second kick for a team to steal a victory.

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