Kentucky Opens as 10-Point Underdog at Mississippi St.

[SBCatMan]

Matt, I usually agree with you 100%, but this time, it is with some reservations. I think if we win by 1 or by 40, it bodes well for us. There is always tremendous pressure to get that 6th win, and when we do, I think we will play much looser. OTOH, I do not think a loss kills us, if we stay healthy. Miss State is arguably the 2nd toughest remaining game on the schedule. So, even if we lose, 8 or 9 wins is still possible.

[George]

This has the feel of a “roll over and lay an egg” game, to me. We aren’t winning by much these days, and I’m still not convinced that we’re as good as our record suggests.

Wouldnt surprise me in the least to see us go down there and not be able to get a thing going on offense.

[Old School]

The line is now up to 11.

[Matt Dillon]

The line is now up to 11.

There must be a lot of money being bet on State.

[SBCatMan]

Saturday will be an opportunity to find out if we "play down to the level of our competition" or if we are a pretty flawed 5-1 team. Vegas would appear to be leaning towards the latter.

[Brasslock]

The only way I can understand more than a few of the cautious or, rather, pessimistic projections of the outcome against Miss State is past disappointments. The old "that's so Kentucky" mentality. Does Miss State have more talent than we do? Is playing in Starkville more difficult than playing USC in Brice-Williams Stadium? Are we a younger, more inexperienced team than we were last year? We're going to be healthy and refreshed with extra time for game planning. We are getting our All SEC LB back from injury. I know Eli has played really well. Jones brings extra speed and size from sideline to sideline. Our OL will be healthy. Maybe there is something about this matchup I don't know. It's possible. I do know that after the odds makers establish a line that line changes depending on the bets being made. If it goes from 10 to 10.5 it means more money is being placed on Miss State. They will move it up to 11 or above to bring in bets on Kentucky. I just can't see our guys not being motivated by that spread. I can hear Morrow saying nobody needs to call us "dogs" after the Louisville game last year. This is going to be a physical, smash-mouth game.

[Spiritof96]

The only way I can understand more than a few of the cautious or, rather, pessimistic projections of the outcome against Miss State is past disappointments. The old "that's so Kentucky" mentality. Does Miss State have more talent than we do? Is playing in Starkville more difficult than playing USC in Brice-Williams Stadium? Are we a younger, more inexperienced team than we were last year? We're going to be healthy and refreshed with extra time for game planning. We are getting our All SEC LB back from injury. I know Eli has played really well. Jones brings extra speed and size from sideline to sideline. Our OL will be healthy. Maybe there is something about this matchup I don't know. It's possible. I do know that after the odds makers establish a line that line changes depending on the bets being made. If it goes from 10 to 10.5 it means more money is being placed on Miss State. They will move it up to 11 or above to bring in bets on Kentucky. I just can't see our guys not being motivated by that spread. I can hear Morrow saying nobody needs to call us "dogs" after the Louisville game last year. This is going to be a physical, smash-mouth game.

I totally agree about our history driving the pessimism. I too have some anxiety that we will come out flat and get blown out, based on past after bi-week performances, but I also think the final score will be 7 or less and I expect us to win. To me, this game is a pick em.

[Matt Dillon]

The only way I can understand more than a few of the cautious or, rather, pessimistic projections of the outcome against Miss State is past disappointments. The old "that's so Kentucky" mentality. Does Miss State have more talent than we do? Is playing in Starkville more difficult than playing USC in Brice-Williams Stadium? Are we a younger, more inexperienced team than we were last year? We're going to be healthy and refreshed with extra time for game planning. We are getting our All SEC LB back from injury. I know Eli has played really well. Jones brings extra speed and size from sideline to sideline. Our OL will be healthy. Maybe there is something about this matchup I don't know. It's possible. I do know that after the odds makers establish a line that line changes depending on the bets being made. If it goes from 10 to 10.5 it means more money is being placed on Miss State. They will move it up to 11 or above to bring in bets on Kentucky. I just can't see our guys not being motivated by that spread. I can hear Morrow saying nobody needs to call us "dogs" after the Louisville game last year. This is going to be a physical, smash-mouth game.

My caution is fueled by the fact State has a very talented dual threat QB.

[Old School]

Mississippi State is now favored by 12, up from 11.5. That line has gone up and up.

This game will by far be the biggest test of UK's defensive line so far this year, probably its toughest or second toughest on the entire schedule, and a real gauge of the extent to which it is SEC caliber or better than mediocre in the conference.

[Spiritof96]

Mississippi State is now favored by 12, up from 11.5. That line has gone up and up.

This game will by far be the biggest test of UK's defensive line so far this year, probably its toughest or second toughest on the entire schedule, and a real gauge of the extent to which it is SEC caliber or better than mediocre in the conference.

I take that as a sign people are pounding MSU to beat the spread... Looks like the rest of the world thinks we are not very good. I take all of this as a very good sign and really think we win this game. We play far better when it's UK against the world.

[KevinHall]

Miss State is now 13 point favorite according to Freddie M on Twitter.

[johnkyblue]

That was true yesterday.