Both of these teams are pretty similar in the fact that they want to run the ball and try to do so at 60% of the time. Neither team has an efficient QB, and that makes the running game that much more important. I think MIss State has the advantage being fresher off the bye while LSU just played 3 SEC games in a row with the last 2 coming against physical opponents Georgia and Florida. LSU's run defense which will be the key here showed some vulnerabilities against Florida where they gave up over 200 yards. Miss State held Florida to 118 yards. The only team able to run the ball on Miss State was Kentucky, and Kentucky has a much better rushing attack and a mobile QB in Terry Wilson. Nick Fitzgerald was finally turned loose with 20+ carries against Auburn, and since they had the bye I see the same thing here as Fitzgerald has to be fresh. Nobody ran for more rushing yards against LSU last year than MIss State who ran for 285 on them. 

Let's take a look at the how LSU and Miss State stack up in the running game. Miss State ranking 6th in yards per carry have faced an average opponent defensive ypc of 68.4, here they face LSU's #48th rank, and LSU's rushing defense has only faced an average opponent ranking 55th in rushing offense. This is the best rushing offense they have seen all year. LSU's rushing ranks 43rd, and they have gotten that done against #58 defense, and here they'll place a battle tested MIss State run defense that ranks 42nd. Miss State has faced a bevy of quality rushing offenses ranking on average 31.6. When we look at their loss to Kentucky we can see Kentucky is far better, and has faced a far tougher rushing offense/rushing defense schedule than LSU. It's understandable that Miss State struggled in that game. Miss State's defense has the front speed that can set the edge led by MOntez Sweat. Although Joe Burrow ran for 60+ yards last week he is not a threat, and the majority of that came on one play.

I also expect Miss State will be able to throw a few new wrinkles into this game off a bye. Joe Moorehead also a first year head coach and that bye is always more valuable to a first year coach following the bye.