Week 8 takes us to Starkville, where the Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-5) will host the Texas A&M Aggies (5-1) in an SEC bout at Davis Wade Stadium.
The Aggies are rolling, winners of five straight, including their first three SEC games.
Conversely, the Bulldogs have lost five straight.
Texas A&M is a 17.5-point favorite on the spread with a 55.5-point over/under. The game kicks off at 4:15 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on SEC Network.
Where does the betting value lie? Check out my Texas A&M vs Mississippi State predictions and college football picks for this Week 8 NCAAF matchup.
Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Prediction
My Texas A&M vs Mississippi State best bet is on the over, with the best available line at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Odds
| Texas A&M Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-17.5 -105 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | -800 |
| Mississippi State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+17.5 -115 | 55.5 -110o / -110u | +550 |
- Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Point Spread: Texas A&M -17.5 (-110) · Mississippi State +17.5 (-110)
- Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Total: Over/Under 55.5
- Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Moneyline: Texas A&M -800 · Mississippi State +550
Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Preview
Texas A&M Aggies Betting Preview
Coach Mike Elko returned to his alma mater this offseason to take over after Jimbo Fisher had been struggling the last few seasons in College Station.
While his homecoming game was spoiled in Week 1, he has looked like a great hire since.
A&M lit up a top-25 Missouri team two weeks ago in College Station and has been able to use the last week to rest up and get healthier.
Elko had playoff hopes for his team, and he will need to win this road game in the SEC, which has proven to have no easy wins this season with upsets everywhere.
Sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman struggled to begin the year — getting benched at one point — but he looked like a five-star passer against Missouri. He made every throw while keeping the Missouri defense guessing.
Still, the Aggies are a rush-first team behind their strong offensive line. They boast the 13th-highest rush rate nationally and rank 17th in Rush Success Rate, averaging 230 rushing yards per game.
The Aggies defense has been rock-solid, allowing 17 points per game. They have struggled against the pass, ranking 77th in Pass Success Rate allowed. But they have a strong front seven that can shut down opposing rushing attacks and force teams into obvious passing downs.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Preview
Jeff Lebby entered his first season as a head coach this season and quickly learned how hard it is to be a head coach, especially in the SEC.
The Bulldogs are 1-5, but they have improved week over week, so there is hope for the future.
The offense is led by Lebby and senior quarterback Blake Shapen. They're averaging 28 points per game in the pass-happy attack (ranking 37th nationally pass play rate). The number is skewed, given they're regularly behind in games, but they rank 47th nationally in Pass Success Rate and 36th in Pass Explosiveness, so they've found success through the air. The rush game hasn't been as successful, with the team ranking 75th in Rush Success Rate.
The Bulldogs defense has struggled, allowing 33 points per game while failing to stop the run and pass. They rank 115th in Success Rate allowed and 132nd in Havoc generated.
Texas A&M vs Mississippi State
Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Texas A&M and Mississippi State match up statistically:
Texas A&M Offense vs. Mississippi State Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 27 | 126 | |
| Line Yards | 14 | 102 | |
| Pass Success | 78 | 127 | |
| Havoc | 4 | 129 | |
| Finishing Drives | 66 | 121 | |
| Quality Drives | 51 | 126 | |
Mississippi State Offense vs. Texas A&M Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 84 | 28 | |
| Line Yards | 66 | 12 | |
| Pass Success | 89 | 45 | |
| Havoc | 92 | 20 | |
| Finishing Drives | 63 | 15 | |
| Quality Drives | 62 | 35 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 59 | 119 |
| PFF Coverage | 83 | 130 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 34 | 40 |
| Middle 8 | 46 | 128 |
| Seconds per Play | 29.3 (112) | 23.5 (8) |
| Rush Rate | 63% (12) | 55% (68) |
Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Pick & Prediction
Both offenses match up well with the opposing defenses, with A&M’s run game against the porous Bulldog run defense and the Bulldogs’ pass attack against A&M’s weaker secondary.
Because of those matchups, I think both teams should be able to put up points, with A&M coming out on top with the ability to dictate the clock and time of possession.
Pick: Over 55.5 (-110, BetMGM)
Texas A&M vs Mississippi State Start Time, Channel, Streaming, How To Watch
| Location: | Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS |
| Date: | Saturday, Oct. 19 |
| Kickoff Time: | 4:15 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | SEC Network |
Texas A&M vs Mississippi State will be played at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4:15 p.m. ET. You can stream the game live on SEC Network.
