Game Thread: UK Wildcats @ MSU Bulldogs (ESPN Thursday Night Football)

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--7:30 PM (ET), ESPN

--"Dogs and cats, living together! Mass hysteria!" (Dr. Peter Venkman, Ghostbusters, 1984)

--this is the 41st meeting between the two schools dating back to 1914 (99 years ago), with the series tied 20-20 (although Miss State has won the last 4 straight). Neither team has ever beaten the other 5 straight.

--Miss State is favored by 11

--this is the only time between the first and last weeks of the season that we will be graced by an SEC vs SEC matchup on Thursday night football (the other two are/were: Ole Miss over Vanderbilt 39-35 opening Thursday of week 1, and the Egg Bowl between Miss State and Ole Miss the last Thursday of the season). The only other Thursday night game this season to feature an SEC team was opening Thursday of week 1, when South Carolina played North Carolina)


--Kentucky Appearances on the Final AP Top 25
1984 -- #19 (Jerry Claiborne)
1977 -- #6 (Fran Curci)
1976 -- #18 (Fran Curci)
1953 -- #16 (Bear Bryant)
1952 -- #20 (Bear Bryant)
1951 -- #15 (Bear Bryant)
1950 -- #7 (Bear Bryant)
1949 -- #11 (Bear Bryant)

--since 1984, Kentucky has only re-entered the weekly AP Top 25 in one season: 2007 with senior QB Andre Woodson (6th R pick), senior WR Keenan Burton (4th R pick), senior WR Steve Johnson (7th R pick), etc
2007 -- NR NR 24 14 8 17 8 14 NR 24 22 NR NR NR


--Miss State Appearances on the Final AP Top 25
2010 -- #15 (Dan Mullen)
2000 -- #24 (Jackie Sherrill)
1999 -- #13 (Jackie Sherrill)
1994 -- #24 (Jackie Sherrill)
1992 -- #23 (Jackie Sherrill)
1980 -- #19 (Emory Bellard)
1976 -- #20 (Bob Tyler)
1974 -- #17 (Bob Tyler)
1957 -- #14 (Wade Walker)
1942 -- #18 (Allyn McKeen)
1941 -- #16 (Allyn McKeen)
1940 -- #9 (Allyn McKeen)

--before Dan Mullen, Miss State hadn't been ranked the weekly AP Top 25 since 2001. They re-entered the AP Top 25 in 2010 in Mullen's 2nd year:
2010 -- NR NR NR NR NR 24 23 21 17 22 25 22 21 15
2011 -- 20 16 25 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR
2012 -- NR NR NR 23 21 20 19 15 13 17 22 NR 25 NR
2013 -- NR NR NR NR NR NR

 

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Since the UK-MSU series became a yearly event in 1990, “that led to a little bit more of a rivalry,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “I know our guys look forward to this game and treat it as a little bit of a rivalry game.”

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops: “I look at it as another hard, tough SEC game.”

the Clarion Ledger (Mississippi newspaper):
'It's a must win:' Mississippi State can't afford loss to Kentucky. A loss for MSU means MSU would have to upset at least one ranked team — South Carolina or Texas A&M on the road, or Alabama at home — to become bowl eligible. Considering MSU hasn’t beaten a ranked team since 2010, a win against Kentucky is vital. “This is pivotal, got a must win, can’t take no losses,” Mississippi State defensive end P.J. Jones said. “It’s a must win.” Mississippi State has not beaten an SEC opponent five straight times since the 1980s, but it needs to do so tonight

 

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Washington Post:

Dan Mullen has never lost a game to Kentucky. He’s won four straight against the Wildcats as a head coach with the Bulldogs and also won all four matchups while an assistant coach at Florida.

“I think we have a lot of guys that want to win, desperately want to win (tonight)” Mullen said.

 

[Red_Alert]

I'll be tuned in. Go Bulldogs. More cowbells.

 

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UK coach Mark Stoops:
"Going this week playing Mississippi State on the road is just a different challenge," Stoops said Monday. "(Mississippi State is a) very good team, well-coached team. Again, I think they're very physical. Team that's won plenty of football games the past two, three, four years.
"To play on a Thursday night, I think they're going to be very motivated, as are we."

 

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The Lexington Herald-Leader (2nd-largest newpaper in Kentucky):

Given that (a) Kentucky and Mississippi State are "permanent" inter-divisional SEC opponents and have played every year since 1990, and (b) the two programs are in similar positions in the conference pecking order, this recent rash of Maroon domination has not been good for the boys in Blue.

It's also historically rare. Before MSU's current win streak, the Bulldogs held a 10-9 advantage over the last 19 face-offs. Neither side had won more than three straight games since 1990.

 

[bamabear82]

Y! SPORTS

 

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Preseason All-Americans
OG Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State (1st Team: NFP, CFN; 2nd Team: CBS, SI, Phil Steele)

Preseason All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
OL – Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State

Preseason All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
RB - LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State

Preseason All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
AP - LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State
DL - Denico Autry, Mississippi State
DL - Alvin Dupree, Kentucky
LB - Avery Williamson, Kentucky
LB - Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
DB - Nickoe Whitley, Mississippi State

Gabe Jackson

Gabe Jackson

LaDarius Perkins

LaDarius Perkins

 

[UTVolCountry]

This one should be a dandy.

 

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Stoops said Maxwell Smith has received most of the first-team snaps in practice this week, but the more mobile Jalen Whitlow could also play. Don’t be shocked if the more mobile Jalen Whitlow sees extensive time under center.

sophomore Maxwell Smith -- UK career so far: 238 of 395 (60.3%), 2504 yards, 17 TD, 9 INT (has negative yards rushing and no rushing TDs)

sophomore Jalen Whitlow -- UK career so far: 137 of 237 (57.8%), 1300 yards, 6 TD, 4 INT....444 yards rushing (this season: 4.9 YPC), 6 rushing TDs....1 reception for 33 yards

Jalen Whitlow (#2), Maxwell Smith (#11)

Whitlow

Smith

 

[tech_iceman]

Muddogs>>>>>>Bulldogs

 

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RB Raymond "Ray-Ray" Sanders III -- career at UK so far: 1,084 rushing yards on 209 attempts (5.19 YPC), 7 TD

 

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UK freshman RB Jojo Kemp is #1 on their team in rushing yards and averaging 5.91 YPC

as a recruit he had offers to Nebraska, Tennessee, West Virginia, Arizona State, Indiana, Iowa State, Miss State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Purdue, Pitt, Rutgers, etc etc

UK blog when they signed Kemp:
Kemp, one of the nation’s top running back prospects, should get the opportunity to make an impact right away at Kentucky. Coach (Mark) Stoops told me … he’s going to get me the ball. He said as soon as I come in I’ll be running with the (first team).”

 

[Red_Alert]

LOL

Did anybody else see the in the crowd when Miss St took the field?

That should be a GIF.

 

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UK's leading receiver is Javess Blue, a JUCO transfer who had offers coming out of JUCO last year to: Texas A&M, Arizona State, West Virginia, Texas Tech, UNC, Miss State, Kentucky, Kansas, Houston, etc

 

[Red_Alert]

JMO, but Kentucky recruiting tactics are going to come under scrutiny at some point.

 

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UK's 2nd-leading receiver this season is true freshman Ryan Timmons, who as a recruit was a 4-star by ESPN and 247, on the ESPN250, and had offers to Ohio State, Florida, West Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Cal, Illinois, Purdue, etc

He was also a Kentucky state five-time state champion in track ... Won the 100-meter dash as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Also the 200-meter state titlist as a junior and senior.

 

[Red_Alert]

7-0 Miss St on their first possession

 

[Red_Alert]

Kentucky TD

Tied up

7-7

8:38

1st

 

[hokiehi21]

so much for the under. good lord, tackle someone. hit someone.