GigEm247 staff predictions: Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State

It’s prediction time. GigEm247 staff members Jeff Tarpley, Carter Karels and Andrew Hattersley are ready to project what they think will happen when Texas A&M (5-4, 3-3 SEC) hosts Mississippi State (4-5, 1-5) in Kyle Field this Saturday (6:30 p.m. on ESPN2).

Last Saturday, the Aggies narrowly fell to Ole Miss, 38-35, on the road in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Bulldogs suffered their second straight loss over the weekend, falling to Kentucky, 24-3, at home.

As of Friday morning, BetOnline has A&M as a 17.5-point betting favorite over Mississippi State. The over/under scoring total for the game is set at 43 points as well. Here is how we think the game between the two SEC foes will go.

Jeff Tarpley

Predicting A&M’s game with Mississippi State is almost impossible, because you don’t know who is playing quarterback for either team or how effective they could be. A&M has not had to find out how the other half lives at the position, because they have been able to trot out a veteran in Max Johnson while the Bulldogs have been operating with a worst-case scenario behind Mike Wright.

If Jaylen Henderson goes out for the first snap for the Aggies, and injured MSU starter Will Rogers comes back, then the situation for both teams is 180 degrees from what it was a week ago. Even then, can the Bulldogs protect Rogers from further harm? Can they get more out of frosh CHris Parson than Wright if Rogers stays on the sidelines?

Winging it with this one …

SCORE PREDICTION: Texas A&M 17, Mississippi State 7.

Carter Karels

OK, let me brag for a second. My last three predictions – a 20-13 loss to Tennessee (exactly right … sorry!!), a 26-13 win over South Carolina (it was a 30-17 victory) and a 30-27 loss to Ole Miss (it was a 38-35 loss) – were pretty accurate. They all would have covered their spread and over/under scoring totals, too. Carstradamus much? (Not really, please don't look at my Miami or Alabama predictions).

For this game, though, there is way too much variance at play to feel all that confident in a score prediction. Which quarterback each team plays remains to be seen and would obviously have a massive impact on how the game will go.

Even if the Aggies need to lean on Fresno State transfer Jaylen Henderson, they should have enough talent to handle the Bulldogs. However, this offense has not been very good even with a healthy Max Johnson. So imagine how much it might struggle with Henderson or a banged up Johnson (phrasing!).

If there is anything to hammer, it is the under. I predict it to be a punt-a-palooza, especially if there are rainy conditions. I would not be surprised if there is a defensive touchdown in this one, either.

SCORE PREDICTION: Texas A&M 16, Mississippi State 9.

Andrew Hattersley

Questions at the quarterback position for both Mississippi State and Texas A&M make this a difficult game to project overall. The Aggies possessed advantages on both sides of the ball and showed encouraging signs running the ball in the second half against Ole Miss.

Until A&M is able to put a complete game together, it is hard to see A&M covering the lofty spread. But I do think the Aggie defense will flex their muscles up front and force Mississippi State into a couple turnovers that will be the difference.

SCORE PREDICTION: Texas A&M 24, Mississippi State 10.