The Alabama Crimson Tide travel to Davis Wade Stadium Saturday to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs in a crucial SEC matchup. Alabama is coming off a huge win over LSU, and they handed the Tigers their first loss of the season in a decisive victory. The Bulldogs have won four straight games and will need to play their best football, as Alabama is arguably the best team they have faced this season.
Alabama's 30-16 win over LSU moved them up to second in the College Football Playoff Poll and gives them an opportunity to control their own future. Heisman hopeful Derrick Henry was huge against the Tigers and will look to produce another big game Saturday against the Bulldogs.
Henry rushed for 210 yards and scored three touchdowns against LSU last week, and he has been huge for the Crimson Tide all season. Henry has rushed over 1,250 yards this season and has scored 17 touchdowns. Head coach Nick Saban will look to put the ball in his powerhouse running back's hands on Saturday, as he can take pressure off quarterback Jake Coker.
While the offense has been running smoothly for the Crimson Tide, it's their defense that separates this team from everyone else in college football. Senior linebacker Reggie Ragland leads the team in tackles and has become a coveted prospect for NFL teams. Ragland has 74 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for a loss. The senior linebacker is a leader on the field for the Crimson Tide and is consistently found around the ball.
Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott faces the best defense he has seen this season, and he will need to have a big game if they want to pull out a win Saturday. The senior quarterback has thrown for 2,351 yards with 18 touchdowns to just one interception. Prescott keeps defenses on their heels, as he can take off on his feet at any time. The Bulldogs quarterback has 418 rushing yards this season and has scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen will need his offense to produce against a stingy Alabama defense. Prescott leads the team in rushing and will look to target wide receiver De'Runnya Wilson. The junior wide out is coming off his biggest game of the season in which he caught four passes for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Mississippi State is 3-2 in the conference this season, but a win over Alabama could jump them in the standings significantly. The Crimson Tide only has one loss this season, and they control their own destiny, as three straight wins will put them in the SEC Championship game. The game starts at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, and you can watch the live broadcast here. To listen to Alabama's radio broadcast, click here, and for the Bulldogs' radio broadcast, go here.
