The Mississippi State Bulldogs will start their 2025 season against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on Aug. 30. It’s a rare matchup because we don’t often get to see a power conference team going to a Group of 5 team.
The Bulldogs have a lot on the line this season. Their last campaign was a disaster, going 2-10 without making a bowl appearance. They’d look to get a great start against the Eagles. Here’s everything you need to know about the matchup.
Mississippi State vs Southern Miss: Key Players to Watch
Both teams have strong rosters, and there’d be plenty of players to watch out for. Here’s a list of players from both teams who were last season’s top players.
- Davon Booth (152 CAR / 759 YDS / 63.3 YPG / 5 TD / 13 REC / 164 YDS / 14.9 YPG / 4 TD)
- Kevin Coleman Jr. (74 REC / 932 YDS / 77.7 YPG / 6 TD)
- Michael Van Buren Jr. (1,886 PASS YDS / 157.2 YPG / 54.7% / 11 TD / 7 INT)
- Johnnie Daniels (108 CAR / 540 YDS / 45.0 YPG / 4 TD / 8 REC / 76 YDS / 9.5 YPG / 0 TD)
Southern Miss, on the other hand, boasts:
- Kenyon Clay (84 CAR / 387 YDS / 32.3 YPG / 7 TD / 21 REC / 225 YDS / 22.5 YPG / 1 TD)
- Rodrigues Clark (124 CAR / 604 YDS / 50.3 YPG / 1 TD / 13 REC / 51 YDS / 5.7 YPG / 0 TD)
- Tate Rodemaker (985 PASS YDS / 109.4 YPG / 59.8% / 7 TD / 7 INT)
- Larry Simmons (27 REC / 421 YDS / 35.1 YPG / 1 TD), and more.
Also read: Delaware vs Delaware State Odds, Picks, and Prediction (Aug. 28)
Odds and Betting Lines for Mississippi State vs Southern Miss
The Week 1 matchup between Mississippi State and Southern Miss is drawing plenty of betting attention, with oddsmakers favoring the Bulldogs. Most sportsbooks list Mississippi State as a −13 to −13.5 favorite, with the moneyline sitting between −450 and −521 depending on the book.
Southern Miss enters as the underdog at +350 to +385, giving them about a one-in-five chance of pulling off the upset. The total points line has steadily climbed, opening around 57.5 before settling at 61.5, signaling expectations of a high-scoring contest.
Picks and Predictions for Mississippi State vs Southern Miss
When it comes to betting picks, the consensus leans toward Mississippi State covering the spread, but it’s far from unanimous. The Bulldogs are the more talented roster, even in a rebuilding year, and oddsmakers still project them to win by double digits.
At −13 or −13.5, Mississippi State backers are essentially betting on their offense finding enough rhythm to separate from Southern Miss by two touchdowns. For moneyline players, the value is thin with MSU sitting between −450 and −500, meaning parlays may be the only way to squeeze profit out of a straight Bulldogs win.
Read More:
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