What’s the Line? (vs. Mississippi State)

According to the current BetMGM odds, Georgia is a 7.5-point favorite over Mississippi State with a point total of 57.5 for their game this Saturday. Meeting in Starkville for only the eighth time in history, both Bulldog squads are coming off a fourth-quarter comeback victory over an SEC foe.

Matchup: Georgia is 7-1 straight up and 3-5 against the spread (ATS) this season. Last Saturday, the Bulldogs defeated Florida, 24-20, after trailing in the fourth quarter, but failed to cover as a 7.5-point favorite. Still, Georgia has covered three out of its last four games after going 3-15 against the spread (ATS) dating back to the second game of last season. Mississippi State is 5-4 straight up and 7-1-1 ATS. Last Saturday, State defeated Arkansas on the road, 38-35, after trailing by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and covering as a 5.5-point underdog. For these Bulldogs, it snapped a 16-game SEC losing streak dating back to October 2023.

Coaching Trends: As Georgia’s head coach, Kirby Smart is a solid 21-15 ATS when playing true road games at opponents’ home stadiums; however, that includes 2-7 ATS the last three seasons (19-8 ATS from 2016-2022). In two seasons as Mississippi State’s head coach, Jeff Lebby is 7-14 straight up but an impressive 14-6-1 ATS. After Saturday, although Lebby has now won just one of 13 SEC games as head coach, he’s 8-4-1 ATS vs. the conference.

Series History: Georgia enters having won 14 of the last 15 games straight up in the series, with the only loss coming in 2010 in Starkville. The visiting Bulldogs have also covered three of their last five meetings with Mississippi State, including the last meeting in Starkville, when they won 45-19 as a 16.5-point favorite on the road in 2022. Last season, Georgia defeated State in Athens, 41-31, but failed to cover as a whopping 33.5-point favorite. In seven all-time games vs. State in Starkville, Georgia is 5-2 straight up but failed to cover in four meetings.