2018 Week 8 College Football Picks & Predictions – #22 Mississippi St @ #5 LSU Odds & Free Pick 10/20/18

2018 Week 8 College Football Picks & Predictions – #22 Mississippi St @ #5 LSU Odds & Free Pick 10/20/18: The 22nd ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs travel to Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA for a week 8 SEC College Football showdown against the 5th ranked LSU Tigers. Kickoff is set for 7 PM EST on Saturday, October 20th in the 112th meeting of these two SEC rivals with LSU holding a commanding 73-35-5 edge. The odds makers at Bovada Sportsbook have installed LSU as a -6.5 point favorite with the game betting total listed at over/under 45.5 points. Let’s take a closer look at this premier week 8 College Football betting matchup and release one of our free college football picks to place a bet on.

2018 Week 8 College Football Picks & Predictions – #22 Mississippi St @ #5 LSU Odds & Free Pick 10/20/18

Game: #22 Mississippi St @ #5 LSU
Line: LSU -6.5 at Bovada Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 45.5
Where: Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA
Time: 7 PM EST
Date: Saturday, October 20th

The 22nd ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs enter this week 4-2 overall and 4-2 against the spread. The Bulldogs are coming off of a big 23-9 home win over Auburn last Saturday to snap a two game losing skid and pickup their first SEC victory on the 2018 season.

The Bulldogs won last week thanks to their dominant defense that has been one of the best units in the nation this season. The Bulldogs defense held Auburn to only 15 first downs and allowed Auburn to convert on just 3 of 14 3rd downs. The Bulldogs defense has now allowed 13 points or less in 5 of their 6 games this season.

The Mississippi State defense is getting all the attention so far but the Bulldogs are a well balanced squad. The defense is allowing just 289.7 yards per game and 4.6 yards per play while the offense is posting 430.7 yards per game and 6.5 yards per play. The offense is getting it done big time on the ground as it’s rushing for 240.7 yards per game and 6 yards per carry this season.

The 5th ranked LSU Tigers come into this week with a 6-1 overall record and 4-3 against the spread. The Tigers have been one of the biggest surprises so far this season as they were expected to be good but far from this dominant. The Tigers are coming off of an impressive 36-16 home win over Georgia last week to improve to 3-1 in the SEC. They now own big victories over Miami-Fl on a neutral field in Dallas, at Auburn and at home versus Georgia.

The Tigers were flat out dominant last week against the previously 2nd ranked Georgia Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium. LSU outgained Georgia 475 yards to 322 and won the turnover margin 4 to 0. LSU was really controlling on the ground as they rushed for 275 yards on 51 carries for a 5.4 yards per carry average.

LSU is a well balanced team this season that’s getting it done on both sides of the ball. The offense is posting 404.3 yards per game and 5.7 yards per play while the defense is allowing 340.3 yards per game and 4.9 yards per play.

Mississippi State dominated this matchup last season winning 37-7 in Starkville on September 16, 2017. The win was the Bulldogs first win in Starkville over LSU since a 17-16 win in 1999. LSU has dominated this series winning 23 of the last 26 meetings and Mississippi State hasn’t won since 1990 and 1991. LSU is the better team and they have revenge on their mind against an opponent they have owned over the last 2 plus decades. Lay the points.

#22 Mississippi St @ #5 LSU Free Pick and Score Prediction: LSU to cover as a -6.5 point favorite.

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