Mississippi State hosts Massachusetts on Saturday for homecoming and while the Minutemen aren’t Alabama – the Tide comes calling next week – the game offers some intrigue.
UMass does have six losses, but the Minutemen (2-6) haven’t lost a game by more than 10 points and the six losses are by an average of seven points.
The Bulldogs will be looking for their seventh win and, in the process, continue their move up the bowl pecking order.
Here are three keys for Mississippi State.
1. Avoid injuries
As with most teams at this point of the season, Mississippi State is dealing with some injuries, like wide receiver Donald Gray being banged up or trying to get standout offensive tackle Martinez Rankin healthy.