LSU vs Mississippi State: 5 Bold Predictions

For the first time ever in the 105-year history of this series, the LSU and Mississippi State football programs will do battle as ranked teams. You can guarantee this will be a huge game, as Mississippi State doesn't want to fall out of the rankings and the LSU Tigers want to hold on to their National Championship dreams for another week. 

The game will take place tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, from the Bulldogs' Davis Wade Stadium.

Here are five bold predictions for the game tonight.

Jarrett Lee Will Have More Passing Yards Than Chris Relf

Why is it bold?

Jarrett Lee throws the ball a lot less than Relf does.

Why it will happen

The LSU Tigers depend on their running a lot and quarterback Jarrett Lee doesn't really get a chance to throw the ball. In fact, Lee has only thrown the ball 32 times to the the 93 times the Tigers have ran it.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have much more faith in their quarterback Chris Relf, as he has thrown the ball 54 times in two games, including 33 passes against Auburn last week.

This will be Lee's third game of the season, and it's about time to take the handcuffs off him a little bit. The Tigers have to give him the opportunity to make plays or it could comeback to bite them. LSU can't continue to depend solely on the running game, and Sooner or later the Tigers will need Lee to make plays and lead them to victory.

Lee will have more passing yards than Relf because I believe the Bulldogs will jump out to an early lead and force Lee to throw the ball a little more than usual.

There Will Be at Least One Kickoff Return for a Touchdown

Why is it bold?

It's pretty difficult to predict a special teams touchdown, as it's one of those things that just happens. 

Why it will happen

If you watched last week's Mississippi State vs Auburn game you know that Auburn started almost every possession in great field position. 

Truth is, the Tigers and Bulldogs rank 10th and 11th in the SEC in kickoff coverage. That means we should see some big momentum swings in the kick return game and one possibly taken back to the house.

Regardless, whichever team can perform better in this department will have a huge advantage on offense in a game that both teams could use.

Chris Relf Will Have His Name Mentioned in Heisman Talks After Tonight

Why is it bold?

Chris Relf's name has not come up in the Heisman talks for a while and when they were, they weren't taken that seriously.

Why it will happen

Chris Relf is really not a bad quarterback at all. He completes a high percentage of his passes and picks up solid chunks of yards with his arm and his legs.

The reason I believe Relf will have a great game is because of the performance he had last week against Auburn. Relf played decent but likewise didn't play as good as he is capable of; notably getting stopped just inches from the goal line as time expired. You can bet everything that he hasn't forgotten that play and can't wait to get that bad taste of of his mouth.

Already an exciting player to watch, putting up a great performance, against a great team, gets your name buzzing in the Heisman conversation. Just look at Robert Griffin.

Vick Ballard Will Hit the 150 Rushing Yard Mark

Why is it bold?

Vick Ballard has only rushed for 150 yards twice in his career and he is facing a tough LSU defense.

Why it will happen

Ballard is a man on a mission and if he keeps up on this pace, could have his name tossed in the SEC conversation for the conference's top running back.

He already has 301 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season, averaging almost a first down every time he touches the ball and a 12.8-yard average per catch. So, he doesn't need many touches to get to this milestone.

The reason he will have such a successful night is the play of quarterback Chris Relf. When Relf and Ballard are both playing well, it's hard to focus on just one player. They feed off each other and it creates a nightmare for defenses.

Ballard will have a fantastic performance tonight and show that the SEC is more than just Marcus Lattimore and Trent Richardson.

Mississippi State Will Win the Game

Why is it bold?

Mississippi State has lost 23 out of the last 26 meetings, including the last 11 matchups.

Why it will happen

Mississippi State is not a bad team at all. They were just inches away from possibly being 2-0, and having a much higher rank in both polls. That said, there is a reason the Vegas spread has LSU winning by only three points.

I believe that the Bulldogs get off to an early lead and force Jarrett Lee to throw the ball— something that the Tigers are not really comfortable with. Sure, the LSU defense is great, but the Bulldogs have enough offensive fire power to match it and aren't as soft up front as the Oregon Ducks were.

The real question is, do the Tigers have enough offense to match the Bulldogs? I don't think so.

The Bulldogs will be upset with the heartbreaking loss to Auburn last week and will want to take out their frustration on the Tigers. National television, at home, everybody watching, no better way to end the losing streak to LSU.