Bulldogs Head to the Bayou: #16 Mississippi State vs. #22 LSU Picks & Predictions (10/17)
Written by: Nate Hornung
Published: Thu Oct 15, 2026, 5:47 pm ET
Read Time: 4 minutes
ncaaf
Spread
Total
Moneyline
+16.5
-110
57
-110u
+510
Spread
Total
Moneyline
-15.5
-110
57
-110o
-675
Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers are back at home after suffering a loss to unranked Kentucky last weekend. After losing twice early on in the season, the Tigers of Baton Rouge know they can't afford anymore mishaps the rest of the way. A third loss could ensure that their College Football Playoff hopes disappear until next year. On the other side of things, the Bulldogs of Mississippi State are coming off a bye week after a bad home loss to Alabama, where they allowed 56 points. Can their defense find a way to slow down the Tigers at home? Our NCAA Football experts don't think so, but keep reading for their picks in this game below.
Check out the best odds on the market and tons of picks for the NCAA Football Season.
NCAA Football Expert Insights: #16 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. #22 LSU Tigers
Will Kamario Taylor be fully healthy this weekend against LSU? Or will he even be on the field?
The biggest news surrounding the Bulldogs is the status of quarterback Kamario Taylor. As of this writing, it appears he will be listed as questionable. While he very well may take the field and play the whole game, he will be banged up, which is why this total appears to be ticking down, with the spread moving in LSU's favor. Running back Fluff Bothwell is also listed as questionable, making it even harder for the Bulldogs to produce points.
Even with the week off, it doesn't seem like the stud QB will be back to 100%. Good news for the Tigers.
LSU can score at will, we know this. Add in the fact that they are coming off a loss and can't afford anymore, this is a very dangerous team to face. I hate this spot for a Bulldogs team that would probably respond well if they were at full strength. Given the injuries, I'm not sure it'll be too competitive.
Matchup Information – Mississippi State vs. LSU – October 17
- Venue & Location: Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge, LA)
- Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Kick Off: 12:00 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Bulldogs vs. Tigers Betting Odds
Odds listed are from BetOnline as of Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 5:01 p.m. eastern.
Spread
- Mississippi State +15.5 (-110)
- LSU -15.5 (-110)
Moneyline
- Mississippi State +505
- LSU -700
Total
- Over 57 (-110)
- Under 57 (-110)
#16 Mississippi State vs. #22 LSU: NCAA Football Expert Picks
Sam Leavitt and the LSU Tigers desperately need to win out the rest of the season
Mississippi State vs. LSU Prediction: LSU Wins & Covers, Over 57
Best Bets: Mississippi State/LSU Over 57 (-110) BetOnline
I cannot stress this enough. At the time of this writing, I have NOT bet this yet. I am still waiting for the number to tick down. If I see 54.5, I will bet it immediately. There are doubts that it drops that much, but I still think we could get 55.5 by kick off. Regardless, I will be pulling the trigger on this over.
The Tigers' defense has not been as good as I anticipated prior to the season. They gave up 30+ points to Kentucky and Ole Miss. That can't happen. Lucky for them, the offense is explosive and capable of putting up points. Even with a banged up Taylor, I trust the Bulldogs to be able to do their part and contribute to the total. Both offenses like to play fast, and don't stall too much. Therefore, we should expect some back and forth, and it wouldn't surprise me if both teams end up in the 30s.
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Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.
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