Final from Starkville: Alabama 31 Mississippi State 24

[jbcarol]

Michael Casagrande‏Verified account @ByCasagrande

Alabama vs. Mississippi State, today.

What: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 16 Mississippi State
When: Saturday, 6 p.m. CT.
Where: The 61,337-seat Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville.
Line: Alabama is favored by 14 points

This game will determine...

If Alabama can get past its injury issues at linebacker to remain on track for the SEC West title entering the showdown in the Iron Bowl with Auburn.

Three things to look for:

1. The running game: LSU stuffed Alabama's running game for its lowest output of the season. It entered ranked seventh nationally and barely hit the 100-yard mark. The Bulldogs enter with the nation's No. 23 rush defense. Both Auburn and Georgia ran for more than 200 yards in the two Mississippi State losses this season as the two combined for six of the 10 rushing touchdowns allowed by the Bulldogs.

2. Bulldog injuries

[Rayzback]

Leaping Penalty popping up all over.

[jbcarol]

 Will Sammon‏Verified account @WillSammon
1m1 minute ago

J.T. Gray has been making big plays like that for the last few weeks now

[Rayzback]

Miss St  showing some real fight!  Think we may see more SEC cannibalism.

[jbcarol]

 loganlowery‏ @loganlowery
7s7 seconds ago

Jalen Hurts hits Calvin Ridley for a 63-yard gain

[jbcarol]

 loganlowery‏ @loganlowery
1m1 minute ago

Hurts 1-yard touchdown run

[jbcarol]

 loganlowery‏ @loganlowery
3m3 minutes ago

MSU disguising its blitzes on third down. Worked the first time but not so much the second.

[jbcarol]

 loganlowery‏ @loganlowery
3m3 minutes ago

End 1st: MSU 7, Alabama 7

[jbcarol]

 loganlowery‏ @loganlowery
37s37 seconds ago

3-and-out for the Tide

[jbcarol]

Bama 14  State 14  6:21 2nd

[DeltaBoy]

21-17 Dawgs over NickU

[DeltaBoy]

The Empire strikes back and wins!

[jbcarol]

Will Sammon‏Verified account @WillSammon

the mood after the game from Mullen and players was about what you would expect.

STARKVILLE — After he made the game-ending touchdown grab with 25 seconds left, Alabama's DeVonta Smith turned to face the home crowd in the end zone and gave them the "shh" sign.

Davis Wade Stadium was then silenced.

Before that point, the crowd of 61,344 rocked with the emotion that, finally, it just might happen this time.

But it didn't.

No. 16 Mississippi State proved it can hang with No. 2 Alabama, take the Crimson Tide's punches and deliver return shots.

It just wasn't enough.

Mississippi State fell to Alabama, 31-24, in a game that went down to the final minute despite the Bulldogs being a 14.5-point underdog.

"It's very disappointing," safety Mark McLaurin said. "We fought so hard."

"It sucks," quarterback Nick Fitzgerald said. "It hurts."

Dan Mullen is now 0-9 all-time against Alabama. Mississippi State hasn't defeated Alabama since 2007.

[DeltaBoy]

The QB over threw that lasts pass!.