GAME NOTES: Fresh off a narrow defeat, the 14th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats will attempt to get back on track as they host the Mississippi State Bulldogs in an SEC showdown. Mississippi State has lost two straight games and three of the last four to fall to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in SEC play. All four of the team's losses have come by double figures, including a 38-13 beating at the hands of the West Virginia Mountaineers last week. As for Kentucky, it has lost two of its last three games since a perfect 5-0 start to the campaign. After beating LSU in overtime two weeks ago, the Wildcats fell to Florida last weekend by a 45-37 final. Rich Brooks' team is already bowl eligible, but the SEC title is still up for grabs. Kentucky owns a 20-14 series lead versus Mississippi State, including a 34-31 victory over the Bulldogs last season.

Last weekend, Mississippi State managed just two scores in the loss to West Virginia. Late in the second quarter, tailback Anthony Dixon capped a short drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge. Then, in the third quarter, the Bulldogs got a second rushing score when Christian Ducre reached paydirt on a three-yard run. Aside from those plays, there wasn't much to cheer about. MSU got 169 passing yards from Wesley Carroll, but the squad finished with a lowly total of 45 rushing yards. The Bulldogs are averaging 21.6 ppg and 290.4 total ypg, numbers that aren't going to scare Kentucky. Of the 19 touchdowns that MSU has scored, 14 have come on the ground, but the rushing game generates only 3.6 ypc. Clearly, the Bulldogs have been much better against the pass, as they have generated 11 interceptions while yielding only five scores through the air.

West Virginia is one of the most dominant running teams in the nation, and Mississippi State permitted the Mountaineers to rack up 262 rushing yards on 42 attempts, an average of 6.2 ypc. Only 12 passes were completed against the Bulldogs for 84 yards, but three of those connections went for touchdowns. MSU failed to record a sack and came up with just a single takeaway. Opponents are scoring 26.6 ppg against the Bulldogs, who are giving up 344.1 total ypg. They have yielded 13 rushing touchdowns and 12 passing scores, as foes have made some big plays both on the ground and through the air. With only 11 sacks in eight outings, MSU needs to improve in that area. Jamar Chaney leads the team with 51 tackles, and Titus Brown has posted 10.0 TFLs, including six sacks.

Kentucky has been outstanding on offense this season, as the club is averaging 42.0 ppg and 466.5 total ypg. The ground game has been extremely effective, as Rafael Little and Tony Dixon have combined for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. Unfortunately, Little will miss at least one more week with a groin injury, while Dixon may be sidelined with a bad ankle. Derrick Locke may be asked to carry the load, and he certainly has the talent to do so. Fortunately, Kentucky does most of its damage through the air, as Heisman Trophy candidate Andre Woodson is enjoying a second straight stellar campaign under center. Woodson has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,201 yards and 26 touchdowns against only four interceptions. He has also rushed for three touchdowns, and aside from the South Carolina game a few weeks ago when he played mediocre football, Woodson has made the game look easy. Keenan Burton leads all receivers with 44 catches for 544 yards and six touchdowns, but Steve Johnson and Dicky Lyons have also registered six scores. Throw Jacob Tamme into the mix and Woodson is not short on options. Against Florida last weekend, Woodson completed 35-of-50 passes for 415 yards and five touchdowns with no interception. Lyons had three scores, but the 'Cats lost the shootout.

Opponents are scoring 28.8 ppg against Kentucky, which is yielding 387.0 total ypg. The Wildcats are giving up 191.8 rushing ypg on 4.7 ypc, as there is room for improvement in regard to run defense. With 16 takeaways and 17 sacks, the defense has made a decent amount of big plays. Wesley Woodyard is as important to the Kentucky defense as any player in the nation is to his respective defensive unit. Woodyard has a knack for getting to the football, and he has made 85 total tackles, more than twice as many as any of his teammates. Jeremy Jarmon paces the club with 6.5 sacks. The fact that Florida was able to rack up 45 points last week suggests that Kentucky did not get the job done defensively. The Wildcats did not force a single turnover in the clash and permitted six touchdowns to the Gator offense.

Kentucky is clearly a better team than Mississippi State and will prove it this weekend. Woodson will pad his already gaudy stats as he continues to audition for NFL clubs.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Kentucky 41, Mississippi State 13