LSU at Mississippi State Week 4 College Football Matchup LSU at Mississippi State Matchup - Week 4
Sat, Sep 25 2021 · Week 4 · 🏟 Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS · Turf · 61,337 cap
LSU✈ 252 miSame TZ
Away
28 25
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
LSU
23
Mississippi State
32
P&R Line Mississippi State -9
P&R Total O/U 54.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas LSU -1.5 · O/U 54.5
Matchup Prediction
Metrics disagree on this matchup
Momentum Control favors Mississippi State, while Game Control favors LSU. Split signals historically show weaker predictive confidence — treat as a toss-up.
⚡ Split Signal — Metrics Disagree
Momentum Control
58.4%
Mississippi State wins
Lean
Game Control
64.9%
LSU wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
LSU -1.5
O/U 54.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Mississippi State · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
LSU 2021 Schedule
LSU's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4LSU at UCLA-2.0L27–3864.0L27–38ON
Sat 9/11LSU vs McNeese-39.0W34–766.0W34–7UN
Sat 9/18LSU vs Central Michigan-19.5W49–2161.0W49–21OY
Sat 9/25LSU at Mississippi State-1.5W28–2554.5W28–25UY
Sat 10/2LSU vs Auburn-2.5L19–2457.0L19–24UN
Sat 10/9LSU at Kentucky+2.0L21–4250.5L21–42ON
Sat 10/16LSU vs Florida+12.5W49–4261.0W49–42OY
Sat 10/23LSU at Ole Miss+9.0L17–3176.5L17–31UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/6LSU at Alabama+29.5L14–2066.5L14–20UY
Sat 11/13LSU vs Arkansas+3.0L13–1659.5L13–16UY
Sat 11/20LSU vs UL Monroe-29.0W27–1457.5W27–14UN
Sat 11/27LSU vs Texas A&M+6.0W27–2447.0W27–24OY
Tue 1/4LSU vs Kansas State+9.5L20–4247.0L20–42ON
Mississippi State 2021 Schedule
Mississippi State's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Mississippi State vs Louisiana Tech-20.5W35–3452.5W35–34ON
Sat 9/11Mississippi State vs NC State+1.5W24–1055.0W24–10UY
Sat 9/18Mississippi State at Memphis-3.0L29–3163.0L29–31UN
Sat 9/25Mississippi State vs LSU+1.5L25–2854.5L25–28UN
Sat 10/2Mississippi State at Texas A&M+7.0W26–2245.5W26–22OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/16Mississippi State vs Alabama+17.5L9–4959.5L9–49UN
Sat 10/23Mississippi State at Vanderbilt-21.0W45–653.0W45–6UY
Sat 10/30Mississippi State vs Kentucky-1.0W31–1747.0W31–17OY
Sat 11/6Mississippi State at Arkansas+4.0L28–3154.0L28–31OY
Sat 11/13Mississippi State at Auburn+6.0W43–3451.0W43–34OY
Sat 11/20Mississippi State vs Tennessee State-44.0W55–1056.5W55–10OY
Thu 11/25Mississippi State vs Ole Miss-2.5L21–3165.0L21–31UN
Tue 12/28Mississippi State vs Texas Tech-10.0L7–3458.5L7–34UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Mississippi State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Mississippi State
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
LSU
+0.366
Mississippi State
+0.420
Mississippi State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
LSU
+0.587
Mississippi State
+0.590
Mississippi State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
LSU
0.173
Mississippi State
0.155
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
LSU Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
LSU
+8.234
Mississippi State
+8.084
LSU Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
LSU
+0.800
Mississippi State
+0.927
Mississippi State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
LSU
72.2
Mississippi State
70.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Mississippi State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
LSU Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
LSU
17.0
Mississippi State
-2.1
Offense Rating
LSU
24.9
Mississippi State
14.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
LSU
7.9
Mississippi State
16.3
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Mississippi State Edge
Avg sequences created per game
LSU #74
1.00
Mississippi State #23
1.33
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
LSU #79
1.00
Mississippi State #62
0.33
Mississippi State +0.33
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? LSU Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
LSU #1
70.6
Mississippi State #1
59.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
LSU #62
18.0
Mississippi State #73
23.8
LSU +11.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 64.9% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Mississippi State
1 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
LSU
8.1 — 86.0 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
LSU won by 3
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

CSS and GC disagree on this matchup. When the metrics split, historical cover rates are essentially random — treat this as a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
LSU
Ed Orgeron #1
47–15 (76%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Jake Peetz Yr 1 #1
DC Daronte Jones Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Mississippi State
Mike Leach #1
6–8 (43%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Mike Leach Yr 1 #1
DC Zach Arnett Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself