Kentucky at Mississippi State Week 9 College Football Matchup Kentucky at Mississippi State Matchup - Week 9
Sat, Oct 30 2021 · Week 9 · 🏟 Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS · Turf · 61,337 cap
Kentucky✈ 396 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
17 31
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Kentucky
24
UK +1
Mississippi State
25
P&R Line Kentucky -0.5
P&R Total O/U 50
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Mississippi State -1 · O/U 47.0
Matchup Prediction
Metrics disagree on this matchup
Momentum Control favors Mississippi State, while Game Control favors Kentucky. 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
75.9%
Kentucky wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Mississippi State -1
O/U 47.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
3 factors agree (PPA + PPO + Havoc) → Kentucky · 82.4% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🛋 Kentucky Coming off BYE
Kentucky 2021 Schedule
Kentucky's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Kentucky vs UL Monroe-31.0W45–1054.0W45–10OY
Sat 9/11Kentucky vs Missouri-5.5W35–2856.5W35–28OY
Sat 9/18Kentucky vs Chattanooga-33.5W28–2348.0W28–23ON
Sat 9/25Kentucky at South Carolina-4.5W16–1049.0W16–10UY
Sat 10/2Kentucky vs Florida+7.5W20–1356.5W20–13UY
Sat 10/9Kentucky vs LSU-2.0W42–2150.5W42–21OY
Sat 10/16Kentucky at Georgia+21.5L13–3044.5L13–30UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Kentucky at Mississippi State+1.0L17–3147.0L17–31ON
Sat 11/6Kentucky vs Tennessee+1.0L42–4557.5L42–45ON
Sat 11/13Kentucky at Vanderbilt-21.5W34–1752.5W34–17UN
Sat 11/20Kentucky vs New Mexico State-35.5W56–1661.0W56–16OY
Sat 11/27Kentucky at Louisville+3.0W52–2158.0W52–21OY
Sat 1/1Kentucky vs Iowa-3.0W20–1743.5W20–17UN
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
Kentucky 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
3 Agree
→ Kentucky
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Kentucky
+0.432
Mississippi State
+0.394
Kentucky Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Kentucky
+0.580
Mississippi State
+0.573
Kentucky Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Kentucky
0.176
Mississippi State
0.155
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Kentucky Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Kentucky
+8.861
Mississippi State
+7.663
Kentucky Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Kentucky
+0.898
Mississippi State
+0.943
Mississippi State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Kentucky
72.3
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
Kentucky Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Kentucky
0.2
Mississippi State
-2.1
Offense Rating
Kentucky
16.3
Mississippi State
14.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Kentucky
16.1
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
Kentucky #57
1.00
Mississippi State #23
1.57
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Kentucky #64
0.50
Mississippi State #62
0.57
Mississippi State +0.57
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Kentucky Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Kentucky #1
68.7
Mississippi State #1
47.7
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Kentucky #23
23.7
Mississippi State #73
40.2
Kentucky +21.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Mississippi State
3 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Mississippi State
54.7 — 27.4 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
Mississippi State won by 14
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
Kentucky
Mark Stoops #1
52–50 (51%) · Yr 9 at school
OC Liam Coen Yr 1 #1
DC Brad White 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: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an 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: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an 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