Alabama at Mississippi State Week 5 College Football Matchup Alabama at Mississippi State Matchup - Week 5
Sun, Oct 1 2023 · Week 5 · 🏟 Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS · Turf · 61,337 cap
Away
40 17
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Alabama
34
Mississippi State
14
P&R Line Alabama -19.5
P&R Total O/U 48
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Alabama -16.5 · O/U 45.0
Matchup Prediction
Alabama has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Alabama entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Alabama wins
Lean
Game Control
49.4%
Alabama wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Alabama -16.5
O/U 45.0
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Alabama · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Alabama 2023 Schedule
Alabama's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Alabama vs Middle Tennessee-39.5W56–752.0W56–7OY
Sat 9/9Alabama vs Texas-7.0L24–3453.0L24–34ON
Sat 9/16Alabama at South Florida-34.0W17–361.0W17–3UN
Sat 9/23Alabama vs Ole Miss-7.0W24–1056.0W24–10UY
Sat 9/30Alabama at Mississippi State-16.5W40–1745.0W40–17OY
Sat 10/7Alabama at Texas A&M-2.5W26–2045.0W26–20OY
Sat 10/14Alabama vs Arkansas-19.0W24–2145.0W24–21UN
Sat 10/21Alabama vs Tennessee-8.5W34–2047.5W34–20OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/4Alabama vs LSU-3.0W42–2861.5W42–28OY
Sat 11/11Alabama at Kentucky-10.0W49–2145.5W49–21OY
Sat 11/18Alabama vs Chattanooga-44.5W66–1054.5W66–10OY
Sat 11/25Alabama at Auburn-14.0W27–2448.0W27–24ON
Sat 12/2Alabama vs Georgia+5.0W27–2456.0W27–24UY
Mon 1/1Alabama vs Michigan+2.0L20–2746.0L20–27ON
Mississippi State 2023 Schedule
Mississippi State's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Mississippi State vs SE Louisiana-31.5W48–759.5W48–7UY
Sat 9/9Mississippi State vs Arizona-9.0W31–2460.0W31–24UN
Sat 9/16Mississippi State vs LSU+9.5L14–4154.0L14–41ON
Sat 9/23Mississippi State at South Carolina+6.0L30–3746.5L30–37ON
Sat 9/30Mississippi State vs Alabama+16.5L17–4045.0L17–40ON
Sat 10/7Mississippi State vs Western Michigan-21.5W41–2854.5W41–28ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/21Mississippi State at Arkansas+6.5W7–346.5W7–3UY
Sat 10/28Mississippi State at Auburn+6.5L13–2740.0L13–27UN
Sat 11/4Mississippi State vs Kentucky+5.5L3–2444.5L3–24UN
Sat 11/11Mississippi State at Texas A&M+16.5L10–5140.5L10–51ON
Sat 11/18Mississippi State vs Southern Miss-18.5W41–2047.5W41–20OY
Thu 11/23Mississippi State vs Ole Miss+11.0L7–1756.0L7–17UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Alabama PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Alabama
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Alabama
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Alabama
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Alabama #20
+0.460
Mississippi State #116
+0.205
Alabama Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Alabama #20
+0.730
Mississippi State #115
+0.249
Alabama Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Alabama #16
0.189
Mississippi State #80
0.157
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Alabama Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Alabama #17
+8.920
Mississippi State #96
+7.337
Alabama Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Alabama #39
+0.873
Mississippi State #126
+0.717
Alabama Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Alabama #36
69.4
Mississippi State #52
70.1
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Alabama Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Alabama Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Alabama
17.4
Mississippi State
-2.1
Offense Rating
Alabama
21.7
Mississippi State
14.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Alabama
4.3
Mississippi State
16.3
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Alabama Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Alabama #14
1.25
Mississippi State #120
0.33
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Alabama #13
0.50
Mississippi State #87
2.00
Alabama +0.92
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Alabama Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Alabama #1
46.9
Mississippi State #1
44.0
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Alabama #18
33.6
Mississippi State #104
41.7
Alabama +2.9
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Alabama, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

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

Coaching Matchup
Alabama
Nick Saban #1
191–28 (87%) · Yr 17 at school
OC Tommy Rees Yr 1 #1
DC Kevin Steele Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Mississippi State
Zach Arnett #1
0–0 (0%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Kevin Barbay Yr 1 #1
DC Matt Brock 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