Mississippi State at South Carolina Week 3 College Football Matchup Mississippi State at South Carolina Matchup - Week 3
Sat, Sep 19 2026 · Week 3 · 🏟 Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC · Turf · 80,250 cap
Mississippi State✈ 448 mi+1 hr TZ
Preseason projection — This game has not yet been played and 2026 in-season data is not yet available. Edges are based on 2025 full-season performance. Confidence will increase once in-season games are logged.
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Mississippi State
23
South Carolina
30
P&R Line South Carolina -7
P&R Total O/U 52.5
Confidence 55 Early Season
Matchup Prediction
Mississippi State has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Mississippi State entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Mississippi State wins
Lean
Game Control
49.4%
Mississippi State wins
Toss-up
Advanced Stats
Advanced factors are split · No strong agreement signal
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 South Carolina 3rd straight Home Game 🚌 Mississippi State 2nd straight Road Game
Mississippi State 2026 Schedule
Mississippi State's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5Mississippi State vs UL Monroe-23
Sat 9/12Mississippi State at Minnesota+5.5
Sat 9/19Mississippi State at South Carolina+7
Sat 9/26Mississippi State vs Missouri+10
Sat 10/3Mississippi State vs Alabama+12.5
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/17Mississippi State at LSU+17.5
Sat 10/24Mississippi State vs Oklahoma+15
Sat 10/31Mississippi State at Texas+28
Sat 11/7Mississippi State vs Vanderbilt+3.5
Sat 11/14Mississippi State vs Auburn+5
Sat 11/21Mississippi State vs Tennessee Tech-24.5
Fri 11/27Mississippi State at Ole Miss+19
South Carolina 2026 Schedule
South Carolina's 2026 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/5South Carolina vs Kent State-26
Sat 9/12South Carolina vs Towson-28.5
Sat 9/19South Carolina vs Mississippi State-7
Sat 9/26South Carolina at Alabama+13
Sat 10/3South Carolina vs Kentucky-7
Sat 10/10South Carolina at Florida+4
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/24South Carolina vs Tennessee+6.5
Sat 10/31South Carolina at Oklahoma+15.5
Sat 11/7South Carolina vs Texas A&M+9.5
Sat 11/14South Carolina at Arkansas-1.5
Sat 11/21South Carolina vs Georgia+18
Sat 11/28South Carolina at Clemson+5.5
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season (prior year)
South Carolina 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
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Mississippi State #90
+0.223
South Carolina #109
+0.319
South Carolina Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Mississippi State #93
+0.461
South Carolina #109
+0.472
South Carolina Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Mississippi State #110
0.135
South Carolina #61
0.160
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
South Carolina Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Mississippi State #22
+7.565
South Carolina #134
+6.288
Mississippi State Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Mississippi State #86
+0.831
South Carolina #118
+0.814
Mississippi State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Mississippi State #68
71.0
South Carolina #128
73.4
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Mississippi State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season (prior year — 2026 data not yet available) · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
South Carolina Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Mississippi State #83
-2.1
South Carolina #41
5.3
Offense Rating
Mississippi State #87
14.2
South Carolina #36
18.3
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Mississippi State #81
16.3
South Carolina #45
13.0
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
Mississippi State #69
1.00
South Carolina #118
0.55
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Mississippi State #74
1.00
South Carolina #67
0.91
Mississippi State +0.46
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Mississippi State Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Mississippi State #71
41.6
South Carolina #52
40.7
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Mississippi State #85
42.9
South Carolina #78
40.8
Mississippi State +0.8
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 2025 full season · preseason estimate
Coaching Matchup
Mississippi State
Jeff Lebby #116
7–18 (28%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Jeff Lebby Yr 3 #41
DC Zach Arnett Yr 1 #53
Staff Rating
2.58 #82
South Carolina
Shane Beamer #45
33–30 (52%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Kendal Briles Yr 1 #39
DC Clayton White Yr 3 #15
Staff Rating
3.31 #25
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