Louisville at Mississippi State Taxslayer Bowl Picks and Predictions 12/30/2017

Saturday, December 30, 2017

EverBank Field

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

EverBank Field is the venue for the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday, December 30, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Louisville as 5.5 point favorites. The Bulldogs are 7-5-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 3-9-0. The Cardinals are 5-7-0 ATS and their over/under record is 6-6-0.

Valuable Louisville Cardinals Betting Trends

The Louisville Cardinals are 6-6-0 against the over/under

The Louisville Cardinals are 5-7-0 against the spread

Important Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 3-9-0 against the over/under

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 7-5-0 against the spread

Key Louisville Cardinals Injuries

10/05/17 RB Colin Wilson Knee out for season
09/11/17 RB Jeremy Smith Lower Body out for season
08/29/17 WR Devante Peete Knee out for season
08/16/17 S P.J. Blue Knee out indefinitely

Key Mississippi State Bulldogs Injuries

12/03/17 LB Dezmond Harris Thigh is "?" Saturday vs Louisville
12/03/17 QB Nick Fitzgerald Knee injured last game, is out for season
11/21/17 WR Donald Gray Groin is out for season
10/10/17 WR Malik Dear Knee out for season
09/04/17 DL Chauncey Rivers Redshirt out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Louisville Cardinals have run for 2,999 yards as a unit, which ranks 13th in the nation. They've run 456 times, averaging 6.6 yards per rush as a unit. The Cardinals have been penalized on offense 76 times for 622 yards so far this year, which has them 53rd in the country in penalties. They are 13th in Division 1 in points scored with 468. They have run 889 plays this year for 6,726 yards, which ranks them 18th in the nation in total offense. The Cardinals average 7.6 yards per play, which is 2nd in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 332 1st downs this season, ranking them 4th overall as an offensive unit. Lamar Jackson has completed 241 throws while attempting 399 passes for a completion percentage of 60.4%. He has passed for 3,489 yards this year. He averages 9.3 adjusted yards per throw and 8.7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 151.5.

Defensive Statistics

The Cardinals rush defense has given up 460 attempts for 1,847 yards this season, putting them in 52nd place in the country against the run. They have had 64 penalties for 619 yards on defense this year. That places them 59th in Division 1. Louisville is 70th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 325. They have given up a total of 4,642 yards on D, which is 58th in the nation. The Cardinals are 63rd in yards per play allowed with 5.6. Opponent offenses have completed 214 throws on 365 attempts against the Louisville Cardinals defense this season, ranking them 52nd and 55th in the country. The Louisville pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,794 yards in the air, which is 76th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Louisville Cardinals have tried 17 field goals this year and made 16, which is 44th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 88%. Louisville Cardinals kickers have made 98% of their extra points, going 55 for 56 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,745 yards on 40 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That ranks them 27th in the NCAA in punting average. Louisville is 27th in the country in punt returns with 23. They've totaled 114 punt return yards and average 5 yards per return, which is 106th in D-1. They have returned 22 kicks for 433 yards on special teams, which puts them 124th in kick return yardage. The Cardinals average 20 yards per kick return and they are 8th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 7,273.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Bulldogs are 39th in Division 1 in points scored with 385. They have run 912 plays this season for 5,038 yards, which ranks them 108th in the nation in total offense. The Mississippi State Bulldogs average 5.5 yards per play, which is 81st in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 276 1st downs this year, placing them 30th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Mississippi State has run for 2,995 yards as a team, which ranks 14th in the country. They've run 580 times, averaging 5.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Bulldogs have been penalized on offense 70 times for 610 yards so far this season, which has them 72nd in the nation in penalties. Keytaon Thompson has thrown for 261 yards this season. He has completed 21 passes on 46 attempts for a completion percentage of 45.7%. His quarterback rating this year is 103.3. He averages 5.7 yards per pass attempt and 5.6 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Mississippi State is 24th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 245. They have surrendered a total of 3,624 yards on D, which is 9th in Division 1. The Bulldogs are ranked 35th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Opposing offenses have completed 146 passes on 283 attempts against the Mississippi State defense this season, placing them 4th and 5th in the country. The Mississippi State Bulldogs pass defense has also given up a total of 2,100 yards through the air, which is 12th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 409 attempts for 1,524 yards this year, putting them in 24th place in D-1 against the run. The Bulldogs have committed 58 penalties for 584 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 45th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Mississippi State is ranked 33rd in the nation in punt returns with 22. They've accumulated 220 punt return yards and average 10.5 yards per return, which is 28th in college football. They have returned 23 kicks for 463 yards on special teams, ranking 120th in kick return yardage. The Mississippi State Bulldogs average 20 yards per kick return and they are 62nd in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,720. The Bulldogs have attempted 16 field goals this season and made 13, which is 68th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 81%. Mississippi State kickers have made 96% of their extra points, going 46 for 48 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,098 yards on 50 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That places them 63rd in Division 1 in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Cardinals/Bulldogs college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Bulldogs +5.5

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