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Mississippi State can end its 6-game losing streak with a win over UMass, which has 3 SEC matchups this season

From The Associated Press

UMass (2-6) at Mississippi State (1-7), Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET (SEC).

BetMGM college football odds: Mississippi State at 18 1/2.

Series: Mississippi State leads 2-0.

What is at stake

UMass is looking for a breakthrough in the second of three meetings against SEC schools. The Minutemen lost 45-3 at Missouri two weeks ago and will face No. 2 Georgia on Nov. 23. MSU is taking a break from the SEC grind and looking to end a six-game losing streak. The Bulldogs are hoping for a breather as they face a grueling home stretch against No. 7 Tennessee, No. 25 Missouri and No. 19 arch-rival Mississippi.

Key match

UMass boasts the sixth-best pass defense in the country (157.5 yards allowed per game) and the 36th-best unit overall (328.0). The Minutemen held Wagner to just 56 passing yards and 218 total yards in a 35-7 win last week. MSU had a 673-471 lead in last week's 58-25 loss to Arkansas, but was nearly even in the passing game (314-309). The Bulldogs have surpassed 300 yards rushing in two of the last three games, including 306 against Georgia.

Players to watch

UMass wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James is tied for 49th in the FBS with 566 yards on 32 catches. He ranks 43rd with an average of 17.7 yards per catch and 57th with an average of nearly 71 yards per game.

Mississippi State receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. has a three-game streak of at least eight receptions, totaling 292 yards and two touchdowns in that span. His 52 catches for 636 yards rank second and fourth in the SEC, respectively. Coleman has caught a pass in 25 straight games, the 24th longest active streak in FBS.

Facts & Figures

MSU won the previous meeting 34-23 in 2017 in Starkville. … The Minutemen will play as an independent before joining the Mid-American Conference as a full member on July 1. … UMass has 14 transfers from Power Four schools, but only kicker Jacob Lurie (Vanderbilt) has SEC experience. … QB Taisun Phommachanh ranks 68th nationally with 1,541 passing yards. … MSU cornerback Isaac Smith ranks second in the SEC and 13th in the FBS with 74 stops. … The Bulldogs averaged nearly 408 yards per game in October.

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The Associated Press contributed to this article