Kentucky Football: Five Keys To Defeating Mississippi State

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Oct 14, 2016; Provo, UT, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Brigham Young Cougars at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Don’t Let Nick Fitzgerald Go Off

As has been established, sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald is one of the more dynamic playmakers in the SEC. He still hasn’t put it all together, but when he’s on, he’s a force to be reckoned with.

At 6’5″ and 230 pounds, Fitzgerald can put up points with his arm or tuck it and run for massive gains.

Fitzgerald ran the ball 17 times for 195 yards against the South Carolina Gamecocks, and 15 times for 110 yards against the Massachusetts Minutemen. He ran for 61 yards against the Auburn Tigers and picked up 41 yards and two touchdowns against the BYU Cougars.

Fitzgerald also has a 300-yard passing game and three outings with at least two passing touchdowns.

Fitzgerald has recorded at least two total touchdowns in each of Mississippi State’s past three games. That puts him on a dangerous trajectory against a Kentucky Wildcats team that’s struggled to produce points in 2016.

The Wildcats have won a shootout already, but the New Mexico State Aggies don’t exactly compare to Mississippi State defensively.

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