MSU vs. LSU: Bulldogs and Tigers will kick off at 6pm CT on ESPN

Mississippi State and LSU will kick off their annual SEC West showdown next Saturday at 6pm Central, the league announced today. The game, which will be televised by ESPN, was selected along with the Alabama - Texas A&M game by CBS as a 6-day selection, which gave CBS the right to choose one six days before kickoff, in contrast to the usual 12 days prior.

Both teams come into Saturday's game following big home losses, coincidentally to the other teams playing next Saturday, Alabama and Texas A&M. Mississippi State simply couldn't figure out Johnny Manziel, as he and the Aggies ran through, over, and around the Bulldog defense for a 38-13 win in Starkville. LSU lost a heartbreaker to Alabama at home, giving up a late A.J. McCarron TD to lose to the Tide 21-17.

This will be MSU's 3rd straight game on ESPN. We're 1-2 so far this season on the network's flagship channel.

Now we wait to see what the opening odds will be for the game. My guess is around 24-31.