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AwayUL MonroeNo. 133 · -16.5
4M projection
Away18–Home33
Home -15.581% win
HomeMississippi StateNo. 55 · +2.2
Week 1Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 PM EDTESPNUDavis Wade Stadium93.4° · 4.2 mph
Locked pregame marketMississippi State -28.5 · O/U 54.5Details
Pregame sportsbookFanDuelLocked Aug 27, 11:29 AM ET
SpreadMississippi State -28.5 -105UL Monroe +28.5 -115
TotalOver 54.5 -110Under 54.5 -110
MoneylineMississippi State -7000UL Monroe +2000
OpeningMississippi State -29.5O/U 55.5 · Spread moved +1.0
Review
A large difference needs review before betting.

4M projects Mississippi State 33 · UL Monroe 18 while FanDuel lists Mississippi State -28.5. That creates 13.0 points of difference toward UL Monroe.

See the betting translation ↓
Final · permanent model receiptUL Monroe 13 · Mississippi State 62
Winner hitStraight-up projection33.5 ptsProjected-margin error24.1 ptsProjected-total errorATS side lostFrozen market comparison
See the complete 4M record →
10-second readLatest updateThe model and sportsbook snapshot are permanently locked at kickoff. · Aug 27, 11:29 AM ET
Projected result
Mississippi State 33–18

Mississippi State has a 81% win chance in a mismatch matchup.

Key matchup
Mississippi State · Roster quality

Talent, depth and recruiting baseline is the clearest advantage supporting the projection.

Biggest concernTurnovers and explosive plays can flip it.

UL Monroe needs short fields or a possession advantage to break the expected script.

Game shapeMismatch
Expected styleAverage pace · Average-scoring
Projected pace12.0 possessions per team
Forecast snapshotMississippi State leads the modelMismatch · Average pace
4M fair lineMississippi State -15.5
Projected total51.0
Mississippi State win81%
Projection confidence89%
UL Monroe19% win
Mississippi State81% win

How the game projects

Mississippi State owns the median outcome. UL Monroe needs the game to bend.

Why Mississippi State winsTurn the roster quality edge into repeatable downs.

Talent, depth and recruiting baseline. Protect the football and make that advantage show up across full drives instead of isolated plays.

How UL Monroe winsMake quarterback decide the game.

Starter probability, production and continuity. Pair that advantage with short fields and explosive plays.

Read the full projection +

The model makes Mississippi State the neutral-field leader after blending opponent-adjusted efficiency, predictive ratings, roster quality, returning production, portal impact and special teams. The complete environment contributes +2.3 points toward the home-team margin. The median score is Mississippi State 33 · UL Monroe 18, with roughly 12.0 possessions per team.

This is a distribution, not a promise. Mississippi State wins 81% of the outcome curve; the remaining probability captures turnovers, finishing-drive variance, injuries and early-season uncertainty.

Watch earlyThe opening signals that matter most
01Mississippi State · Roster quality

Does the strongest model advantage appear on the opening possessions?

02Average pace

12.0 possessions per team is the scoring baseline.

03UL Monroe · hidden possessions

Turnovers, short fields and explosive plays are the clearest upset path.

Why the model likes it

The matchup engine, from highlights to detail.

01 · Roster quality
Mississippi State
+13.5 indexTalent, depth and recruiting baseline
02 · Quarterback
UL Monroe
+11.0 indexStarter probability, production and continuity
03 · Defensive matchup
Mississippi State
+8.7 indexOpponent-adjusted prevention and disruption
Explore the matchup

Open only the part you want. Every figure is a matchup index—not a projected point adjustment.

Offense vs. defenseEfficiency, explosives and coverageMississippi State leads
Offensive efficiencyMississippi State

Expected scoring efficiency and early-down leverage across the two offenses.

+4.1 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Defensive resistanceMississippi State

Opponent-adjusted prevention, disruption and finishing-drive defense.

+8.7 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
ReceiversMississippi State

Pass-game production, returning usage and depth against the opposing coverage unit.

+4.6 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
SecondaryMississippi State

Coverage experience and play prevention against the opposing passing attack.

0.0 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Quarterback & personnelThe players most capable of moving the numberMississippi State leads
QuarterbackUL Monroe

Starter probability, proven production, continuity and transfer translation.

+11.0 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Player valueUL Monroe

Role-weighted returning production and incoming transfer contribution.

+1.2 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Roster qualityMississippi State

Recruiting baseline, usable depth and talent concentration at premium positions.

+13.5 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Line of scrimmageProtection, disruption and field positionMississippi State leads
Offensive lineMississippi State

Returning line usage, protection stability and the ability to avoid negative plays.

0.0 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Defensive frontMississippi State

Pressure, havoc and run disruption without needing extra defenders.

0.0 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Special teamsMississippi State

Kicking, field position and hidden-yardage efficiency.

+28.2 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
EnvironmentHome field, travel, weather and availabilityMississippi State leads
Home environmentMississippi State

Mississippi State's learned home baseline, venue history, capacity and altitude at Davis Wade Stadium.

+2.2 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
Travel & body clockMississippi State

Relative trip distance, time-zone change and local kickoff timing.

+0.1 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
RestMississippi State

Difference in recovery time entering the game.

0.0 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
AvailabilityMississippi State

Verified injury and availability reports applied as a live overlay.

0.0 indexHigh confidence
UMMS
How 4M built the fair lineMississippi State -15.5View the number bridge +
Neutral marginMississippi State +13.2Team strength before location
Base home field+2.0National home baseline
Venue + altitude+0.2Learned history, capacity and elevation
Travel + body clock+0.1Relative trip and kickoff timing
Rest0.0Days-between-games difference
Live availability0.0Verified personnel overlay

The location calculation combines the learned national baseline with venue and conference history, capacity, altitude, travel, body clock and rest. The archived team ratings remain neutral-field numbers.

Personnel file

Continuity, transfers and the people who can move the number.

UL MonroeBryant Vincent
44 returners20 additions17 departures
Top modeled impact
  1. Aidan ArmentaQB · Returning4.6
  2. Nic TrujilloWR · Returning0.7
  3. Brandon BuckhaulterWR · Returning0.7
Full team dossier →
Mississippi StateJeff Lebby
50 returners28 additions40 departures
Top modeled impact
  1. AJ SwannQB · Transfer in from App State3.6
  2. Anthony Evans IIIWR · Returning0.9
  3. Kamario TaylorQB · Returning0.7
Full team dossier →

Pregame market receipt

Review before betting.

ReviewA large difference needs review before betting.

This comparison is frozen and will not move with live-game odds.

Locked price · FanDuelMississippi State -28.5O/U 54.5
4M fair lineMississippi State -15.5Projected total 51.0
Pregame difference13.0 ptsUL Monroe side
Bet thresholdUL Monroe +20.5 or better5.0-point side requirement
Primary riskVariance beats the baselineTurnovers, explosive plays and late availability
Model vs. market detailsSee the calculation, audits and pregame line movement+
Independent line comparison13.0-point difference
Market-28.54M-15.5
Mississippi State sideUL Monroe side
Disagreement auditDo not trust the raw edge until these checks clear.
  • Large 13.0-point model/market disagreement

The 4M line remains independent. A difference becomes actionable only when it clears the required edge and the availability, weather and disagreement audits.

What needs to happen: the projected unit advantages must survive first down and the turnover margin must stay near even. After kickoff, both the model and market comparison stay frozen.

FanDuel pregame movement65 stored snapshots
  1. -28.5O/U 54.5
  2. -28.5O/U 54.5
  3. -28.5O/U 54.5
  4. -28.5O/U 54.5
  5. -28.5O/U 54.5
  6. -28.5O/U 54.5
  7. -28.5O/U 54.5
  8. -28.5O/U 54.5

Schedule context

What comes immediately before and after this matchup.

UL MonroeFive-game timeline
  1. NOWSep 5at Mississippi StateCurrent matchup
  2. W2Sep 12at UABAway
  3. W3Sep 19vs SE LouisianaHome
  4. W4Sep 26vs Florida AtlanticHome
  5. W5Oct 3at South AlabamaAway
View full UL Monroe schedule →
Mississippi StateFive-game timeline
  1. NOWSep 5vs UL MonroeCurrent matchup
  2. W2Sep 12at MinnesotaAway
  3. W3Sep 19at South CarolinaAway
  4. W4Sep 26vs MissouriHome
  5. W5Oct 3vs AlabamaHome
View full Mississippi State schedule →