[Bamabeachlivin]

Last week: Tennessee defeated Mississippi State, 33-21

Saturday: vs. West Virginia, 3:30 p.m. (Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, W.Va.)

TV: ESPN Regional, available to ESPN GamePlan customers

Radio: MSU Network (WOAD-105.9 FM in Jackson)
ON OFFENSE
West Virginia's offense - and the rise of its entire program over the past couple of seasons - begins and ends with the duo of QB Pat White and RB Steve Slaton. White can run and pass and is among the nation's best at both. His only question mark has been a recent unknown injury between his chest and shoulder, but last week's open date may have given him time to heal. Even without White, Slaton gives the Mountaineers another one of the nation's top offensive players. And when White wants to pass out of WVU's spread offense, he's got a go-to guy in Darius Reynaud.
ON DEFENSE
Thought West Virginia was all offense? Please. The Mountaineers have given up the fewest yards per game of any team in the Big East. Mississippi State's running game could run into a brick wall in West Virginia's front, which is contributing to allow opponents less than 100 yards per game and held Western Michigan to 32 in a win earlier this season. Senior LB Marc Magro is third in the Big East with five sacks per game. He's one of seven seniors that head up an experienced Mountaineer defense.
INTANGIBLES
State's loss to Tennessee preceded a back-to-back duo of games that will present as strong a challenge as it has had this year, starting with No. 9 West Virginia and then No. 8 Kentucky. West Virginia had last week off, giving White a chance to heal. Story