The Texas Longhorns are overwhelmingly favored against Mississippi State this week. Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor is out for the season , and the Longhorns have several advantages they can exploit.

However, everyone knows that anything can happen in the SEC. It's an unpredictable conference, and Texas hasn't necessarily earned a vote of confidence every week.

Mississippi State could keep this game competitive if it exploits this advantage.

MSU's Third-Down Offense vs. Texas' Third-Down Offense

Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Parker Puckett. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Bulldogs rank third in the SEC in total first downs per game (23.57). Their third-down conversion rate sits at 43 percent, four points higher than Texas.

Last week, Mississippi State's poor third-down offense was an outlier. The Bulldogs are typically successful on third down, which could be troublesome for the Longhorns.…