Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor was downgraded from questionable to doubtful on the SEC's availability report ahead of Saturday's game at LSU, ESPN reported. Running back Fluff Bothwell is also doubtful. And The Valley Shook, which covers LSU, called Taylor's downgrade the big news of Friday's final injury report. It also listed several LSU players as out, including tight end Trey'Dez Green, linebacker Whit Weeks and safety Dashawn Spears. Its list was cut off after wide receiver Phillip, so we can't see the full LSU absence list.

Yahoo Sports said only that Taylor had been dealing with an injury before the LSU game. Our sources give no details on the injury itself. CBS Sports' David Cobb framed the news as an opening for LSU and coach Lane Kiffin, calling it a "layup they can't afford to miss" ahead of games against Alabama, Texas and Tennessee. That is CBS's framing. The reports don't say the Bulldogs have ruled out either player.

Taylor's absence would take away the engine of the Mississippi State offense. In five games this season he has thrown for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns, with four interceptions. He threw for 360 yards against Missouri and 354 against ULM. He has also fumbled three times this season and lost all three. His last game was the 56-23 home loss to Alabama on Oct. 3, when he threw three touchdowns and two interceptions and was sacked or stopped for a net of minus-26 rushing yards. Bothwell has 9 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Our data does not show his rushing line.

Mississippi State is 4-2 over its last six games, with a 1-point-plus margin of 6.8 points per game. It has allowed 30.5 points per game in that stretch, which is a lot for a team that may have to lean on its defense.

LSU has the reverse profile. The Tigers are 4-2 and have outscored opponents by 23.5 points per game. They are 4-0 at home and 0-2 on the road, with away losses of 24-32 at Ole Miss and 34-35 at Kentucky last Saturday. The Kentucky loss is why the CBS piece treats this game as one LSU must win. A team with that home record, facing a backup quarterback in Death Valley, is the kind of game Kiffin's team is expected to win.

LSU's own injury list matters too. Weeks leads the group of listed LSU defenders with 25 tackles, and Spears has 1.5 sacks. Both are out, so LSU's defense will be thinner than the headline suggests.

Kickoff is Saturday. Whether Taylor or Bothwell plays will not be clear until game time. The reports say the pair are doubtful, not out.