Alabama Seeks Ninth Win in Row
The surging Alabama Crimson Tide will look to stay undefeated in conference when they play host to the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs for a rematch on Wednesday night.
The teams opened conference play in late December with Alabama pulling off a 78-67 win.
The victory was the first of a seven-game conference win streak for the No. 2 Crimson Tide, who are alone in first in the SEC with a 7-0 conference record. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, have struggled since. After Mississippi State began the season 11-0, the team has struggled in conference, falling to 1-6 and 12th in the SEC.
According to the college basketball odds, Alabama (+900) has the second-best odds to win the national title. The Crimson Tide (-220) are favored to win the SEC title while the Bulldogs (+25000) are tied for 11th.
Let’s check the latest college basketball news, stats, injury reports and college basketball lines for Mississippi State vs Alabama. We’ve got plenty of NCAA basketball picks for you to consider.
Bulldogs Get Chance at Historic Win
Mississippi State has lost its last four games, but when the Bulldogs meet the second-ranked Crimson Tide on Wednesday night, they’ll have the opportunity for a momentous win.
The Bulldogs haven’t beaten a top-five opponent in the AP Top 25 since the 2002-03 season, when they defeated Oklahoma. A win over Alabama would be the second over a No. 2-ranked opponent in school history.
Downing the Crimson Tide is a tall task, as Mississippi State was unable to do it on its home court and will now have to do it on the road, where Alabama is undefeated.
The Bulldogs will look to win with defense, which is their strength. Mississippi State’s 58.3 points allowed is sixth in the nation – opponents average a 39% field goal percentage, 15th in the country.
Where its defense thrives, Mississippi State’s offense stumbles. The Bulldogs’ 64.9 points a game on 40.4% shooting both rank 13th in the SEC. In its last four games, Mississippi State reached 60 points once, averaging 57.8 points in that time.
Tolu Smith is the only player averaging double figures for the Bulldogs, leading with 13.7 points a game. However, he was shut down in the last matchup with Alabama, scoring five. The Bulldogs will hope to get more on offense while staying strong defensively for a chance to keep up.
Crimson Tide Eyes Season Sweep
The surging Crimson Tide have the chance to complete the season sweep over the Bulldogs..
Alabama is riding an eight-game win streak, with all its wins coming by double digits. Though the Crimson Tide have one of the best offenses in the nation, their defense is also strong.
The Crimson Tide is ninth in the nation in points, averaging 84.1 points and a 44.1 field goal percentage. Brandon Miller and Mark Sears provide a solid scoring duo for the Tide, with both averaging in double figures. Miller leads the team with 19.8 points a game while Sears adds 14.6.
The two caused issues in the first meeting with the Bulldogs, scoring 19 and 20 points, respectively. Miller also logged a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds.
Alabama is also one of the top defenses in the league. The Crimson Tide’s 36.9 opponent field goal percentage is third in the nation while teams average 69 points against them.
The Bulldogs had trouble finding the bottom of the net the first time around, shooting 36.4% from the field, and Alabama will hope for the same once again.
Mississippi State vs Alabama Game Injuries
Mississippi State vs Alabama Head-to-Head
Mississippi State and Alabama have a long history, playing in 209 games dating to 1913. The Crimson Tide lead the series 131-78, with Alabama winning 12 of the last 17 meetings.
Alabama’s win in late December 2022 was its second straight for the Tide while the Bulldogs last won 78-76 in January 2022.
Mississippi State vs Alabama Game Information
- Game: Mississippi (12-7, 1-6 SEC) vs Alabama (17-2, 7-0)
- Location: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Day/Time: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 9 p.m.
- Mississippi vs. Alabama Live Stream: TBS.com
Mississippi State vs Alabama Betting Lines
Mississippi State vs Alabama Picks & Prediction
Alabama should pick up another win for its ninth in a row to remain undefeated in conference play.
Although the Bulldogs have good defense, so does the Crimson Tide, and Mississippi State won’t be able to keep up with Alabama’s elite offense for 40 minutes. Like the first game, Mississippi State’s defense may be able to keep ‘Bama in check for a good portion of the game, but the Tide should pull away at home.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are listed at -805 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Crimson Tide, you have a chance to win $12. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are +555, offering a chance to win $555 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the NCAAB betting lines gives the Alabama Crimson Tide a 88.95% chance to win, with the Mississippi State Bulldogs at 15.27%.
Mississippi State vs Alabama Trends
Mississippi State vs Alabama Edge
Mississippi State vs Alabama Results
Mississippi State vs Alabama Game Summary
