The Mississippi State Bulldogs will have revenge on their minds as they attempt to match a season best with their sixth straight win when they host the No. 16 Kentucky Wildcats in an SEC showdown on Tuesday. Mississippi State (19-8, 8-6), which opened the campaign with a six-game winning streak, is riding its second five-game run after rolling to an 87-67 triumph at LSU on Saturday. The Bulldogs lost their first meeting of 2023-24 with the Wildcats, however, as they dropped a 90-77 decision on the road. Kentucky (19-8, 9-5) is coming off its third victory in four contests, a 117-95 rout of then-No. 13 Alabama.
Tipoff from Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss. is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Mississippi State vs. Kentucky odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 156.5. Before making any Kentucky vs. Mississippi State picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 17 of the 2023-24 season on a 139-94 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $2,300 for $100 players. It also is off to a sizzling 25-14 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Mississippi State vs. Kentucky and revealed its CBB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Kentucky vs. Mississippi State:
- Mississippi State vs. Kentucky spread: Bulldogs -3.5
- Mississippi State vs. Kentucky over/under: 156.5 points
- Mississippi State vs. Kentucky money line: Bulldogs -168, Wildcats +141
- MSU: The Bulldogs are just 12-9 against the spread in their last 21 home games
- UK: The Wildcats are 7-4 ATS in their last 11 road contests
- Mississippi State vs. Kentucky picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Mississippi State can cover
The Bulldogs have enjoyed the bulk of their success this season at home, where they are 11-2 and have won five in a row. Tolu Smith has led Mississippi State in scoring in four of the team's last six home games and also topped the club in the loss at Kentucky last month. The senior forward recorded 26 points and eight rebounds in that contest and came off the bench at LSU to register 19 and nine, respectively.
Smith has been Mississippi State's leading scorer in five of its 13 home games, while Josh Hubbard has taken the honor six times. The freshman guard set a season high on Saturday as he was 6-for-12 from beyond the arc en route to 32 points. Smith is averaging 16.8 points this campaign and Hubbard is scoring 15.3 per contest for the Bulldogs, who are recording 75.6 points at home while allowing 65.2. See which team to pick here.
Why Kentucky can cover
The Wildcats also received strong performances from several of its freshmen in the victory against Alabama, with Justin Edwards leading the way. The guard came up with his best offensive effort of the season as he scored a game-high 28 points on 10-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Edwards, whose previous best was 17 points against Vanderbilt on Feb. 6, was averaging 8.1 points prior to Saturday's win.
Fellow freshmen Zvonimir Ivisic and Rob Dillingham came off the bench to also make big contributions against the Crimson Tide. Ivisic recorded 18 points, five rebounds and four blocks, while Dillingham reached double figures for the 22nd time in 26 games this season with 16 points. Senior Antonio Reeves, who leads the Wildcats with a 19.9-point average, recorded 24 points and a season-high five assists. See which team to pick here.
How to make Mississippi State vs. Kentucky picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 151 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 70% of the time. You can see the picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Mississippi State vs. Kentucky, and which side of the spread hits over 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Kentucky vs. Mississippi State spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 25-14 roll on top-ranked college basketball spread picks.
