Kentucky Is A Rare Road Underdog Against Mississippi State
The Kentucky vs Mississippi State Lines Is Favoring the Host Bulldogs
Kentucky May Be Without Its Top Rebounder in Key SEC Clash
Mississippi State has struggled at home against conference rival Kentucky, but with a chance for a second consecutive 20-win season on the line, the Bulldogs are listed by the Kentucky vs Mississippi State lines as the favorite in the second meeting of the season.
Kentucky has won its last eight games in Starkville and has won 18 of the previous 19 games against the Bulldogs. After Kentucky has been favored in 18 games in a row against Mississippi State, the Bulldogs have been favored in two of the last three meetings. Mississippi State is a 4-point favorite with -170 odds to win the game outright.
When looking at the NCAAB odds, Kentucky’s odds to win March Madness have gone from +1400 to +2500 since the season began. Mississippi State’s championship odds have moved from +15000 to +10000.
Kentucky is 19th in the NCAA NET rankings despite a 5-6 record in Quad 1 games. Mississippi State is just 3-6 in Quad 1 games and 28th in the NCAA NET rankings.
Keep on reading for more on the matchup between Kentucky and Mississippi State.
Wildcats vs Bulldogs 
Day/Time:
Records: Kentucky (9-5 in the SEC)/Mississippi State (8-6 in the SEC)
Location: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, MS
Streaming: ESPN
Freshmen Deliver for the Wildcats
It is safe to say that Kentucky bounced back from a stunning loss to LSU by putting up 117 points in a win over Alabama.
Freshman Justin Edwards had 28 points as he was 10-for-10 from the field after scoring in double figures just twice in his previous 14 games.
The Wildcats got 68 points from its freshman class with Zvonimir Ivisic and Rob Dillingham also scoring in double figures. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Kentucky vs Mississippi State lines.
While Dillingham had 23 points in the loss to LSU, his classmates combined for just 16 points.
The freshmen combined for 45 points in the previous matchup against Mississippi State with Dillingham scoring 16 points and Aaron Bradshaw added 11 points.
Kentucky is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games.
Smith Looks For the Sequel
When Mississippi State met Kentucky last month, Mississippi State senior forward Tolu Smith had 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting in just his fifth game of the college basketball season. After putting up 25 points in his next game, Smith averaged 13 points over his next seven games.
He seems to be trending in the right direction again, with 43 points and 15 rebounds over the last two games.
In his last two games versus Kentucky, Smith has 48 points while shooting 79% from the field. Nobody expects that field-goal percentage to continue, but he will have plenty of chances to get going against the Wildcats. That could factor into the Kentucky vs Mississippi State lines.
Mississippi State has covered in four of its last five games.
Last Meeting
Kentucky jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first half on the way to the 90-77 win when listed by the college basketball predictions as the 6.5-point home favorite on Jan. 17. The game went over the 157-point total on an Aaron Bradshaw dunk with 2:20 left to play.
It was the sixth straight game between Kentucky and Mississippi State to go over the total.
That January matchup ended a run of six straight games between Kentucky and Mississippi State that were decided by single digits.
Kentucky vs Mississippi State Betting Preview
Mississippi State hasn’t won at home against Kentucky since 2008, but the Bulldogs have covered three times during the eight-game home losing streak to the Wildcats.
Mississippi State has won its last five NCAAB games, including a 20-point road win against an LSU team that recently upset Kentucky.
Mississippi State is 17-4 this season as the favorite and 9-2 outright as the home favorite but is 4-6-1 against the spread in those games. Kentucky has won two of its three games as a road underdog.
Tre Mitchell, the top rebounder and the No. 3 scorer for Kentucky, is questionable while Mississippi State guard Andrew Taylor, one of the two Kentucky natives for the Bulldogs, is out.
The total went under in four of Kentucky’s last five road games, with the total set at 156.5 points for this matchup.
Mississippi State is 10-4 against the spread in its last 14 games in February, with the Bulldogs covering in four of the last six games against SEC teams.
The Wildcats have covered in five of their eight road games. The total has gone over in 13 of Kentucky’s last 18 games.
Kentucky has covered in seven of its last nine games against Mississippi State, and don’t be surprised to see the Wildcats make it eight out of 10.
For NCAAB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
