SEC Tournament: Mississippi State vs. Tennessee odds, picks and predictions
The Mississippi State Bulldogs (20-12) battle the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers (24-7) Friday in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Tip from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Mississippi State vs. Tennesseeodds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The 9th-seeded Bulldogs upset No. 8 LSU Tigers 70-60 on Thursday in the 2nd round, covering as a 4.5-point favorite while the Under (143.5) cashed. The win snapped a 4-game losing streak. Freshman G Josh Hubbard scored 24 points and had 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. The Bulldogs have not been to the SEC Tournament title game since 2010.
The top-seeded Volunteers come into the tournament after a disappointing 85-81 loss in Knoxville to the Kentucky Wildcats to end the regular season. They were 8.5-point favorites and the Under (168) cashed. First-team All-American G Dalton Knecht had a career-high 40 points and 4 rebounds in the loss. Tennessee is trying to win the SEC Tournament title for the 2nd time in the last 3 years.
The teams met one time this season with Mississippi State winning 77-72 in Starkville. The Bulldogs won the game as a 2-point home underdog while the Over (137.5) cashed.
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Mississippi State vs. Tennessee odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:38 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Mississippi State +400 (bet $100 to win $400) | Tennessee -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Mississippi State +9.5 (-102) | Tennessee -9.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 141.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Mississippi State vs. Tennessee picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 77, Mississippi State 66
Moneyline
PASS.
You should avoid betting 4 units on Tennessee (-400) to win back 1, it's just never a good bet. Look to the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
BET TENNESSEE -9.5 (-120).
Losing that game to Kentucky on senior night in Knoxville to end the regular season was a slap in the face to a really good Volunteers squad. It may have been a blessing in disguise though because it could be a wake up call. They have to know that these games don’t come easy especially when it comes to tournament time.
Tennessee is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 while Mississippi State has failed to cover in 4 of their last 5. There is an added bitterness to knowing that the Bulldogs beat them in their only meeting this season. The Volunteers will be out for blood in this game.
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Over/Under
BET OVER 141.5 (-110).
Tennessee and Mississippi State have played to the Over in their last 4 meetings. Mississippi State has been Over the total in 5 of their last 7 games.
Now, I know Tennessee has been Under in 6 of their last 7, but all 7 of those games had a total higher than this one. Three of their last 4 totals have been above 150. This number is more than reasonable for them to reach because they did so in their only meeting this season.
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