Mississippi
Mississippi State basketball vs Alabama: Prediction, picks, injury updates and odds
STARKVILLE — KeShawn Murphy missed an open layup that would’ve given Mississippi State basketball the lead versus Alabama with under 20 seconds remaining. That was the last time the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide played each other in January at Humphrey Coliseum. Alabama won 88-84.
No. 23 MSU (19-8, 7-7 SEC) has a chance to draw revenge against No. 4 Alabama (22-5, 11-3) this time on the road at Coleman Coliseum on Tuesday (8 p.m., ESPN2).
Alabama has been a thorn for Mississippi State. Bulldogs coach Chris Jans hasn’t beaten Alabama, which has seven consecutive games in the series. MSU hasn’t won in Tuscaloosa since 2016, including a 32-point loss last season.
Here’s what to know about the matchup.
What’s changed with Alabama
Not much is different with Alabama since it last played Mississippi State. It’s 4-2 since then, but the losses are to Auburn and Missouri, both ranked teams.
Alabama beat Kentucky 96-83 at home on Saturday. Its NCAA NET ranking has stayed put at No. 6 ever since it beat MSU.
The strength of Alabama under coach Nate Oats is always its offense, which hasn’t scored below 80 points in 10 consecutive games. The Crimson Tide average 90.8 points per game, No. 1 in the country. It has reached 100 points seven times this season, all in regulation.
Alabama is also leading the country with 43.8 rebounds per game and a 74.9 adjusted tempo, an estimate of how many possessions a team will have per 40 minutes of game time, according to KenPom.
Guard Mark Sears is second in the SEC with 18.9 points per game. Guard Chris Youngblood torched the Bulldogs the last time they played with seven 3-pointers and 23 points. Alabama shot 15-for-31 from 3-point distance in the game.
Mississippi State has played well on the road until Saturday’s Oklahoma loss
Mississippi State dropped to 10-3 away from Humphrey Coliseum after Saturday’s 93-87 loss at Oklahoma. Previously, its only two true road losses were to Auburn and Tennessee.
The Bulldogs led by three points at halftime but allowed 59 points in the second half, the most in Jans’ three seasons.
Mississippi State vs Alabama odds
BetMGM has not yet posted betting lines for this game.
Mississippi State vs Alabama injury updates
Mississippi State guard Kanye Clary is out for the season. Alabama had three players out on Saturday: Latrell Washington Jr., Derrion Reid and Houston Mallette.
How to watch Mississippi State vs Alabama: Time, TV channel, live stream
Mississippi State vs Alabama will air on ESPN2. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Streaming is available via FUBO.
Mississippi State vs Alabama predictions, picks
Alabama 88, Mississippi State 75: The Bulldogs just can’t seem to solve Alabama. It’s hard to see them keeping up offensively, especially after the feeble defensive second half against Oklahoma.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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