Mississippi

Will Kentucky basketball beat Mississippi State today? Our prediction

Published

7 days ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Will Kentucky basketball beat Mississippi State today? Our prediction

Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard leads the SEC in scoring, averaging 23 points per game.
Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope praised Hubbard as an electric scorer and the team’s leading playmaker.
Kentucky is looking for its first SEC win after an 0-2 start, while Mississippi State is on a six-game winning streak.

LEXINGTON — So much of the focus on Josh Hubbard is his scoring ability.

And rightly so.

Hubbard, a junior guard for Mississippi State, is averaging an SEC-best 23 points per game, which is tied for fifth nationally. But Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope said Hubbard isn’t simply a scorer.

“He’s their leading assist guy by far,” said Pope, alluding to Hubbard’s 3.7 assists per game, more than twice as many as his closest teammate.

Stream Kentucky vs. Mississippi State

Pope and the Wildcats will try to do their best to keep Hubbard in check tonight as they host the Bulldogs at Rupp Arena.

Hubbard is fresh off scoring 30 points in a home win over Oklahoma. He has two other 30-plus-point efforts this season, while he’s scored 20 or more 10 times. Hubbard has reached double figures in every game but one in 2025-26; he played just two minutes before exiting with an injury versus San Francisco last month.

“So he’s an electric scorer,” Pope said. “He’s their best playmaker, their best assist guy … and he’s bringing it on the defensive end right now. He’s (got) a full, complete game. He’s a little bit undersized (but) he’s got a real physicality to him. He’s got an unbelievable cleverness to his game. Clearly, he shoots it incredibly well.”

Can Kentucky (9-6, 0-2 SEC) stop the bleeding and avoid its third straight loss to start conference play? Or will Mississippi State (10-5, 2-0) pick up its seventh straight victory and remain unbeated versus league foes?

Here’s what to know about the Wildcats’ battle with the Bulldogs tonight in Lexington:

UK and Mississippi State are slated to tip off at 8:30 p.m. today at Rupp Arena.

Oct. 17: Blue-White game (Click here to read takeaways from the intrasquad scrimmage.)
Oct. 24: exhibition vs. Purdue (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 78, Purdue 65
Oct. 30: exhibition vs. Georgetown University (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Georgetown 84, Kentucky 70
Nov. 4: Nicholls (Rupp Arena) ∣ SCORE: Kentucky 77, Nicholls 51
Nov. 7: Valparaiso (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 107, Valparaiso 59
Nov. 11: at Louisville (KFC Yum! Center) | SCORE: Louisville 96, Kentucky 88
Nov. 14: Eastern Illinois (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 99, Eastern Illinois 53
Nov. 18: vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic; Madison Square Garden, New York) | SCORE: Michigan State 83, Kentucky 66
Nov. 21: Loyola University Maryland (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 88, Loyola Maryland 46
Nov. 26: Tennessee Tech (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 104, Tennessee Tech 54
Dec. 2: North Carolina (Rupp Arena; ACC/SEC Challenge) | SCORE: North Carolina 67, Kentucky 64
Dec. 5: vs. Gonzaga (Bridgestone Arena; Nashville) | SCORE: Gonzaga 94, Kentucky 59
Dec. 9: North Carolina Central (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 103, North Carolina Central 67
Dec. 13: Indiana (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 72, Indiana 60
Dec. 20: vs. St. John’s (CBS Sports Classic; State Farm Arena, Atlanta) | SCORE: Kentucky 78, St. John’s 66
Dec. 23: Bellarmine (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Kentucky 99, Bellarmine 85
Jan. 3: at Alabama | SCORE: Alabama 89, Kentucky 74
Jan. 7: Missouri (Rupp Arena) | SCORE: Missouri 73, Kentucky 68
Jan. 10: Mississippi State (Rupp Arena), 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 14: at LSU, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17: at Tennessee, noon
Jan. 21: Texas (Rupp Arena), 7 p.m.
Jan. 24: Ole Miss (Rupp Arena), noon
Jan. 27: at Vanderbilt, 9 p.m.
Jan. 31: at Arkansas, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 4: Oklahoma (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m.
Feb. 7: Tennessee (Rupp Arena), 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 14: at Florida, 3 p.m.
Feb. 17: Georgia (Rupp Arena), 9 p.m.
Feb. 21: at Auburn, 8:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: at South Carolina, 7 p.m.
Feb. 28: Vanderbilt (Rupp Arena), 2 p.m.
March 3: at Texas A&M, 7 p.m.
March 7: Florida (Rupp Arena), 4 p.m.

Record: 9-6 (0-2 SEC)

Betting odds: Kentucky is a 10⅟₂-point favorite (-102) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 152 ⅟₂ points (-105).

Kentucky 77, Mississippi State 75: According to KenPom.com, the Wildcats have a 79% chance to best the Bulldogs. But that’s almost the exact percentage (80) the site listed for Kentucky to top Missouri on Wednesday. (You don’t need to remind UK fans how that one turned out.) The situation is becoming increasingly dire for Kentucky, which is 0-2 in SEC play for the first time since 2005-06. It’s 2-5 in Quad 1 games this season. And has had multiple embarrassing performances in marquee matchups (Louisville, Gonzaga and Michigan State spring to mind.) Tonight is a contest UK can’t afford to lose. And it won’t. But the Wildcats will keep their anxious fans biting their nails until the final possession, when Hubbard’s 3 clanks off the rim to help the hosts escape with a two-point win.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

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Mississippi

Wright Thompson: The Ghosts of Mississippi

Published

4 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Press Room

Wright Thompson: The Ghosts of Mississippi

Official Mississippi doesn’t really want to talk about the murder of Emmett Till—or teach about the murder of Emmett Till. Almost 71 years later, the intentional attempt to erase the crime lives on. On this MLK Day weekend, Wright joins Tim to discuss the role of history and black history in our public consciousness. Meanwhile, Trump and MAGA are busy trying to rewrite the history of modern-day political violence, including the thuggery of ICE agents. Plus, a ranking of the best SEC college towns, a tribute to Bob Weir, the impact of tariffs on farmers—as well as this year’s Mardi Gras— and even the White House is starting to get concerned about the optics of Trump’s deportation operation.

ESPN’s Wright Thompson joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.

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Mississippi

Who wins Ole Miss vs Mississippi State rivalry basketball game? Our prediction

Published

16 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Press Room

Who wins Ole Miss vs Mississippi State rivalry basketball game? Our prediction

The first game between Ole Miss basketball and Mississippi State last season was the first time that both teams were ranked in the Top 25 for a matchup.

The Bulldogs and Rebels are in a different situation entering their first meeting of the 2025-26 season on Jan. 17 (7:30 p.m., SEC Network) at Humphrey Coliseum.

Ole Miss (10-7, 2-2 SEC) and MSU (10-7, 2-2) both got off to slow starts this season. Neither team has been ranked. They need really good SEC seasons to reach the NCAA tournament as an at-large bid.

Here are our score predictions and what else to know for the game.

Where Ole Miss, Mississippi State stand before rivalry game

The Rebels enter the game perhaps playing their best basketball of the season. They’ve won two straight SEC games, while the Bulldogs have lost their last two games.

Ole Miss beat Missouri at SJB Pavilion on Jan. 10 then upset No. 22 Georgia on the road on Jan. 14. Freshman guard Patton Pinkins won the game on a buzzer-beating putback in overtime for the Rebels’ first win against a ranked opponent this season.

MSU lost 92-68 at Kentucky on Jan. 10, its 20th consecutive regular season loss to Kentucky, and 97-82 against No. 18 Alabama on Jan. 13, its ninth straight loss to the Crimson Tide. The Bulldogs held double-digit leads in the first half of both of those games.

Josh Hubbard vs AJ Storr is matchup to watch

Ole Miss vs Mississippi State could have an intriguing guard battle.

Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard, a former Ole Miss signee, leads the SEC with 22.8 points per game. He has three 30-point games this season and five consecutive games with at least 20 points.

Ole Miss’ AJ Storr, a Kansas transfer, is second on the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game behind forward Malik Dia. But Storr has scored 26 and 27 points in Ole Miss’ last two games despite coach Chris Beard moving him to the bench.

Chris Jans has advantage over Chris Beard so far

Mississippi State coach Chris Jans has fared well against Ole Miss. He’s 5-1 against the Rebels with three straight wins.

Ole Miss coach Chris Beard is 1-3 against Mississippi State.

None of the games in the last three seasons has been decided by more than 12 points. MSU was up by 19 in the second half of last season’s game at Ole Miss before winning 81-71. Two of the games have gone to overtime.

Jayden Epps, Jamarion Davis-Fleming injuries for Mississippi State

MSU starting guard Jayden Epps exited the Alabama game in the second half after rolling his right ankle and did not return. Backup forward Jamarion Davis-Fleming also exited with an unspecified injury and didn’t return.

Jans did not have an update on their statuses after the game.

Ole Miss vs Mississippi State score predictions

Sam Hutchens: Ole Miss 80, Mississippi State 75: Ole Miss has found a groove after starting SEC play 0-2. The Rebels will do well to exploit MSU’s 3-point defense. The Bulldogs allow their opponents to shoot 35.8% from deep, which is No. 15 in the SEC. Look for sharpshooters Travis Perry (4-for-7 on 3-pointers vs. Georgia) and Pinkins (3-for-3) to stay hot.
Sam Sklar: Mississippi State 74, Ole Miss 70: Despite the two recent losses, MSU has still played better over the last month than it was before. Jans will find a way to beat Ole Miss again, as long as another player besides Hubbard can step up as a second scoring option.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

SEC rivalry game once again changes days, schools announce

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2026

Press Room

SEC rivalry game once again changes days, schools announce

The Egg Bowl is moving to Friday for the third straight year, it was announced Thursday.

The annual game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, the Battle for the Golden Egg, is now set for Friday, Nov. 27 for the 2026 season at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium in Oxford.

Kickoff time and television network will be determined at a later date.

The game will mark the seventh time the two school have met on a Friday, including 1916, 1921, 2007, 2008, 2024 and last fall’s 38-19 win in Starkville.

The 2026 game will mark the 123rd meeting between the two schools. The Rebels hold a 67-49-6 advantage all-time on the field (67-47-6 after vacated and forfeited wins).

Next season’s game will also be the 99th Battle for the Golden Egg, which Ole Miss also leads 61-30-5 on the field since the trophy’s introduction in 1927.

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