by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 30, 2023
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
Where to watch: SEC Network
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Mississippi State -10; MSU -550, SC +400
FanDuel: Mississippi State -10.5; MSU -550, SC +400
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Mississippi State -10
Season record
Mississippi State: 13-8 (1-7 SEC)
South Carolina: 8-13 (1-7 SEC)
We’re nearing the halfway mark of the college basketball season and it’s been quite the ride so far. Will Rogers is going hard in the last 30 days with a 16-10-1 run, while Kyle Hunter has also had a strong run of form as of late at 28-24-0 (+$1,700). If they’ve been killing it as much as they were in the first half, what does the second half have in store? The only way you’re going to find out is by staying locked on bigal.com and following what our champion handicappers are up to heading into the second half. Trust us, you want to know.
Mississippi State - South Carolina preview, prediction and analysis
Recent form
Mississippi State: won 81-74 (OT) vs. No. 11 TCU
South Carolina: lost 81-78 (OT) at Georgia
After what was unquestionably their biggest win of the season on Saturday, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will look to keep the momentum going on Tuesday when they visit the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena.
After what was unquestionably their biggest win of the season on Saturday, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will look to keep the momentum going on Tuesday when they visit the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena.
Mississippi State is coming off an 81-74 overtime victory over the No. 11 TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday. The Bulldogs were led by a season-high 27 points and 13 rebounds from Tolu Smith, to go along with five assists. Smith shot 11 of 13 from the floor, and the MSU defense held TCU to below 40 percent shooting and only 6 of 27 from 3-point range.
“For me it was an exhale,” said Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans. “For the guys it was super-excited, joyous, celebrating a win. We didn’t address it that much. I told them how proud I was of them during this stretch because it’s real easy to start listening to noise and other people. I understand how that works and you start questioning things. But they kept with it.”
The win came at a great time for Mississippi State, who completely fell off after their 1—0 start with eight losses in nine games; two of them to Tennessee, two to Alabama and one to Auburn. With winnable games against South Carolina, Missouri and LSU, this is a golden opportunity for the Bulldogs to get back on track.
Menawhile, the Gamecocks are reeling after their fifth straight loss and seven in the last eight after losing 81-78 to the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime on Saturday. Gregory Jackson II had a team-high 18 points but sot 6 of 19 to get there, while Hayden Brown had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out of the game.
The 3-point loss was the first cover for the Gamecocks in five games when they were 20-point underdogs in their upset victory over Kentucky on Jan. 10. They were 10.5-point dogs against Georgia and have been getting points in eight straight games.
Mississippi State has covered in three of their last five and were getting only 1.5 against TCU and getting 12 against Alabama. Opening lines have MSU as high as 10.5-point favorites with the total at 126.
Prediction
Don’t underestimate how big that TCU win was. Mississippi State has been in dire need of getting back to the way things were when they started 11-0. The schedule is absolutely favorable for them to make something happen, and I like the Bulldogs going into the road. Mississippi State 75, South Carolina 60
Betting trends
Mississippi State is 119-77 ATS after losing 2 of 3 since 1997.
South Carolina is 62-94 ATS after 2 straight games giving up 9 offensives rebounds or less since 1997.
South Carolina is 15-27 ATS after playing as an underdog the last 3 seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Mississippi State:
PG: Shakeel Moore
SG: Dashawn Davis
SF: D.J. Jeffries
PF: Tolu Smith
C: Cameron Matthews
South Carolina:
PG: Meechie Johnson Jr.
SG: Jacobi Wright
SF: Chico Carter Jr.
PF: Hayden Brown
C: G.G. Jackson
Injury report
Mississippi State: Jamel Horton Jr. (out)
South Carolina: None
Mississippi State: Jamel Horton Jr. (out)
South Carolina: None
Statistical leaders
Mississippi State:
Points: Tolu Smith -- 14.4
Rebounds: Tolu Smith -- 8.2
Assists: Dashawn Davis -- 3.4
South Carolina:
Points: G.G. Jackson -- 16.2
Rebounds: G.G. Jackson -- 7.0
Assists: Meechie Johnson Jr. -- 3.4
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert basketball picks today. And if you enjoyed this Mississippi State - South Carolina prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college basketball projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
