The Alabama Crimson Tide will shrug off the cobwebs after a long rest to play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the quarterfinals of the 2021 SEC tournament. Will the Bulldogs upset Alabama? Or the Crimson Tide move closer to winning the conference tournament? Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide NCAA College Basketball Game on March 12 2021
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
When: Friday, March 12, 2021, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Mississippi State Bulldogs (+8.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (-8.5) – view all 2021 NCAAB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (+8.5)
Record: 15-13 Overall / 8-10 Conference
Mississippi State was the team that finally put an end to the Kentucky Wildcats’ nightmarish season, as the Bulldogs turned away John Calipari’s team on Thursday, 74-73, to advance to the quarterfinals, where the Bulldogs will need top-seed Alabama. Beating the Crimson Tide seems like a tall order for Mississippi State, which already lost twice in the regular season to Alabama, but the Bulldogs’ rebounding and ability to control the game’s pace should remain a challenge for the SEC’s No. 1 team. Mississippi State will always bring tenacity on the glass, something the Bulldogs showed when they massively outrebounded Kentucky, 46-30. In their 81-73 road loss to Alabama back in January, the Bulldogs came away with 11 offensive rebounds. Mississippi State finished the regular season 12th in offensive rebounding percentage (34.4%) in the nation and 306th in adjusted tempo, with only 65.9 possessions per 40 minutes. Alabama is not known for its efficiency on offense, so limiting the Crimson Tide’s possession will be a top priority for the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State is 5-1 against the spread in its last six games overall.
Betting on the Alabama Crimson Tide (-8.5)
Record: 21-6 Overall / 16-2 Conference
After five full days of rest, Alabama should be super fresh when it takes on Mississippi State this Friday. Alabama finished the regular season strong, scoring three wins in a row, which included the Crimson Tide’s 64-59 win over the Bulldogs on the road back on Feb. 27. Alabama managed to win that game despite hitting just 7 of 28 from behind the arc, thanks in large part to its defense that put a lid on Mississippi State’s basket. The Bulldogs shot just 32.3 percent from the floor and went 1-of-12 from deep. Alabama is among the highest-scoring teams in the nation (finished 17th with 79.6 points per game), but it can also rely on its defense to carry the team whenever its shots aren’t falling. Alabama is tops in the SEC with 91.3 points allowed per 100 possessions and ended the regular season 20th in opponents’ shooting efficiency, having allowed just 0.989 points per possession. If Alabama shoots this Thursday like it did in its win over Mississippi State in January, the Bulldogs are going to be in deep trouble. In that game, Alabama went 14- of 34 from downtown.
The under is 3-1 in Alabama’s last four games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Alabama wins, 77-66.
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