The No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers have slid down in the AP Poll rankings, but they remain a serious national title contender. They have unranked but potent Mississippi State Bulldogs coming to Knoxville this coming Tuesday for an intriguing matchup between a likely high-seed and a team with a sleeper potential in the Big Dance. See the latest odds for the Cavs and the Orange to win the national tournament here.
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Betting Preview for the Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers College Basketball Game on March 5, 2019
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville
When: Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Mississippi State Bulldogs (odds) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (odds) – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-8 Overall / 9-7 Conference)
It’s not easy going up against the Bulldogs. They tire their opponents out with a relentless and frustrating style of defense that many in the SEC has tasted. Mississippi State is allowing just under 70 points per game to opponents, and while that isn’t good enough to break the top 100 in the nation, the Bulldogs are sixth overall in blocks and 15th in steals. They are swatting 5.4 shots per game and making 8.4 steals per contest. Advanced statistics have Mississippi State ranked first in the SEC in defensive steals and blocks percentage. Up against a high-scoring Tennessee squad, the Bulldogs need those positive qualities to show up and slow down the Vols’ attack. The Bulldogs will also have to cut down on their errors, which have often negated whatever good they’ve done on defense. Mississippi State is in the bottom half of the SEC in turnover percentage. In an 80-75 road loss to the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, the Bulldogs had 18 turnovers to just 10 by their opponent.
Mississippi State is 3-2 against the spread (ATS) in its last five trips to Knoxville.
Betting on the Tennessee Volunteers (26-3 Overall / 14-2 Conference)
Tennessee’s insane winning streak is now history, as the Vols have struggled with consistency since losing to the Kentucky Wildcats last month. However, they made sure to get their revenge, as Tennessee leveled Kentucky on Saturday at home to the tune of a 71-52 score. Needless to say, the Vols are still very much capable of taking down most other teams in the SEC. So long as the Volunteers have the tandem of Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield healthy and playing, it’s unlikely to have a walk in the park when up against Rick Barnes’ unit. Despite what the Vols have gone through of late, they still are a legitimately good team that has a real shot of winning the national tournament. Tennessee’s offense is eighth in the nation, as the Vols score 83.1 points per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field. Williams leads the SEC with 19.1 points per game, while Schofield is fourth with 16.7 per contest. Whereas Mississippi State is having trouble securing possessions, the Vols are the least-prone to miscues, as they have the lowest turnover percentage (15.3) in the conference.
Tennessee is 6-4 ATS in its last 10 games against Mississippi State.
Writer’s Prediction
Tennessee wins, 79-71.
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