The college basketball betting action goes on Saturday, February 12, with plenty of intriguing matchups around the country, so we’re breaking down the Southeastern Conference showdown from Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to get you the best Mississippi State vs. LSU betting pick and odds.

The Bulldogs and Tigers lock horns for the first time in 2021-22. LSU aims for its fourth consecutive victory over Mississippi State, opening as a home favorite on BetDSI Sportsbook.

Mississippi State dropped four of its last five games      

The Mississippi State Bulldogs fell to 14-9 straight up and 12-11 ATS on the season following a 72-63 defeat to the Tennessee Volunteers this past Wednesday. Playing as small 1.5-point home underdogs, the Bulldogs recorded their second straight loss and fourth in the last five outings.

Mississippi State couldn’t cope with the Vols’ defense down the stretch, failing to score in the final 2:48 of the second half. Junior guard Iverson Molinar led the way for the Bulldogs with 16 points and five assists, while senior forward Garrison Brooks had 15 points and eight rebounds.

The Bulldogs are 5-5 in the conference play, laying at the sixth spot of the SEC standings. They score 112.6 points per 100 possessions (27th in the nation) and surrender 98.4 in a return (91st). Mississippi State is No. 49 in the KenPom rankings and No. 56 in the latest NCAA NET Rankings.

LSU has just snapped its three-game losing streak   

The LSU Tigers (17-7; 15-9 ATS) put an end to their three-game losing streak last Tuesday, outlasting the Texas A&M Aggies 76-68 as 1.5-point road favorites. The Tigers have struggled a lot over the last few weeks, going only 2-6 SU and ATS in their previous eight games overall.

LSU dominated Texas A&M on the back of its defense. The Tigers held their rivals to 32.8% shooting from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. On the other side of the ball, the Tigers went 8-for-16 from beyond the 3-point line, while sophomore forward Tari Eason led the charge with a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double.

The Tigers improved to 5-6 in conference play, occupying the sixth spot of the SEC standings. They are No. 16 in both NCAA NET Rankings and KenPom rankings. LSU tallies 105.8 points per 100 possessions (112th in the country) and surrender 85.3 in a return (2nd).

Trends:

Mississippi State:

  • 1-5 ATS in the last six games on the road

LSU:

  • 13-4 ATS in the last 17 games at home 

Mississippi State vs. LSU Pick

The Bulldogs have struggled over the last couple of weeks, especially on the offensive end. Also, they are winless in six consecutive outings on the road, covering only once in the process. The Tigers, on the other side, haven’t impressed either, going 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS in the last three showings at home.

Still, LSU has won 15 of their previous 17 games on the home court, covering 14 times in that span. The Tigers lean on their defense that should make the difference against the slumping Bulldogs.

Pick: Take LSU               

The Total:

The Tigers own the second-best defensive rating in the country, so I lean the under on the totals. They play at a steady pace, recording 69.2 possessions per 40 minutes (88th in the nation), while the Bulldogs register only 65.2 (295th).

The visitors will certainly look to slow down things in this matchup. They also need to execute well on the offensive end and prevent any easy baskets in transition. On the other hand, the betting trends are suggesting the over. Nine of Mississippi State’s last 12 contests and LSU’s previous five have gone over the total.

Pick: Go under