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Tennessee basketball at Mississippi State: Live stream, broadcast info, line, odds, prediction

By Caleb Calhoun

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: Humphrey Coliseum on the campus of the Mississippi State Bulldogs before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Gamecocks 27-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: Humphrey Coliseum on the campus of the Mississippi State Bulldogs before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Gamecocks 27-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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For the second straight game, Tennessee basketball will face an SEC team on the road. The Vols are coming off an 81-57 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks last Saturday. It completed a season sweep of S.C. by UT with both wins coming by over 20 points.

Now, Rick Barnes’ team, ranked No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 18 in the Coaches Poll, will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Vols head to Mississippi on a five-game SEC winning streak and having won five of six overall, their only loss coming by one on the road to a ranked team, the Texas Longhorns.

On the other side of the court, Ben Howland’s team has lost three of four, all on the road, and most recently fell to the Arkansas Razorbacks this past Saturday. Here is all the information you need for Tennessee basketball’s tipoff with MSU tonight.

Wednesday, Feb. 9. 16-6 (7-3). 534. Humphrey Coliseum. 14-8 (5-4). 530. Starkville, Miss.. 9 p.m. ET

Broadcast info

Gambling odds according to WynnBET

  • Line: Tennessee -1.5
  • Over/Under: 135.5
  • Moneyline: Tennessee -125; Mississippi State +105

Although they have lost three of four, Mississippi State is a dangerous team. They are undefeated in SEC play at home, and that includes wins over the Arkansas Razorbacks and Alabama Crimson Tide. At No. 50 in the NCAA NET Rankings, No. 46 in the RealTime RPI and No. 23 in the ESPN BPI, they are a bubble team likely leaning towards being in the tourney right now.

However, they desperately need to up their quality win count, so a game like this one is huge. This team has been hurt by multiple lengthy injuries to Tolu Smith, but he returned last Saturday at Arkansas and put up 11 points. He and Iverson Molinar are the two returning starters from last year’s NIT runner-up team, and they are the leading scorers.

The additions of North Carolina Tar Heels transfer Garrison Brooks, who is also averaging double figures, N.C. State Wolfpack transfer Shakeel Moore and Memphis Tigers transfer D.J. Jeffries have helped this team too. All three have been highly productive.

While they return to full strength, Tennessee basketball is starting to suffer. The Vols just lost their only seasoned stretch four, Olivier Nkamhoua, likely for the season on Saturday due to an ankle injury that will require surgery. Barnes has his first real test dealing with that issue in this game.

Prediction

Not only is Mississippi State undefeated in SEC play at home, they are dominant at home. Outside of a close one against Alabama, they’ve won all their other league games at The Hump by double figures. That combined with Smith’s return and the Vols losing Nkamhoua means they have no reason not to win this one.

Next. Five Vols who won the most. dark

Ben Howland will slow the game down and use Smith and Brooks in the post. Tennessee basketball will have a hard time dealing with that. Such tempo is why you should take the Under 135.5, but take Mississippi State +1.5 too, as all signs point to them winning. The score will look something like this: Mississippi State: 62 Tennessee 58.

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