Kentucky vs Mississippi State Prediction 1/11/25 College Basketball Picks

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Kentucky Wildcats

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Mississippi State Bulldogs

Recent betting trends in games played between Kentucky and Mississippi State

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Kentucky vs Mississippi State game

Kentucky Wildcats Betting Preview

The Wildcats are off to a pretty good start this year, with only a few scattered losses on the season thus far. Kentucky opened with a seven-game win streak over Wright State, Bucknell, Duke, Lipscomb, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, and Georgia State before a loss to Clemson on December 3. Three more wins over Gonzaga, Colgate, and Louisville followed. Since then it’s been a 2-2 stretch with wins over Brown and Florida sandwiched between losses to Ohio State and Georgia in that time, giving the Wildcats a 12-3 record so far.

In the Georgia matchup back on Tuesday, the Wildcats had their hands full. Kentucky was outscored 47-34 in the first half, then closed on a 35-35 run for an 82-69 road loss. Leading the team in scoring during the losing effort was Lamont Butler with 20 points, four rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Otega Oweh added 12 points with seven rebounds in 27 minutes of work, and Brandon Garrison came off the bench for 13 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes.

Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Preview

Over on the Mississippi State side, they’ve had quite an impressive year so far as well. The Bulldogs have just one loss on the card this season, an 87-77 affair versus Butler back on November 29. Mississippi State had six straight wins prior to that over West Georgia, Georgia State, SE Louisiana, Utah, SMU, and UNLV. Since the lone defeat, it’s been another string of wins over Pittsburgh, Prairie View, McNeese, Central Michigan, Memphis, Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt, resulting in a 14-1 overall record for the Bulldogs so far.

Matched up against Vanderbilt in their Tuesday game, the Bulldogs entered the locker room holding a 39-28 halftime edge. Mississippi State cruised from there on a 37-36 advantage and won the game 76-64 in the end. Tops in scoring was RJ Melendez with 19 points, seven boards, two steals, and a block. Cameron Matthews added 16 points with five rebounds and three assists with three blocks. Claudell Harris put up 13 points with seven boards and a steal, while Shawn Jones came off the bench to contribute seven points and two rebounds.

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs will win

• Mississippi State has won 14 of its last 15 games.
• Kentucky has lost the first half in three of its last four night games against the Southeastern Conference.

Why the Kentucky Wildcats will win

• Kentucky has won eight of its last nine games against AP-ranked opponents.
• Mississippi State has lost the first half in 19 of its last 24 games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Mississippi State's last eight home games against Top 10 AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 149 or fewer points.
• Thirty-five of Kentucky's last 39 road night games against the Southeastern Conference have produced a total of 160 or fewer points.

Kentucky vs Mississippi State Prediction

I’ll lean toward Mississippi State. This should be a pretty great matchup though, and you could call it either way. The Bulldogs put up a strong effort against a good Vanderbilt team in their last outing, notching 47.4 percent from the field with 36 rebounds and 12 assists. The 12 points off 13 Commodores turnovers helped as well. Mississippi State has now scored 76 or more points in five straight games, and they’re scoring very well overall this year.

As for Kentucky, they shot a tepid 37.5 percent from the field and had a 41-34 rebounding deficit against a talented Georgia squad in their last outing. The Wildcats are scoring very well themselves lately though, with a nice 69 or more points in six of the last seven games (a 5-2 run. I like Kentucky to make a game of this, with Mississippi State eking it out in the end. Should be a fun one to watch regardless.