Northwestern State vs Mississippi State Prediction 11/5/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Northwestern State Demons and the Mississippi State Bulldogs will meet Thursday evening in a college basketball matchup at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi. Let’s take a look at this game from a betting perspective.

Northwestern State Demons vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Prediction

In my view, this matchup favors the Mississippi State Bulldogs covering the number (18.5). Why? While Mississippi State did not have the type of season it expected in 2025, the Bulldogs still competed in the SEC and faced a significantly higher level of competition on a nightly basis. The Bulldogs also played noticeably better at home, compiling an 8-8 record at Humphrey Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Northwestern State struggled throughout the 2025 season, posting a 10-22 overall record, including a concerning 2-15 mark on the road. The Demons also finished just 8-14 in Southland Conference play and often had difficulty competing away from home.

Although neither team posted an impressive overall record last season, Mississippi State possesses clear advantages in roster talent, athleticism, depth and home court advantage. For the reasons just noted, I am backing the Mississippi State Bulldogs to cover the spread in this game.

Northwestern State Demons Betting Preview

The Northwestern State Demons enter Thursday night’s matchup after posting a 10-22 overall record (8-6 home record, 2-15 road record and 8-14 Southland Conference record) last season. The Demons recorded notable victories over the Lamar Cardinals, Incarnate Word Cardinals and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, while losing games to Nichols, East Texas A&M and the Houston Christian Huskies.  

The Northwestern State Demons struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor throughout the 2025 campaign. The Demons often found themselves playing from behind and were unable to generate enough momentum to climb the Southland Conference standings.

Northwestern State enters the 2026 season looking to put last year’s disappointing campaign behind them and take a step forward under returning leadership and experience.

Turning our attention to the 2026 season, the Demons arrive at this contest in below average form. More specifically, Northwestern State lost the team’s first game of the season to the Baylor Bears 87-65 earlier this week.  
 

Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Preview

The Mississippi State Bulldogs enter Thursday night’s matchup after posting a 13-19 overall record (8-8 home record, 4-6 road record and 5-13 SEC Conference record) during the 2025 season.

The Bulldogs recorded victories over multiple conference opponents while navigating one of the toughest schedules in college basketball. While Mississippi State struggled to consistently win SEC games, the Bulldogs remained competitive against a much stronger level of competition than Northwestern State faced.

Mississippi State relied on physical defense, rebounding and SEC-level athleticism throughout the season. However, offensive inconsistency often prevented the Bulldogs from converting competitive performances into victories.

The Bulldogs open the 2026 season looking to build momentum and re-establish themselves as a contender in the SEC.      

Why the Northwestern State Demons Will Win

• Returning experience. The Demons bring back several contributors from last season’s roster.

• New season optimism. Northwestern State enters 2026 looking to improve upon last season’s subpar win-loss record.

• Enhanced motivation. The Northwestern State Demons lost the team’s first regular season game earlier this week. The Demons lost to the Baylor Bears.  

Why the Mississippi State Bulldogs Will Win

• SEC experience. Mississippi State competes in one of the toughest conferences in the nation.

• Home court advantage. The Bulldogs have historically played excellent basketball at Humphrey Coliseum. The team finished 2025 with an 8-8 record at home.

• Momentum. The Mississippi State Bulldogs defeated the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 106-88 to open the 2026 campaign.

• Winning pedigree. The Bulldogs earned postseason play and competed against NCAA Tournament-caliber opponents throughout the 2025 season.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Mississippi State -18.5