Mississippi State Bulldogs vs McNeese State Cowboys NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/14/24

Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Bulldogs and Cowboys. The game is starting at 6:00 ET on ESPNU, and it’s hosted by the Cowboys at Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo, MS. Get ready to place your bets! Mississippi State is favored by -9 in this non-conference contest against McNeese State. The game’s over/under currently sits at 143.5 points.

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS VS MCNEESE STATE COWBOYS BETTING PICK

The Pick: McNeese State Cowboys +9

This game will be played at Cadence Bank Arena at 6:00 ET on Saturday, December 14th.

WHY BET THE MCNEESE STATE COWBOYS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-70 in favor of the Cowboys.
• Not only will McNeese State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +9.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Will the Bulldogs Defense Show Up in Tupelo?

Mississippi State Bulldogs Recent Game/Games

Mississippi State improved to 8-1 on the season with a 91-84 win over Prairie View A&M on Sunday. The Bulldogs were heavy favorites at -39, but they didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 175 exceeded the O/U line of 164.

After a 44-44 tie at halftime, Mississippi State pulled away by outscoring the Panthers 47-40 in the second half.

Mississippi State’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 91 points on 55.6% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 66.7%, thanks in part to hitting 67.9% of their two-point attempts and 42.3% from beyond the arc.

Josh Hubbard led the way with 25 points, while Nick Anderson and Claudell Harris Jr. each added 21. Tanahj Pettway also chipped in 20 points, knocking down 4 of 5 threes at an 80% clip. The Bulldogs finished with 18 assists and 12 offensive rebounds, while going 20 of 31 from the free-throw line.

Mississippi State had a tough time defensively, giving up 84 points on 55% shooting from the field. Their opponent was especially effective inside, hitting 67% of their two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, Mississippi State allowed 11 threes on 42% shooting. They also sent their opponent to the line 31 times, where they converted 20 free throws.

Do the Cowboys Have What it Takes to Win as Home Underdogs?

McNeese State dropped to 3-4 on the season after a 74-67 home loss to Santa Clara on Tuesday. The Cowboys were -4.5 favorites going into the game but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 141, just under the O/U line of 145.

McNeese State led 31-28 at halftime but allowed 46 points in the 2nd half while scoring 36. The Cowboys will need to tighten up their defense to get back on track.

McNeese State put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 39.3% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 45.9%. They hit 50% of their two-point attempts but struggled from beyond the arc, going 8-for-29 for a 27.6% three-point shooting percentage. At the free-throw line, they connected on 64.7% of their 17 attempts.

Joe Charles, Christian Shumate, and Tyeree Bryan each scored 17 points, with Bryan hitting 75% of his shots, including 3-of-4 from deep. Charles also hit 3 threes, shooting 42.9% from long range, while Shumate made just 1-of-6 from three. Carlos Stewart Jr. contributed 13 points, making 3-of-5 from downtown.

McNeese State’s defense gave up 74 points, allowing their opponent to shoot 39% from the field, with 24 made field goals on 61 attempts. Inside the arc, their opponent shot 50%, converting 16 of 32 two-point attempts.

From three-point range, McNeese State held their opponent to 27% shooting, with 8 made threes on 29 attempts. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 17 times, where they made 11, shooting 64%. McNeese State allowed 13 offensive rebounds.