McNeese State Cowboys vs Mississippi State Bulldogs Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Mississippi State vs McNeese State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Tupelo.

Mississippi State vs McNeese State Prediction

The Bulldogs and Cowboys are set to face off at 6:00 ET on ESPNU. The Cowboys will host the game at Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo, MS. Mississippi State is favored by -9 in this non-conference showdown. The game's over/under is currently at 143.5 points.

Mississippi State vs. McNeese State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Mississippi State Bulldogs at McNeese State Cowboys
Where: Tupelo at Cadence Bank Arena
Date: Saturday, December 14th
Betting Odds MSPST -9, MSPST -490 | MCNST +328 O/U 143.5

Bulldogs Preview: Can Mississippi State Lock in a Road Win?

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

After a 44-44 tie at halftime, Mississippi State outscored Prairie View A&M 47-40 in the second half to secure the win.

Bulldogs Offense Breakdown

Mississippi State's offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 91 points while shooting 55.6% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 66.7%, thanks in part to their 67.9% shooting on two-pointers and 42.3% from beyond the arc. They also hit 20 free throws, though at a 64.5% clip.

Josh Hubbard led the way with 25 points, hitting 4 of 10 from deep, while Nick Anderson and Claudell Harris Jr. each added 21 points. Tanahj Pettway was efficient from three, knocking down 4 of 5 attempts, and Marcel Bryant contributed 19 points and 7 rebounds.

Bulldogs Team Defense

Mississippi State's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 84 points on 55% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 67% of their two-point shots, going 19/28.

From beyond the arc, the Bulldogs gave up 11 threes on 26 attempts, a 42% clip. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 31 times, where they made 20 free throws. Mississippi State allowed 12 offensive rebounds.

Cowboys Preview: Does McNeese State Have What it Takes to Win as Home Underdogs?

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

McNeese State led 31-28 at halftime but allowed 46 points in the second half while scoring 36 of their own.

Cowboys Offense Breakdown

McNeese State put up 67 points in their last game, shooting 39.3% from the field and 27.6% from beyond the arc, connecting on 8 of 29 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.9%, and they hit 50% of their two-point shots.

Joe Charles, Christian Shumate, and Tyeree Bryan each scored 17 points, with Bryan hitting 3 of 4 from deep. Carlos Stewart Jr. added 13 points, shooting 60% from three-point range, while the Cowboys grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and dished out 12 assists.

Cowboys Team Defense

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.

They allowed 16 two-point field goals on 32 attempts (50%) and 8 three-pointers on 29 attempts (27%). Their opponent also went 11/17 from the free-throw line (64%).

Bulldogs vs Cowboys Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

The Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last road games and 4-1 straight-up.
Through their last three home contests, the Cowboys offense has averaged 65 points per game while allowing an average of 71. McNeese State posted an overall record of 0-3 while going 1-2 ATS.
Through their last three games as the betting underdog, the Cowboys have a strong record vs the spread going 2-1. Their straight up mark in these contests is 1-2.
Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Mississippi State has an ATS mark of 6-4 while going 9-1 straight up.