NCAA Picks and Tips: Mississippi Rebels vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
Thursday, February 09, 2012
by Mike Stewart
A victory by Mississippi would cap the Rebels’ first season sweep of their in-state rival since 1998, and would push the Mississippi Rebels closer to the upper tier of the SEC. Mississippi sits at .500 in SEC play and tied for sixth place, but trails third-place Mississippi State Bulldogs by just one game. The No. 18-ranked Bulldogs have won five of their past seven, the losses coming to No. 13 Florida and a 75-68 loss at Mississippi on Jan. 18.
- Mississippi Rebels @ Mississippi State Bulldogs
When: 7:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 9, 2012
Where: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Mississippi
TV: ET, ESPN2
The Bulldogs have opened as 8-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Rebels (14-8): A close game won’t faze the Rebels, whose last seven games have been decided by seven points or less. Mississippi is 4-3 in that stretch, with two of the losses coming by two points in double overtime (at Auburn and at Alabama). A strong interior defense helps keep games close. The Rebels lead the SEC in rebounding (42.1) in conference play, rank 29th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (39.5 percent), and stand 17th in blocked shots per game (5.5). Senior forward Terrance Henry is averaging 17.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in his past five games, and junior guard Nick Williams has scored 12 or more points in his past seven games.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-5): Junior forward Arnett Moultrie continues to spark the Bulldogs in his first season at Mississippi State. Moultrie leads the SEC in rebounding (11.1) and double-doubles (13), and has three games of 25-plus points and 10-plus rebounds. Another newcomer, freshman guard Rodney Hood, ranks third on the team in scoring at 11.3 and ranks second in the SEC in minutes played (34.2). Junior forward Renardo Sidney snapped out of a slump with 17 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field against Auburn on Saturday.
1. Mississippi junior center Reginald Buckner scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the first meeting, sparking the Rebels past the Bulldogs 75-68 in Oxford.
2. The Bulldogs have won 12 home games in a row, two shy of their longest win streak at Humphrey Coliseum (2003-04).
3. The Rebels rank second in the SEC in defensive rebounds; Mississippi State is third
NCAA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Bulldogs 72,Rebels 63.
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arnett moultrie - humphrey coliseum - mississippi rebels - mississippi state bulldogs - nick williams - reginald buckner - renardo sidney - rodney hood - terrance henry
