Tip off: 10 PM EST
Spread: MIS -5
Total: 123.5
Georgia
Bulldogs fans realized they were in for a let down this year after losing Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie to the NBA. The Bulldogs went 21-12 last year and almost crept past Washington as a #9 seed in the NCAA tournament in a game they covered the spread in yet failed to win, falling by 3 in the opening round.
The reason the Bulldogs were so good last years because they won their close games. This year, however, they have lost six games by eight points or less.
The Bulldogs are 14-16 this season and posted a horrid 5-11 SEC record. Their highlight of the year was beating then #18 ranked Mississippi State on February 11th in overtime. It was their best player who hit the game winning shot again, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope hit a three in overtime that sealed the game for Georgia. He had 20 points on 7 of 15 shooting, but was 6 of 12 from three point range.
Pope is in contention to win SEC Freshman of the year, averaging 13.6 points per game and grabbing 5.2 rebounds per night. He’s also making a difference on the defensive end, coming up with 1.8 steals per game. He’s struggled the last two contests, though, scoring just 9 against #1 ranked Kentucky, and then only 8 two nights later against South Carolina. He shot a combined 7 for 20 (35%) in those two games. While Mississippi State is certainly not Kentucky, they are better than South Carolina, so he’ll have to step up his game tonight. It is worth noting, however, that despite Caldwell-Pope’s off night, the Bulldogs still managed to win by 12.
Bulldogs Betting Trends:
Georgia’s last 10 Games Vs. Miss. St: 4-6 SU, 6-4 ATS, 7-3 OU, Avg Total: 133.8
Mississippi State
Mississippi State is having a solid year this season at 21-10, a huge improvement over last year’s 17-14 campaign, and they received some votes in the Coaches Top 25 poll. They’ve split their 16 SEC games so far, but find themselves favorites tonight against a mediocre Georgia team.
They dropped the last game to Georgia by only 2 (as mentioned above). Guard Dee Bost led the way in the losing effort, hitting 8 of his 17 field goals, including 3 of 10 from distance, en route to 21 points. Bost, a 6’8″ senior, has been a four year starter for the Bulldogs and is having one of his finest year’s yet, posting a career high 15.8 points per game and also recording 2.1 steals per contest. His 39.6% field goal percentage isn’t all that appetizing, but he’s only shot above 40% one year in his four years at Miss State.
The only player to outscore Bost this season is 6’11” junior Arnett Moultrie. Moultrie came as a transfer from UTEP and he is averaging a team high 10.7 rebounds per game. One would expect more than 0.8 blocks from a player like Moultrie, but maybe he will develop that as time goes on. His size and skills will render him a fringe NBA player. He’s bulked up every year and at 255 pounds now should be about ready to deal with the rigors of banging big bodies on a nightly basis.
The Bulldogs use an eight an rotation and they put up 72 points a game which is good for 89th best among the 344 NCAA D-1 teams. They also do a good job rebounding the ball, grabbing 36.5 boards per night.
Freshman Rodney Hood has also been a very bright spot. The 6’8″ 205 pound swingman was the Mr. Basketball and was one of the few talented players to remain in state in recent years. He’s averaging 10.5 points per game this season and seeing 32.8 minutes per night, as one of three Bulldogs starters seeing 30 or more minutes a game.
Bulldogs Betting Trends:
Mississippi State is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games and 2-5 SU in their last 7 games. The Bulldogs are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 against Georgia, and they are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games against Georgia. The total has gone OVER In 4 of the Bulldogs last 5 games against Georgia.
