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Sometimes you want to make a quick pit stop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot-winning image, here are quick thoughts and the lean on Kentucky vs. Mississippi State.
No. 6 Kentucky (12-3, 1-1) at No. 14 Mississippi State (14-1, 2-0)
Date: Saturday, January 11
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Some dogs shine under the spotlight. Some dogs hang in the shadows. No matter where it most often hangs, though, every dog has its day.
The timeless saying most definitely applies to Mississippi State. Despite its top-20 national standing — whether in KenPom (17), BartTorvik (14) or popularity polls (AP: 14) — the Bulldogs are rarely mentioned as an upper-echelon SEC team. Projected by KenPom to finish third in arguably the best conference in the land, they should be recognized as one.
The blind eye is unwarranted and unfair. And as writers continue to spew superlatives about Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky — MSU’s opponent on Saturday — the Starkville sensations keep racking wins.
At 14-1 with standout road victories against SMU, Memphis and Vanderbilt, Chris Jans’ bunch has won eight consecutive games, currently the fifth-longest win streak in college basketball. On pace to be a No. 3 seed according to BartTorvik, the Bulldogs have another opportunity to boost their sterling profile, this time at home.
With Kentucky in town, Humphrey Coliseum is sure to be packed to the gills. UK has owned MSU in recent years, winning nine of the last 10 meetings, but the ownership is likely to flip.
The pick — Mississippi State -4.5 (-105, FanDuel)
Spark plug guard Josh Hubbard is a dynamite shot maker and creator. He and his backcourt accomplice Claudell Harris Jr. shoot at least 38% on 3-pointers. The guards’ versatility and the frontcourt brawn of Cameron Matthews, KeShawn Murphy, RJ Melendez and Michael Nwoko give the Bulldogs the edge.
As Big Blue Nation can attest, defensive flaws, especially in the post, explain why their beloved ‘Cats have dropped two of their last four games.
UK, one of the country’s most experienced groups, has the scoring skills to hang 100 points any given night. However, its lack of established interior muscle outside of Amari Williams explains why it ranks an unfortunate No. 170 in 2-point percentage defense.
Mark Pope’s Wildcats won’t go quietly into the Mississippi night. At No. 9 nationally in offensive points per possession (1.226), Kentucky — with Lamont Butler, Otega Oweh and company — typically get buckets. Its issues under the basket at both ends pose a significant problem, one State is sure to capitalize on.
For the fifth time in the schools’ last six encounters, the Dawgs cover. Hail State.
Season record: 14-10, +3.97 units