clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

How and what to watch for Mississippi State vs. No. 18 Tennessee

Tennessee dropped 12 spots in the latest poll after a pair of losses, and Mississippi State is also riding a two-game losing streak.

By Erik Buchinger

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Tennessee Volunteers guard Keon Johnson snags a second half rebound during the basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena on January 9, 2021 in College Station, Texas. Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 18th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are coming off a bit of a rough stretch as they host the struggling Mississippi State Bulldogs on Tuesday, January 26 at 7 p.m. ET.

Tennessee (10-3, 4-3 SEC) rode a three-game winning streak to get to a No. 6 ranking in college basketball before struggling in a pair of games last week. The Volunteers were blown out by the Florida Gators and fell short at home against the Missouri Tigers on Saturday. Five-star freshman guard Jaden Springer missed the game against Missouri with an ankle injury, and Tennessee has lost all three games this season in which he was unable to play. It remains to be seen whether he will suit up against Mississippi State.

Mississippi State (9-7, 4-4 SEC) has also lost two games in a row to the Ole Miss Rebels and Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. The Bulldogs have a pair of guards capable of taking over a game with D.J. Stewart Jr., averaging 18 points per game and Iverson Molinar, who is putting up 17.5 points per game and team highs with 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. The Bulldogs rank No. 81 in the latest KenPom ratings. Mississippi State ranks No. 111 in adjusted efficiency ratings and 68th on the offensive end.

Game Time/TV Channel/Streaming

You can watch Mississippi State vs. Tennessee on Tuesday, January 26th at 7:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network, or you can watch via ESPN app with a cable or streaming service login. If you don’t have a cable login to access the ESPN app, you can get a free trial from YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, or Sling TV to stream it.

Point Spread, Totals, Odds, Trends

Point spread: Tennessee -9.5
Point Total: 130.5
Money line: Mississippi State +390, Tennessee -560

  • Mississippi State hit the over in six of their last eight games in addition to nine of their last 10 road games.
  • Tennessee is 4-1 straight up in their last five games against Mississippi State.
  • Tennessee is 10-3 straight up in their last 13 games and 2-4 against the spread in their last six.

The Best Bet

The point total for this game is pretty low, but it’s not low enough. Tennessee and Mississippi State play at a very slow pace on the offensive end. The Volunteers rank No. 269 in possessions per game, while the Bulldogs rank just two slots ahead at 267th in this category. Take the under.

Pick: Under 130.5

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/MI/PA/WV), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA) or Call or Text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789. 21+ (18+ NH). NJ/PA/WV/IA/IN/CO/IL/TN/MI only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.

More From DraftKings Network