LSU at Mississippi State College Basketball Picks & Predictions 3/8/2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

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Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The LSU Tigers head to Scottrade Center to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday, March 8, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Mississippi State as 1.5 point favorites.

LSU comes into this game with an overall record of 17-13. They currently have a point differential of 3.8 as they are averaging 77.6 points per game while giving up 73.7 per contest. Mississippi State has an overall mark of 21-10. They are averaging 74.0 points per contest and giving up 67.8, which is a point differential of 6.2.

Valuable LSU Tigers Betting Trends

The LSU Tigers are 13-11 against the spread this season

The LSU Tigers are 14-13 against the over/under this year

Important Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Trends

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 12-14 against the spread this season

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 12-14 against the over/under this year

Key LSU Tigers Injuries

01/30/18 F Galen Alexander Dismissed is out for season
01/30/18 F Mayan Kiir Dismissed is out for season

Key Mississippi State Bulldogs Injuries

01/02/18 C Schnider Herard Transferred is out for season

Player Spotlight

Tremont Waters averages 15.6 points per contest while playing 33.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.4 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 50% while his free throw percentage is 80%. Duop Reath averages 12.5 points per contest in 24.2 minutes per game this year. He averages 0.6 assists per game and 5.3 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 54% for the season while his free throw percentage is 61%.

Player Spotlight

Quinndary Weatherspoon scores 14.7 points per contest while playing 31.2 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 5.9 rebounds per contest and has 3.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is at 75%. Nick Weatherspoon averages 11.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 28.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.9 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 72%.

Useful Team Statistics

LSU averages 77.6 points per contest this year, which is 79th in the nation. Their average scoring margin is 3.8 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 41st. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 157th in Division 1. They average 33.6 boards per contest and 14.3 assists per game, which ranks them 270th and 125th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 301st with 11.5 per game. The Tigers allow 73.7 points per contest, which is 211th in the country. They also surrender a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 250th and 155th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.2 rebounds a game which ranks 142nd, and they allow 12.4 assists per game which puts them in 100th place in college basketball. They force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 209th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

Mississippi State is 173rd in the country with 74.0 points per contest this season. They are 84th in the nation in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 6.2. They shoot 31% from beyond the arc, which is good for 336th in Division 1. They are 116th in the country in rebounding with 36.5 boards per contest and 201st in assists per game with 13.3. The Bulldogs are 172nd in turnovers per contest with 13.0. The Bulldogs give up 67.8 points per game, which ranks them 59th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 58th and 85th in those defensive statistics. They rank 59th with 11.6 dimes allowed per game and 132nd with 34.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulldogs are 241st in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Tigers are 47th in the nation in offensive rating with 111.7, and their defensive rating of 106.2 is ranked 258th. In terms of pace they are 210th in the country with 69.1 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 48th. As a team they are 52nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 115th in Division 1. LSU is 292nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 262nd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

Mississippi State is 162nd in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 59th in Division 1. The Bulldogs are 42nd in the nation in defensive rating with 97.4, and their offensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 134th. They are 212th in D-1 in pace with 69 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 127th. As a unit they are 154th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 156th in the country.

Who will win tonight's LSU/Mississippi State college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take LSU +1.5

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