Mississippi State at South Carolina College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/8/2019

Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Colonial Life Arena
Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs head to Colonial Life Arena to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. The opening line for this game has Mississippi State as 6.5 point favorites.
Mississippi State comes into this game with an overall record of 12-1. They currently have a point differential of 13.5 as they are averaging 80.2 points per game while giving up 66.7 per contest. South Carolina has an overall record of 6-7. They are averaging 73.8 points per game and surrendering 70.3, good for a point differential of 3.5.
Valuable Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Trends
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 7-6-0 against the spread this season
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 6-7-0 against the over/under this year
Important South Carolina Gamecocks Betting Trends
The South Carolina Gamecocks are 3-9-0 against the spread this season
The South Carolina Gamecocks are 8-4-0 against the over/under this year
Key Mississippi State Bulldogs Injuries
No key injuries to report
Key South Carolina Gamecocks Injuries
12/19/18 G T.J. Moss Ankle is out indefinitely
11/27/18 F Justin Minaya Knee is out indefinitely
11/06/18 G Jermaine Cousinard Academics is out indefinitely
01/04/19 F Alanzo Frink Ankle is questionable Saturday vs Florida
Player Spotlight
Quinndary Weatherspoon comes into this game averaging 17.2 points per contest while playing 32.2 minutes per night this year. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.5 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 86%. Lamar Peters averages 13.2 points per contest in 28.5 minutes per game. He averages 6.2 assists per game and 2.1 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% for the season while his free throw percentage is 67%.
Player Spotlight
A.J. Lawson scores 13.2 points per contest while playing 26.7 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.5 rebounds per contest and has 3.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 39% and his free throw percentage is at 64%. Chris Silva averages 12.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 24.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 6.7 rebounds per game and has 1.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 73%.
Useful Team Statistics
Mississippi State averages 80.2 points per contest, which is 57th in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 13.5 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 42nd. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 38th in the nation. They average 36.7 boards per contest and 15.8 assists per game, which ranks them 142nd and 51st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 221st with 12.9 per game. The Bulldogs allow 66.7 points per contest, which is 76th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 147th and 193rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 30.0 rebounds a game which ranks 15th, and they allow 11.4 assists per game which puts them in 73rd place in the country. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 194th in Division 1.
Useful Team Statistics
South Carolina is 182nd in the nation with 73.8 points per contest this season. They are 280th in the country in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is 3.5. They shoot 31% from beyond the arc, which is good for 289th in the NCAA. They are 97th in D-1 in rebounding with 37.8 boards per contest and 216th in assists per game with 13.2. The Gamecocks are 109th in turnovers per contest with 14.3. The Gamecocks give up 70.3 points per game, which ranks them 155th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 71st and 288th in those defensive statistics. They rank 121st with 12.3 dimes allowed per game and 222nd with 36.0 boards surrendered per contest. The Gamecocks are 309th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 16.3 per contest this year.
Advanced Statistics
The Bulldogs are 15th in the nation in offensive rating with 116.3. In terms of pace they are 266th in the country with 68.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 30th. As a team they are 25th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 101st in Division 1. Mississippi State is 207th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16 times per 100 possessions.
Advanced Statistics
South Carolina is 147th in college basketball in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.8 times per 100 possessions. The Gamecocks are 244th in the country in offensive rating with 100.9. In terms of pace they are 70th in Division 1 with 73.2 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 302nd. As a team they are 269th in D-1 in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 250th in the nation.
Who will win tonight's Mississippi State/South Carolina college basketball game against the spread?
Tony's Pick: Take Mississippi State -6.5
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Tony Sink
Get all of this Weeks Free College Basketball Picks
Get all of this Weeks Expert College Basketball Picks