Mississippi State vs. Missouri SEC basketball odds: Bubble-riding Bulldogs badly need road win for NCAA Tournament hopes

Mississippi State's mens's basketball team has reached the NCAA Tournament just once since 2009 and not since 2019, and whether the bubble-riding Bulldogs get an at-large bid next month on Selection Sunday could be tied to what happens Tuesday night at Missouri in SEC action. The Tigers, who are comfortably in the Big Dance as things stand currently, are 3.5-point favorites at Caesars Sportsbook.

At 18-9 overall and 6-8 in the SEC, Mississippi State sits 43rd in the latest NCAA NET rankings with a Quad 1 record of 3-5 and a road mark of 4-4. CBS Sports' Jerry Palm as MSU among his Last Four In and a No. 11 seed in the First Four against fellow No. 11 Southern Cal. ESPN Bracketology has the Bulldogs among its Last Four Out.

Coach Chris Jans' club has won six of seven following a 69-61 overtime victory at rival Ole Miss on Saturday. The game would have been a crushing loss for Mississippi State's resume, and it trailed by three with 2:14 left in regulation. Mississippi State is one of the nation's top defensive teams, allowing just 59.3 points per game, but has found some offense of late. 

The Bulldogs have had at least four players reach double figures in five of their last seven games, a big reason for those six wins.Tolu Smith led with 17 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday, his eighth double-double of the season. Cameron Matthews had a SEC career-high 17 points against Ole Miss.

The SEC has had at least one team make the NCAA Tournament field in five of the last seven seasons (not counting 2020, the year of the canceled tournament) after an 0-2 conference start. Mississippi State started SEC play this season at 0-2.

Missouri (19-8, 7-7 SEC) is set to return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2021. First-year coach Dennis Gates has done a terrific job. ESPN has the Tigers as a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament's East Region and opening against No. 9 Duke, while CBS Sports has them as a No. 7 seed in the West and facing No. 10 Nevada.

Mizzou does enter on a two-game slide, losing at home to Texas A&M 64-50 on Saturday. Forward Isiaih Mosley (9.6 PPG, 2.5 assists per game, 2.0 rebounds per game) hasn't played since Feb. 4 due to personal reasons and it's not clear if he will return Tuesday.

The Tigers have lost 26 of their last 27 games when being held under 70 points, including a 63-52 loss at Mississippi State on Feb. 4. Smith scored 25 points and collected 12 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs. They have won seven straight in the series and 12 of the last 13.

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