The No. 4-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide face off against the No. 14 Mississippi State Bulldogs in NCAA basketball action.
The Bulldogs have lost just once at home this season but my Alabama vs. Mississippi State predictions are betting on the visitors tonight.
Here are my best free college basketball picks for this SEC clash on Wednesday, January 29 at 9 p.m. ET.
Alabama vs Mississippi State prediction
My best bet
Alabama moneyline (+100 at bet365)
My analysis
The Alabama Crimson Tide have gone 11-1 straight up and 8-4 against the spread since the start of December. The Tide play at the fastest tempo in the country and their ability to draw fouls, attack the offensive glass, and shoot lights out from inside the arc has resulted in them averaging 90.4 points per game.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 16-4 but haven't looked impressive over the last couple of weeks. They are 2-3 SU and 0-5 ATS in their last five games with both of those wins coming in overtime.
While the Humphrey Coliseum is an extremely tough venue for visitors, the Tide have been filling the hoop on the road. They torched Kentucky for 102 points in their last road game and also had games of 94, 88, and 94 in visits to Texas A&M, South Carolina, and North Carolina, respectively.
All-SEC guard Mark Sears was benched at halftime in Alabama's previous game but expect an improved performance from him here. The senior is too talented of a scorer and the last time he was shut out, he bounced back with a 24-point performance against Houston's elite defense on November 26.
The Bulldogs are 10th in the SEC in 2-point defense (49.4%) during conference play while the Tide have a sizzling 57 2PT% against SEC foes. Alabama also takes threes at the 23rd highest rate in the country and MSU sits outside the Top 200 in opponent 3-point percentage (34.4%).
On the other end of the floor, the Bulldogs have struggled with their shooting and have averaged just 62.8 ppg in regulation over their last four games. A big reason for that is due to leading scorer Josh Hubbard being mired in a slump.
In the first 10 games of the season the point guard averaged 18.7 ppg on 46/43/83 shooting splits. But in the last 10 games Hubbard is averaging 13.8 ppg while shooting just 30.1% from the floor. With Hubbard going ice-cold, the Bulldogs won't have the firepower to keep pace with Bama.
Alabama vs Mississippi State same-game parlay (SGP)
Alabama moneyline
Aden Holloway Over 13.5 points
R.J. Melendez Over 4.5 rebounds
Aden Holloway is coming off a 19-point performance against LSU and has now dropped 15+ in four of his last five games. If Sears sees his minutes limited, that will mean more shot attempts for Holloway.
Bulldogs forward R.J. Melendez has grabbed 7+ boards in four of his last six games. The 6-foot-7 wing should get plenty of rebounding opportunities with the Tide playing at the fastest pace in the country.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game CBB moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your school goes up by 18+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Alabama vs Mississippi State odds
Alabama vs Mississippi State live odds
Alabama vs Mississippi State opening odds
- Spread: Alabama +1 | Mississippi State -1
- Moneyline: Alabama -105 | Mississippi State -115
- Over/Under: Over 166 | Under 166
Odds courtesy of bet365
Alabama vs Mississippi State betting trend to know
The Crimson Tide are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Alabama vs. Mississippi State.
How to watch Alabama vs Mississippi State
| Location | Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, MS |
| Date | Wednesday, 1-29-2025 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | SEC Network |
Alabama vs Mississippi State key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
