Florida vs Mississippi State Prediction Basketball Picks 1-24-24

The Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Florida Gators meet Wednesday in college basketball action from O’Connell Center. Mississippi State is currently 13-5 overall following a win versus Vanderbilt on Saturday. As for Florida, they’re coming off a win over Missouri that improved the Gators to 12-6 this year. Let’s get into our Mississippi State vs. Florida prediction. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

The Bulldogs put up a 6-2 run to start the year, then managed a December win streak over Tulane, Murray State, North Texas, Rutgers and Bethune-Cookman. Mississippi State is just 2-3 since then however, beating Tennessee and Vanderbilt with losses to South Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky.

In the Vanderbilt game back on Saturday, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 36-21 lead. Mississippi State kept pace on a 34-32 second half and ended up pulling off the win 68-55. Topping the team in scoring was Tolu Smith with 25 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.

Florida Gators

Over on the Gators’ side, they went a sketchy 4-3 to start the year. Florida would then hit their own win streak with victories versus Merrimack, Richmond, East Carolina, Michigan, Grambling and Quinnipiac, but they’re also just 2-3 in the last five. The losses came to Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Tennessee in that stretch.

Florida was able to handle Missouri on the road in their last game. The Gators held a modest 37-34 edge at the break, then hit a 42-33 run to finish off the game for a 79-67 result. All five starters finished in double-figures, including Tyrese Samuel’s team-high 17 points and three boards.

ANDREW’S FREE MISSISSIPPI STATE VS FLORIDA PREDICTION

I’ll stay with Florida. You could make a case either way, though. The Gators had a good second half versus Missouri in their last game, and ended up shooting 44.6 percent from the field with a 40-27 rebounding edge (13-4 offensive). Florida posted 12 assists and just eight turnovers in that one as well. It’s been a tough stretch of games for the Gators in their last five, but they’re still scoring pretty well overall with 70 or more points in all but one game this year (66 versus Tennessee). 

As for Mississippi State, they’ve played some tricky teams in their last five as well. The Bulldogs aren’t scoring too badly themselves these days, with 68 or more points in nine of the last 10 outings. If Mississippi State is playing well here they’ll be able to keep pace, but in the end I think Florida powers out the cover. Should be a fun game to watch.