The Utah Utes take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, MS. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Bulldogs are favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -225. The total is also set at 153 points.
Here’s my Utah vs. Mississippi State predictions and college basketball picks for November 17, 2024.
Utah vs Mississippi State Prediction
My Pick: Mississippi State -5.5
My Utah vs Mississippi State best bet is on the Bulldogs spread, with the best odds currently available at Caesars. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Utah vs Mississippi State Odds
| Utah Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -112 | 153 -112 / -108 | +185 |
| Mississippi St Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -108 | 153 -112 / -108 | -225 |
- Utah vs Mississippi State spread: Mississippi State -5.5
- Utah vs Mississippi State over/under: 153 points
- Utah vs Mississippi State moneyline: Mississippi State -225, Utah +185
- Utah vs Mississippi State best bet: Mississippi State -5.5
Spread
I like Mississippi State to cover the spread.
Moneyline
I'm avoiding the moneyline.
Over/Under
I'm passing on the total.
My Pick: Mississippi State -5.5
Utah vs Mississippi State College Basketball Betting Preview
Forget about football! Sunday in college basketball is filled with underrated matchups — New Mexico vs. St. John's, Saint Mary's vs. Nebraska, Clemson vs. Boise State, etc — and this one between Utah and Mississippi State fits the bill.
The Utes reached the NIT semifinals last season in Craig Smith's third year, but they entered the 2024-25 campaign without five of their top six scorers from that roster. Gabe Madsen is back to lead the bunch, though, and he is already averaging 25.3 points in 27.3 minutes per game.
On the flip side, Chris Jans guided the Bulldogs to another NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023-24, his second in two seasons. This season, Mississippi State has the dynamite Josh Hubbard back to guide the team, along with key transfers to boost its offense.
We already know the Bulldogs are going to play elite defense with Jans as head coach, but this edition of the Bulldogs looks like it has the potential to be dangerous on offense, as well. I mentioned the 5-foot-11 Hubbard, but Jans also added scorers like Claudell Harris Jr. (Boston College), Kanye Clary (Penn State) and Riley Kugel (Florida) via the portal.
Meanwhile, despite the presence of the Madsen brothers, Utah still has a pretty unproven roster otherwise.
Sure, they are averaging 98 points across their first three games this season; however, they haven't been tested yet, and Mississippi State's defense is a whole different ball game compared to Alcorn State, Central Arkansas and Queens University.
Finally, while this isn't considered a true home game for the Bulldogs, it's still being played less than three hours away from campus at the Landers Center. Jans has the better team and the advantage of playing in its home state — plus, it has the best player in this game in Hubbard.
I'll back the Bulldogs.
