Mississippi State basketball (4-0) heads west to Dallas to face the SMU Mustangs for their first true road game of the year. Here's what you need to know prior to the matchup...
Game time and TV channel for Mississippi State Bulldogs basketball vs SMU Mustangs
It'll be a night game between State and the Ponies. The game is set to tipoff at 7:30 PM CT inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas. This is another "streaming only" game for the Bulldogs. The broadcast will be on ACC Extra and ESPN+. ACC Extra is similar to "SEC Network+", which many State fans are familiar with. ACC Network customers can access ACC Extra through the ESPN app. Otherwise, you'll need an ESPN+ subscription to watch the Bulldogs, also accessible through the ESPN app.
SMU will be a quality opponent for Mississippi State
SMU is a solid team. The Mustangs are off to a 4-1 start in their first season under former USC HC Andy Enfield, with their lone loss coming at Butler, 81-70. They've been a strong offensive team here early in the season, averaging 91.8 PPG. They like to attack the paint and are strong on the offensive glass. SMU has limited opposing offenses to just 37% shooting, though they can be susceptible to the three-ball. Wake Forest-transfer guard Kevin Miller leads the team with 18.4 PPG and 6.2 APG, and three others average double-figures.
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs SMU Mustangs point spread
The oddsmakers are expecting a nail-biter in Dallas. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Mississippi State is just a 1-point favorite at SMU as of Thursday night. The over/under for the game is set at 157.
Score prediction for Mississippi State basketball vs SMU
This will be another early test for the Bulldogs, and this time, they'll be in a true road environment. SMU is a good team. The battle down low in the post and whether or not the Bulldogs are connecting from beyond the arc will be the deciding factors in this game. But despite the tight point spread, I feel good about MSU going into this game. It will certainly be competitive, but ultimately, I think the Bulldogs are the overall better squad. And I'm not too worried about the crowd bothering them.
Mississippi State wins 76-70