Venue/ Stadium: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, MS
Time/Date: 9 PM EST Tuesday, December 13, 2011
NCAA Odds From: BetOnline
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): MSU -14
Over/Under: 138
Florida Atlantic Owls vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Preview
After being upset by Akron in their 2nd game of the season Mississippi State (9-1) has reeled off 8 straight wins including beating the ranked teams of Texas A&M and Arizona. Florida Atlantic (4-5) snapped their 2-game losing streak with a win in their last game, but they have lost every game this season against teams from big conferences. NCAAB lines have MSU as big 14-point home favorites in this game with a total of 138.
In their last games MSU crushed Troy 106-68 and Florida Atlantic beat Warner South 98-70.
The Bulldogs have been on fire shooting the rock lately, as they have shot nearly 50% from the field in their last 5 games including shooting over 56% in their last game.
Last season Florida Atlantic beat MSU 61-59 in their house and to do that again they will have to rely on their defense, as they only rank 152nd in the nation in scoring and 227th in field goal percentage.
FAU will have to try to contain MSU’s leading scorer Dee Bost (18.1), who is shooting 37.5% from beyond the 3-point line and buried a career high 7 3-pointers in the blowout win over Troy, and Arnett Moultrie (17.1 ppg), who leads the SEC in rebounding (11.3 rpg).
Bost and Jalen Steele combine to hit for 12 3-pointers in the win over Troy and FAU must keep these guys from getting open looks from deep.
Owls’ G Greg Gantt (13.9 ppg) and F Pablo Bertone (10.7 ppg) must play well for FAU to pull off another upset against MSU. It is key that Bertone (5.9 rpg) and Kore White (9.1 ppg 5.1 rpg) play good D on Moultrie and not allow him to dominate in the paint. White has struggled in the last few games scoring in single digits in his last 4 games.
FAU is only 1-4 on the road this season and that lone win was against college basketball powerhouse Hofstra.
Betting Trends
This season MSU is 6-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 5-5 and FAU is 4-3 ATS and has an O/U record of 2-5.
FAU is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog and has an Under record of 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
MSU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games, 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 home games facing a team with a losing road record, and has an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Jason’s Pick: MSU is a better team than they were last season and they will come out and crush FAU in this game. Take MSU to cover the 14-point spread.
