Michigan State vs. Mississippi State Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups For the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
The Michigan State Spartans will battle the Mississippi Bulldogs on Thursday afternoon in Charlotte to officially tip off the Round of 64. Can Tolu Smith and the Bulldogs outlast Tyson Walker and the Spartans? Let's take a look at the latest odds and starting lineups for Michigan State vs. Mississippi State in the Round of 64.
Peter Alexis - March 20, 2024, 7:00 PM EDT
5 minMichigan State vs. Mississippi State Picks, Odds, Starting Lineups For the 2024 March Madness Round of 64
The 2024 March Madness bracket is set, and was released on Sunday night to the masses. Now it's time to get the games underway, and it begins with the first round on Thursday afternoon.
The Michigan State Spartans will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first official game of the Round of 64. Tom Izzo's Spartans are appearing in their 26th consecutive March Madness, dating back to 1998. It is the longest active streak in the country, and the third-longest of all time.
They have a 72-35 record all-time in the tournament, with many famous and successful runs. Sparty lost a collection of close games down the stretch this year, and were nearly bounced from the field as they played down to the bubble. Will they be able to right the ship against a physical Mississippi State squad?
Let's take a look at the latest odds for Michigan State vs. Mississippi State, and examine their starting lineups for the Round of 64 battle in Charlotte.
Michigan State vs. Mississippi State Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Start Time: 12:15 pm ET
- Where to Watch: CBS
Click here for Michigan State vs. Mississippi State odds
Michigan State vs. Mississippi State Odds and Betting Data
Team | Spread | Moneyline | Implied Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
Michigan State Spartans | -1 (-110) | -120 | 54.5% |
Mississippi State Bulldogs | +1 (-110) | +100 | 50% |
The field is set and the odds have been released for every opening matchup. Michigan State will take on Mississippi State as a slight favorite in the first game of the Round of 64.
These two squads are separated by only one point in the latest Vegas odds, and it is anyone's game for the chance to meet the top-seeded Tar Heels on Saturday.
Michigan State is the slim favorite in this Round of 64 matchup, sitting with -120 odds on the moneyline to get a win and advance. This implies a 54.5% shot to win and advance to the Round of 64, and they'll have to lean on Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard to get it done.
On the other side, Mississippi State isn't far behind with +100 odds. They hold a 50% chance to upset the Spartans, and with a spread this close, it could go either way. Josh Hubbard and Tolu Smith will try to lift the Bulldogs to an underdog victory.
Michigan State vs. Mississippi State Prediction
This matchup of the MSU's is a thrilling battle to open the tournament. Both teams have strong cores and metrics that carried them off the bubble. In a different setup, they could both be advancing to the Sweet 16. But instead, we will get a showdown to officially tip off March Madness, and old school basketball fans will enjoy this one.
The public is piling on to the Spartans here, and for good reason. Tom Izzo has had many successful runs in March Madness, especially as a 7-10 seed that moves on to knock off the 1-2 favorite like they did last year and in 2015. In another matchup, I would be happy to take the Spartans. Their experience and talent is better than their record indicates, and they've gotten the short end of the stick in an array of close games.
However, the physicality and defensive toughness of the Bulldogs is not a great draw for them. We saw what they did to a high-powered Tennessee team last week in the SEC Tournament, dismantling them by 20 points in a wire-to-wire victory. If Josh Hubbard and Tolu Smith get their squad out to a hot start, they should be able to control the pace and grind it out against Sparty.
Michigan State vs. Mississippi State Prediction: Mississippi State (+105) (Bet $100 to collect $205) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Michigan State vs. Mississippi State Projected Lineups
Michigan State projected lineup:
- F: Malik Hall
- C: Carson Cooper
- G: Jaden Akins
- G: A.J. Hoggard
- G: Tyson Walker
Mississippi State projected lineup:
- F: Cameron Matthews
- F: D.J. Jeffries
- F: Tolu Smith
- G: DaShawn Davis
- G: Josh Hubbard
Michigan State March Madness Odds
Michigan State has experience going deep in March Madness, there's a reason why they call the coach Mr. March. Tom Izzo can certainly guide this team on a run. They were rated very highly in the preseason, and have failed to achieve everything they initially expected. But the pieces are still there, and they have a veteran group of guards. If they survive this first game, they have a real shot to shorten their +10000 odds.
Mississippi State March Madness Odds
The Mississippi State Bulldogs have a gritty group and play a physical style. However, it will be tough for them to win more than a few games with their turnover issues. The Bulldogs can outperform some of the top teams on their best days, but also can crumble often, especially with freshman guard play from Hubbard. They have +15000 odds, but could definitely make some noise in the early going.
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