Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Prairie View A&m Panthers Picks and Predictions December 8th 2024

Mississippi State: Bouncing Back After a Setback

Mississippi State (7-1) aims to build on the momentum of its dominant 90-57 victory over No. 18 Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Bulldogs rebounded from an 87-77 loss to Butler in the Arizona Classic last week with a complete team performance against the Panthers.

Key Players for Mississippi State

• Josh Hubbard: The Bulldogs’ leading scorer averages 18.2 points per game on 46.8% shooting, consistently setting the tone for Mississippi State’s offense.
• KeShawn Murphy: Coming off a career-high 20-point performance against Pittsburgh, Murphy also leads the team in rebounds (8.8 per game), providing a strong inside presence.
• Cameron Matthews: The team’s facilitator and defensive anchor, Matthews leads Mississippi State in assists (3.5) and steals (2.9) per game.

Coach Chris Jans praised the team’s resilience after the bounce-back win against Pittsburgh.

“That’s the response we all wanted,” Jans said. “We were obviously a little down on returning from Phoenix, but we got the job done.”

The Bulldogs are also aiming to return to the AP Top 25 with another strong showing on Sunday.

Prairie View A&M: Searching for Solutions

Prairie View A&M (1-7) has struggled mightily this season, ranking 348th out of 364 teams in the NCAA’s NET rankings. The Panthers’ lone win came against an NAIA opponent, and they remain winless in Division I play.

Key Players for Prairie View A&M

• Nick Anderson: The standout guard averages 18.6 points per game on 45.3% shooting and will be tasked with leading the offense against a tough Bulldogs defense.
• Tanahj Pettway: Averaging 14.6 points per game, Pettway is Prairie View’s secondary scoring option.
• Team Defense: The Panthers rely on a matchup zone defense, which has proven inconsistent against Division I opponents.

Prairie View A&M is coming off a 29-point loss to UAB on Friday, where they struggled to contain their opponent’s interior play. Despite Anderson’s 15 points, the Panthers fell victim to turnovers and poor shooting.

“They zoned us the whole game,” said UAB coach Andy Kennedy. “They’re trying to attack off the dribble, but it’s a tough matchup for them.”

Key Matchups to Watch

• Josh Hubbard vs. Nick Anderson: Two high-scoring guards lead their respective offenses, with Hubbard’s versatility giving Mississippi State the edge.
• KeShawn Murphy vs. Prairie View’s Interior Defense: Murphy’s rebounding and scoring inside could exploit the Panthers’ inability to guard the paint effectively.
• Mississippi State’s Depth vs. Prairie View’s Starters: With limited depth, Prairie View may struggle to keep up with Mississippi State’s balanced roster.

What’s at Stake?

• For Mississippi State: A win cements their case for rejoining the AP Top 25 and builds confidence ahead of tougher matchups.
• For Prairie View A&M: While an upset is unlikely, a competitive performance could be a morale boost for a team struggling to find its identity.

Prediction

Mississippi State’s size, depth, and firepower will likely overwhelm Prairie View A&M, especially at home. The Bulldogs should control the tempo and dominate the paint, leaving little room for the Panthers to find rhythm.

Final Score Prediction: Mississippi State 92, Prairie View A&M 58