Arkansas Razorbacks vs Mississippi State Bulldogs Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

No. 25 Mississippi State, Arkansas Seek Consistency in Season Finale

As the SEC regular season wraps up, both Mississippi State and Arkansas are looking for one final boost before heading into conference tournament play.

Mississippi State (20-10, 8-9 SEC) has lost three of its last four games, putting its NCAA Tournament positioning at risk. Arkansas (18-12, 7-10 SEC) is also on the tournament bubble, needing a strong finish to improve its chances.

Saturday’s season finale in Fayetteville will be crucial for both teams, as they try to gain momentum heading into the SEC Tournament.

Mississippi State Looking to Rebound After OT Heartbreak

Mississippi State is coming off a tough 87-82 overtime loss to Texas on Tuesday, a game that left head coach Chris Jans and his players frustrated.

“Our locker room was very somber, to say the least,” Jans said. “We’ve lost plenty of games this year, but that was a hard one to swallow for us.”

The Bulldogs have been up and down in recent weeks, struggling to maintain consistency despite flashes of strong play.

One of the bright spots has been Josh Hubbard, who scored 16 points in the loss, marking his 15th consecutive game in double figures.

Another encouraging sign came from Riley Kugel, who responded to his coach’s challenge with 12 points and a season-high seven rebounds.

“He was first to the floor a couple times for some loose balls that I just don’t ever remember him doing,” Jans said. “I’ve been on him about it, and he showed people his strength in his core and his athleticism and his fight. He was defending.”

If Mississippi State wants to solidify its NCAA Tournament spot, winning at Arkansas would be a huge step forward.

Arkansas Aiming to Close Strong After Rough SEC Start

The Razorbacks started SEC play 0-5, putting themselves in a deep hole. However, they have gradually turned things around, winning three straight home games and showing signs of life.

On Tuesday, Arkansas picked up a 90-77 win at Vanderbilt, snapping a three-game road losing streak.

Despite the victory, Arkansas suffered a setback, as leading scorer and rebounder Adou Thiero (15.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG) left with a knee injury. He has missed the past three games, and his status for Saturday remains uncertain.

With Thiero sidelined, Trevon Brazile stepped up in a big way. The 6-foot-10 forward posted season highs with 16 points and 14 rebounds, helping Arkansas dominate Vanderbilt on the boards.

“I’m happy for Trevon,” Razorbacks coach John Calipari said. “It’s been an up-and-down road, but I keep telling him, ‘You got stuff that a normal guy doesn’t have. Now bring it.'”

Arkansas also got a big boost from Johnell Davis, who led the team with 21 points, his first time as the Razorbacks’ top scorer since Feb. 5.

“Starting 0-5, that’s some adversity you gotta go through,” Brazile said. “And we went through that and got better from it.”

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What’s at Stake?

For Mississippi State, a win would strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume and provide momentum heading into the SEC Tournament.

For Arkansas, this game is about continuing its late-season push and proving it belongs in the NCAA Tournament conversation.

With both teams needing a strong finish, expect a physical, high-energy battle in Fayetteville as they fight for positioning in the postseason picture.