Betting Preview: Mississippi State vs Auburn – Odds, Predictions, and Player Props for January 14th

• The #1 Auburn Tigers are a 7.5-point favorite over the #15 Mississippi State Bulldogs tonight
• Tigers star Johni Broome is out indefinitely (ankle)
• Check out the Mississippi State vs Auburn odds, predictions and player props, below

One of the biggest games on Tuesday’s college basketball slate features #15 Mississippi State (14-2, 2-1 SEC) versus #1 Auburn (15-1, 3-0 SEC). The Tigers are the top team in the nation for just the second time in program history, surpassing Tennessee after the Vols first loss last week. Auburn has reeled off eight straight victories, and oddsmakers are expecting another win tonight per the college basketball odds. Tipoff for this SEC showdown is scheduled for 7pm ET from Neville Arena, in Auburn, AL, with the SEC Network providing the broadcast coverage.

Mississippi State vs Auburn Odds

Auburn is currently a 7.5-point favorite, in a contest with a total of 148.5. The total is down 3 points from its opener, while the spread has stood pat. The early spread betting favors the Bulldogs, as they’re drawing 63% of the tickets and 62% of the handle. The primary reason for fading the Tigers likely has something to do with their injury report, as they’ll be without their top player. 

Odds as of January 14 at BetMGM. Be sure to check out the best BetMGM promo code before placing a bet on any college hoops game tonight.

Mississippi State vs Auburn Prediction

• Mississippi State +7.5 (-110)

Johni Broome left Saturday’s game versus South Carolina with an ankle injury after stepping on a teammate’s foot. The injury initially appeared to be significant, but an MRI later revealed just a non-surgical sprain.

The 6-foot-10 senior is out indefinitely, but it’s reportedly not expected to be a long term absence. Broome began the weekend as the favorite in the Wooden Award odds, but was later passed by Duke’s Cooper Flagg.

Johni Broome went down with an injury and had to be helped off the court.

Damn shame, Broome is a prize to this sport and it’s been more than fun to watch Auburn be as dominant as they have been.

pic.twitter.com/2onBssqpBv

— Kon Knueppel SZN (@MikeHoopsPage) January 11, 2025

Broome’s injury is a concern at both ends of the floor. He was averaging 18 points and 11 boards per game, as well as 3 blocks. The future NBA’er had 10 double-doubles already, with multiple 20+ point, 16+ rebound performances.

Without him, Bruce Pearl will need more production from big men Dylan Caldwell and Chaney Johnson, as well as second leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara.

The timing for Broome’s injury is awful, as a strong Mississippi State team is coming to town. The Bulldogs have risen up versus top competition this season. They’re 6-1 straight up versus top-75 teams, covering five times.

They rank 16th in offensive efficiency per Kenpom, with four players averaging 10 points per outing, led by guard Josh Hubbard (17 ppg).

Mississippi State is no slouch defensively either. They rank 39th in defensive efficiency, and have held opponents to under 47% shooting from the field.

The Tigers lean heavily on easy looks created by Broome, so without him Pearl might try to speed up the pace to fluster the Bulldogs and generate turnovers. The problem is, Mississippi State has given the ball away at the nation’s second lowest rate, and operates much more efficiently in the half court.

Look for the Bulldogs to slow down the pace, and grind out a cover in a lower than projected scoring affair.

Mississippi State vs Auburn Player Props

• Chad Baker-Mazara Over 14.5 Points (-125)

Switching to the player props market now, where Baker-Mazara is our target. If Auburn is going to remain a top contender in the March Madness odds without Broome, they’ll need more scoring from Baker-Mazara.

The senior is already averaging a career-high 12.7 points per game, on 52% shooting. He’s taking more shots than ever per outing (7.3), and that was with Broome in the lineup. Baker-Mazara is a career 40% shooter from 3, and saw a major usage bump when Broome went down earlier versus Georgia State.

BACK TO BACK CHAD BAKER-MAZARA 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/ghj95hmYVx

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) January 4, 2025

That night he took a season-high 11 shots, and got to the line 11 times. He made every one of those free throws, and has been consistent all year from the charity stripe, making 93.7% of his freebies.

We expect this game to be a tightly contested affair, meaning Baker-Mazara will need to supply his share of offense to keep the Tigers afloat.

On January 14th, college basketball fans will be treated to an exciting matchup between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers. Both teams are coming off strong performances and will be looking to continue their winning ways in this highly anticipated game.

The odds for this matchup currently favor Auburn, with the Tigers being listed as 5.5-point favorites. The over/under for the game is set at 143.5 points, indicating that oddsmakers are expecting a relatively high-scoring affair.

When it comes to predictions, this game has the potential to be a close one. Mississippi State has been playing well recently, with wins in four of their last five games. The Bulldogs are led by guard Iverson Molinar, who is averaging 18.3 points per game and shooting an impressive 47.6% from the field. If Molinar can continue his strong play, Mississippi State will have a good chance of pulling off the upset.

On the other side, Auburn is also playing at a high level, with wins in six of their last seven games. The Tigers are led by guard Wendell Green Jr., who is averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 assists per game. Auburn also boasts a strong defense, holding opponents to just 67.3 points per game.

In terms of player props, there are several options to consider for this game. Molinar is a good bet to go over his points total, as he has been scoring at a high rate recently. Green Jr. is also a solid option to go over his assists total, as he has been distributing the ball well all season.

Overall, this matchup between Mississippi State and Auburn has all the makings of a competitive and entertaining game. With both teams playing well and plenty of talent on the court, fans can expect a close contest that could come down to the wire. Be sure to tune in on January 14th to see which team comes out on top in this exciting showdown.