Memphis at Mississippi State Prediction, Picks, and Odds Movement for December 20 2025

By: Kyle Kargel Published 12/20/2025, 07:49 AM ET
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Memphis vs Mississippi State picks take center stage Saturday afternoon as the Tigers travel to Starkville for a non-conference test that has drawn interest from bettors scanning college basketball picks and college basketball predictions. With both teams showing offensive upside but defensive inconsistency, this matchup offers a classic handicap built around home court, roster health, and late-game execution.

Quick Picks and Prediction

  • Spread Pick: Mississippi State -3
  • Total Pick: Under 151.5
  • Projected Final Score: Mississippi State 78, Memphis 72

Odds and Line Movement

Opening Odds

Team Spread Total
Memphis +3.5 151.5
Mississippi State -3.5 151.5

Current Odds

Team Spread Total
Memphis +3 (-120) Over 151.5 (-115)
Mississippi State -3 (-102) Under 151.5 (-105)

Line Movement - Spread

Date Time Memphis Mississippi State
12/19 12:10PM +3.5 (-120) -3.5 (-102)
12/19 12:00PM +2.5 (-102) -2.5 (-120)

Line Movement - Total

Date Time Over Under
12/19 12:00PM 151.5 (-115) 151.5 (-105)

Memphis vs Mississippi State Key Matchups and Handicap

This matchup is best approached through the lens of volatility versus stability. Memphis has shown flashes of offensive firepower but has struggled to string together consistent defensive stops, allowing nearly as many points as it scores on the season. That profile becomes riskier on the road, where shot selection and ball security tend to erode under pressure.

Mississippi State, while far from a defensive juggernaut, brings a clearer situational edge. The Bulldogs have been solid at Humphrey Coliseum, and their offensive approach has translated more reliably at home. In a short-number game, that matters, especially when late-game possessions and free throws often decide the spread.

The total hovering in the low 150s assumes both teams operate efficiently for long stretches. However, the underlying numbers suggest otherwise. Both teams allow well over 75 points per game, but that figure is inflated by spurts of transition scoring rather than clean half-court execution. If Mississippi State is able to control tempo and force Memphis into longer possessions, this game profiles more as a grind than a track meet.

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Backcourt availability also looms large. Any limitation for Memphis reduces their ability to consistently break down the defense, increasing the likelihood of empty possessions. That dynamic favors the home side and subtly tilts the total downward.

  • Mississippi State is 4-1 at home this season.
  • Memphis is winless on the road entering this matchup.
  • Both teams allow more than 76 points per game, contributing to market volatility.

Key Injuries and Notes for MEM and MSST

  • MEM: Julius Thedford is questionable with a knee injury.
  • MEM: Curtis Givens III is questionable with a thigh injury.
  • MSST: No injuries reported.

ATS and Total Picks

  • Against the Spread: Mississippi State -3
  • Total: Under 151.5

Final Score Prediction

Mississippi State 78, Memphis 72

How to Bet on Memphis vs Mississippi State

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