Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State prediction, odds, time: 2023 First Four picks, best bets from proven model
The Pittsburgh Panthers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs link up in a 2023 First Four matchup on Tuesday night as the No. 11 seeds look to advance. The winner goes on to play the No. 6 seed Iowa State on Friday. Pittsburgh didn't end the season as hoped, dropping three of its past four games. Likewise, Mississippi State lost two of its last three outings. This will be the third all-time matchup between these schools.
Tipoff from UD Arena in Dayton is set for 9:10 p.m. ET. The Bulldogs are 1.5-point favorites in the latest Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 132.5. Before making any Mississippi State vs. Pittsburgh picks, be sure to see the college basketball predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Pitt vs. Mississippi State in the First Four 2023. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Mississippi State vs. Pitt:
- Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State: Bulldogs -1.5
- Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State over/under: 132.5 points
- Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State money line: Bulldogs -125, Panthers +105
- MSST: Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games after scoring less than 50 points in their previous game
- PITT: Panthers are 5-1 ATS in their last six Tuesday games
- Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Pittsburgh can cover
Senior guard Jamarius Burton is an impactful player in multiple areas. Burton has the handles and quickness to find his way into the lane constantly. The North Carolina native can score with either hand or pass it to the open man. Burton averages 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest. On Mar. 8 against Georgia Tech, he logged 21 points and eight assists.
Senior guard Nelly Cummings is a shifty playmaker in the backcourt. Cummings likes to push the pace and get out in transition. The Pennsylvania native leads the team in assists (4.8) with 11 points per contest. On Feb. 25 against Syracuse, Cummings finished 14 points, four rebounds and 13 assists.
Why Mississippi State can cover
Senior forward Tolu Smith is an athletic and assertive two-way force. Smith can absorb contact in the paint and be a secure rebounder. The Mississippi native was second in the SEC in rebounds (8.5) and first in field-goal percentage (.576) with 15.8 points per game. Smith has recorded a double-double in three straight games. On March 9 against Florida, he tallied 28 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.
Junior guard Shakeel Moore is an explosive playmaker in the backcourt. Moore can glide to the rack and be an active defender in passing lanes. The North Carolina native averages 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. On March 4, Moore recorded 13 points, four rebounds and two assists against Vanderbilt.
How to make Mississippi State vs. Pittsburgh picks
The model is leaning Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 135 points. It also says one side of the spread hits more than 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
