Mississippi State Bulldogs

The Bulldogs opened 2025 with four straight wins and then won one of their last eight, yet covered five of nine as underdogs. Mississippi State football got points in nine of its 11 lined games.

Four, then one

Mississippi State won its first four games: 34-17 at Southern Miss, 24-20 over Arizona State at +175, 63-0 over Alcorn State and 38-10 over Northern Illinois. It won one of the last eight, 38-35 at Arkansas at +165. The record finished 5-7; against the spread it was 7-4, with Alcorn State unlined.

Getting points

Nine games as the underdog, two wins, five covers. Only twelve FBS teams were underdogs more often; fourteen matched. Three of the covers were single-digit losses: 34-41 to Tennessee getting 7.5, 21-23 at Florida getting 9.5 and 38-45 to Texas getting 8.5. The four misses were all by 19 points or more: 9-31 at Texas A&M, 21-41 to Georgia, 27-49 at Missouri and 19-38 to Ole Miss. The eight priced underdog games lost 2.6 units.

Favored twice

Both games as favorite were won and covered: Southern Miss at -15.5 and Northern Illinois at -24.5.

The moneyline

Ten priced games, 2.43 units down: 1.23 lost at home, 1.21 on the road. October went 0-3 straight up and lost three units, though two of the three games covered.

The total

Six over, six under. Mississippi State scored 30.5 a game and allowed 29.17.

Wake Forest won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl 43-29 to end it.

Questions and answers