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Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Oklahoma Sooners Picks and Predictions – January 7th 2026
A gritty non-conference battle is on tap Tuesday night as the Mississippi State Bulldogs visit the Oklahoma Sooners at Lloyd Noble Center. Tipoff is set for 8:00 PM ET on January 7, 2026, with both teams entering on solid form. Mississippi State sits at 12–3 with a defense-first identity and a bruising frontcourt. Oklahoma comes in 11–4, leaning on athleticism, pace, and a strong home record.
This matchup offers bettors a contrast in styles — physical SEC defense vs pace-and-space Big 12 offense. The question is whether Oklahoma can generate enough clean looks against a top-tier defensive unit that doesn’t give much away at the rim.
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Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Oklahoma Sooners Odds
Here are the latest odds for this non-conference showdown. Always double-check the latest college basketball odds closer to tip.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State Bulldogs | +135 | +3.5 (-110) | O 141.5 (-110) |
| Oklahoma Sooners | -155 | -3.5 (-110) | U 141.5 (-110) |
Mississippi State Bulldogs Betting Form
Mississippi State has one of the most rugged defenses in the SEC, allowing just 62 PPG and ranking top-20 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency. They contest shots, crash the boards, and make every possession a grind. Tolu Smith anchors the paint, while their backcourt plays with discipline and doesn’t turn it over much.
Offensively, it’s a slower pace. The Bulldogs aren’t flashy — they’re methodical. They win with second-chance points, interior scoring, and low-risk possessions. That does make them vulnerable when trailing, though, especially if they struggle to hit outside shots. On the road, they’ve shown cracks when forced to play from behind.
See the full Mississippi State stats and results, and don’t forget to review the Mississippi State injury report before placing bets.
Oklahoma Sooners Betting Form
Oklahoma has been electric at home, going 9–1 in Norman and covering in six of their last eight there. The Sooners push pace, get out in transition, and rely on their guards to create offense off the dribble. Javian McCollum and Milos Uzan give them a steady backcourt that can break pressure and knock down big shots.
Defensively, Oklahoma doesn’t dominate — but they’re opportunistic. They force turnovers and use their speed to get easy buckets. The concern is rebounding. They’ve struggled to secure the defensive glass against bigger frontcourts, which could be a real issue here if Mississippi State turns missed shots into extra possessions.
Check out the Oklahoma schedule and stats, and make sure to monitor the Oklahoma injury report for game-day updates.
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Oklahoma Sooners Matchup Breakdown
This is a tempo battle. Mississippi State wants to walk it up, play through the post, and defend in the halfcourt. Oklahoma wants to run, create pace, and make this a speed contest.
Here are the key angles:
- Pace: Oklahoma plays much faster. If they dictate tempo early, it tilts in their favor.
- Rebounding: Mississippi State has a huge edge on the glass. Second-chance points could decide this.
- Turnovers: Mississippi State is careful with the ball, but Oklahoma’s pressure could still generate extra looks.
- Shot profile: The Bulldogs live inside. The Sooners rely more on the three-ball and open floor scoring.
The X-factor? Foul trouble. If Mississippi State’s frontcourt stays on the floor, their physicality becomes overwhelming.
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Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Oklahoma Sooners Predictions and Best Bets
This feels like a value spot for the road dog. Mississippi State’s physicality and rebounding give them the perfect tools to disrupt Oklahoma’s rhythm. If they control tempo and keep the Sooners in the halfcourt, they can absolutely win this outright.
Oklahoma is dangerous at home — no question — but the matchup leans toward the Bulldogs’ style of play. This should be tight late, and getting 3.5 points with the better defense and rebounding edge is too good to pass up.
Lean Under on the total, too. If Mississippi State controls the pace, this could land closer to the high 130s.
Best Bet: Mississippi State +3.5 (-110).
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