The NCAA Tournament is finally here and fans from around the country are excited for the best month of college hoops. In this First Four matchup, Mississippi State will take on Pittsburgh for the right to play Iowa State, the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region.
Oddsmakers aren’t giving either side much of an edge with under 48 hours until tip-off.
Read on for my Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State prediction and best bets.
Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State Odds
Note: CBB odds mentioned in this article for Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State were used from DraftKings Sportsbook, unless otherwise noted, and are current as of March 13 at 3 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Mississippi State (-130) | Pittsburgh (+110)
- Spread: Mississippi State -2 (-110) | Pittsburgh +2 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 132.5 (-110) | Under 132.5 (-110)
Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State Best Bet
Keep reading for more Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State betting tips.
Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State Prediction
Pittsburgh 72, Mississippi State 64
I’m giving the Panthers the slight edge in this 11-seed showdown.
Pittsburgh’s offense has a wide variety of scorers who can attack the stern Bulldogs defense. Mississippi State’s strong inside presence will cause problems for Pitt, but this squad’s poor shooting — the Bulldogs shot 42.3% from the field this season (302nd in the country) — will surely handicap its chances of winning.
📈 Keep track of NCAA Tournament winner odds to find our best March Madness bets:
Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State Best Bets
Pittsburgh +2 (-110) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 2 Units
Pittsburgh put the ACC on notice this season, nearly winning the regular-season title in the process. While Mississippi State is no slouch of a team, the Panthers should find a way to pull away in this one.
Head coach Chris Jans’ Bulldogs have been prone to poor offensive performances several times this season.
If Pittsburgh’s defense can handle the heavy inside presence, Mississippi State simply does not have enough consistency to shoot itself to a victory.
Jamarius Burton: Over 13.5 Points (-115) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 2 Units
Pittsburgh’s starting shooting guard, Jamarius Burton, has arguably been the most consistent scorer on the squad all season. The senior guard averaged just under 16 points per game this year. shooting nearly 50% from the field.
The Panthers have played in their fair share of big games already, and Burton will not be afraid to shoot the rock to keep his team in the Big Dance.
Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State Same Game Parlay
Pittsburgh vs Mississippi State SGP (+205) | DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
- Pittsburgh Moneyline (+105)
- Blake Hinson: Over 12.5 Points (-145)
As I mentioned, Pittsburgh’s offense will prove to be too much for the defensive-minded Bulldogs in this one.
One reason should be Blake Hinson’s scoring. While the 23-year-old forward has had a fair share of cold shooting nights, he does not shy away from taking big shots and is more than capable of filling up the box score.
Should Hinson hit this mark, the first leg will cash easily.
