LSU (11-7,2-5) @ Mississippi State (7-12,2-5) - SAT 4:30 - FSN

Who: LSU Tigers (11-7,2-5) @ Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-12,2-5)
When: Saturday, February 2nd 4:30pm
Where: Mississippi State's Humphrey Coliseum (10,500, 82nd largest in NCAA)
How:
TV: FSN
Radio: 98.1fm, 201XM, 123Sirius
Stream: ESPN3.com

LSU is coming off their biggest win of the season over #17 Missouri. Mississippi State is coming off their 5th consecutive loss, this time to Texas A&M in overtime. The Bulldogs lost nearly everyone from last year's team and do not have the personnel to compete with most of the SEC. LSU has continued to improve after a very poor 0-4 start in the SEC and look to make up another game on Saturday. These programs are going in different directions, and it's happening fast.

After getting his first win against a top 25 team while at LSU, Coach Johnny Jones looks to get his first SEC road victory as well. Mississippi State doesn't have a player you really fear, but have a very balanced attack. The Bulldogs have 9 players who play between 20 and 30 minutes a game, and only one player, Fred Thomas, averages double figures scoring with 10.6PPG.

LSU's Anthony Hickey, who exploded for 20 against Missouri, leads LSU with 12.6 points per contest. He has scored in double figures in ten straight and is averaging 14.7 per SEC contest. Johnny O'Bryant has been spectacular in his last four contests and has four consecutive double doubles. He is averaging 16.3 points and 11.8 rebounds in those contests. Mississippi State will try and stop both O'Bryant and Hickey from having productive games.



While LSU has been lights out only turning it over on average only 11 time in the last three games, Mississippi State is averaging 21 turnovers over their last three. LSU will look to capitalize on the Bulldogs lack of maturity and play tough pressure defense. LSU has done much better recently in their half-court option and will be good even if they cannot get out in transition.

Charles Carmouche made his way into second on LSU in Adjusted SoS after his performance against Missouri.LSU has four players with a higher Adj SoS than and State player. You can tell they spread it around and don't have any star players. The Bulldogs have been without Wendell Lewis since early December.



On paper, LSU looks like the better team, but it is on the road. If they play half as good as they did against Missouri, they should have no problem in this one. I think Coach Jones has them prepared and ready to play this weekend. Look for another big game for Johnny O'Bryant who has been great staying out of foul trouble the last handful of games. I imagine his double double streak continues this weekend.

Prediction:
LSU 75, Mississippi St 62