Kentucky vs. Mississippi State: Game Preview, Prediction

By Tim Letcher
Mark Zerof, USA TODAY SPORTS
Mark Zerof, USA TODAY SPORTS

The top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats visit the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Wednesday in Starkville in an SEC contest.

Kentucky is 27-0 this season, including a 14-0 mark in SEC play. The Wildcats have had comfortable wins in their last three games. Most recently, Kentucky blasted the Auburn Tigers 110-75 at Rupp Arena on Saturday to extend their school record for the best start to any season.

The Big Blue are hoping to become the first team to go undefeated since the Indiana Hoosiers pulled the trick 39 years ago. Kentucky has the personnel to win the rest of their games, as long as something doesn’t go wrong between now and the end of the season.

Kentucky’s shooting guards lead the team in scoring. Freshman Devin Booker and sophomore Aaron Harrison are each averaging 11 points per game. Wooden Award finalist Willie Cauley-Stein averages 9.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.

Mississippi State is 12-15 this season and 5-9 in the SEC. The Bulldogs have lost four of their last five games, including a 65-51 loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday in Starkville.

Junior forward Gavin Ware averages 10.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game to lead the Bulldogs. Roquez Johnson (9.9 points per game), Craig Sword (9.8 ppg) and Fred Thomas (9.7 ppg) are also key contributors.

This game should be a mismatch from beginning to end. Kentucky has too much size, too much depth and too much talent for Mississippi State to handle. The Bulldogs must hope that Kentucky is overlooking them, with a big matchup against Arkansas looming on Saturday.

Final score prediction: Kentucky 72, Mississippi State 51

Tim Letcher is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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