The Tennessee Volunteers are coming off back-to-back triumphs to move within one game of first-place Auburn in the SEC. I think they're in for a tough game here though, facing a surging Mississippi State Bulldogs team that has reeled off three straight victories and seven in the past nine (8-1 ATS during that stretch) to vault into third place in the SEC standings.

Mississippi State has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2009 and a big win over the ranked Volunteers tonight would be a big boost to the Bulldogs' resume, and it won last season's meeting 64-59.

We can also note that the Bulldogs are 18-1 SU home at Humphrey Coliseum on the season and 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

My College Basketball Game of the Month is a 10* play on Mississippi State.