Mississippi vs BYU Game Information

Mississippi vs BYU Preview

Two unbeaten teams collide in the Rady Children’s Invitational on Thanksgiving afternoon from San Diego when No. 23 Mississippi (5-0) faces BYU (5-0) as Feast Week continues. Neither Power 4 conference side has played any strong teams yet with BYU (Big 12) beating CARK (88-50), UCR (86-80), QUC (99-55), IDAHO (95-71), and MVSU (87-43) while Ole Miss (SEC) has disposed of LIU (90-60), GRAM (66-64), USA (64-54), CSU (84-69), and ORU (100-68). The Cougars made the NCAA Tournament last year as a No. 6 seed but were upset by No. 11 seed Duquesne in the First Round, 71-67 and have been crying cat tears ever since March. And now the BYU football team won’t be in the College Football Playoff, so they now have partners in misery on campus in Provo.

BYU is Loaded With Scoring Depth This Season

BYU (2-3-0 ATS, 2-3-0 O/U) has a bunch of players who can fill it up and rebound the basketball, including Freshman sensation G Egor Derrin (15.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 7.2 apg), F Richie Sanders (13.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), C Foussenyi Traore (13.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg), F Kanon Catchings (11.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg), G Dallin Hall (10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), G Trevin Knell (9.6 ppg), C Keba Keita (8.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg), and G Dawson Baker (8.6 ppg). The Cougars are averaging a healthy 91.0 ppg (#9) while allowing just 58.8 ppg and are a team to watch and maybe make some money on.

BYU Betting Trends

• BYU is #6 in the nation in Assists Per Game (20.6)
• The Cougars were 20-14-0 ATS last season
• BYU has alternated Unders/Overs its last 5 (UOUOU)
• The Cougars were 16-18-0 (O/U) in the Totals market in 2023-24
• BYU is is #18 in the nation in Rebounds Per Game (43.6)

No. 23 Ole Miss Facing Tough Test vs Deep BYU

Mississippi (3-2-0 ATS, 3-2-0 O/U) averages 80.8 ppg (Tied #107) and allows 63.0 ppg, but like BYU, has yet to face any formidable teams with non-conference play in November and December continues. Leading the Rebels are G Sean Pedulla (14.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg), G Jaylen Murray (12.2 ppg, 4.0 apg), G Matthew Murrell (12.0 ppg, 3.0 apg), F Jaemyn Brakefield (11.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg), G Dre Davis (9.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg), F Malik Dia (7.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg), G Davon Barnes (7.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg), and F Mikeal Brown-Jones (6.4 ppg). 

Mississippi Betting Trends

• Ole Miss is 2-0-0 ATS in its last 2 games
• The Rebels were just 3-15 SU in the SEC last season 
• Ole Miss is 17-1 SU in it last 18 games in November
• The Over is 2-0-0 in the last 2 Rebels games 
• Ole Miss was 3-12 SU in its last 15 games last season 

Mississippi vs BYU Prediction

This Mississippi vs BYU prediction and free NCAAB pick will lean on the stronger rebounding team, with the Cougars averaging 43.6 boards a game so far (#18) and the Rebels averaging just 36.4 rpg (#222). All of the Cougars Starting 5 are over 6-foot tall (6-9, 6-5, 6-6, 6-9, 6-4) while Ole Miss is a bit shorter (6-9, 6-8, 6-1 6-4 5-11) and Russian Freshman Guard Egor Demin is 6-foot-9 and will be a tough matchup for all teams and has some magnificent stats to start the season with 15.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 7.2 apg (#8) and a 64.4% mark from the Field (#38). The Rebels may be very good in November but will really have their hands full with this kid.

Kevin’s Pick: BYU -4