The Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Arkansas is favored by 6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -305. The total is set at 162.5 points.
Here’s my Arkansas vs. Mississippi State prediction and college basketball picks for February 7, 2026.
Arkansas vs Mississippi State Prediction
My Pick: Lean Arkansas -6.5
My Arkansas vs Mississippi State best bet is on the Razorbacks to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Arkansas vs. Mississippi State Odds
| Arkansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 162.5 -110 / -110 | -305 |
| Mississippi State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 162.5 -110 / -110 | +245 |
- Arkansas vs Mississippi State spread: Arkansas -6.5
- Arkansas vs Mississippi State over/under: 162.5 points
- Arkansas vs Mississippi State moneyline: Arkansas -305, Mississippi State +245
Arkansas vs Mississippi State College Basketball Betting Preview
Arkansas Basketball
Arkansas heads into Starkville on Saturday night with a 16-6 overall record on the season, having won three of its last four matchups. The Razorbacks remain tied for third in the SEC, trailing just Florida and Texas A&M.
After blowing a 16-point lead in a devastating Sweet 16 defeat to Texas Tech, Hall of Fame head coach John Calipari looks well on his way to leading Arkansas to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in just his second season at the helm.
Coach Cal’s decision to leave Kentucky surprised most after establishing a 15-year legacy in Lexington that will live on forever. The former Wildcat head coach earned a reputation as the best recruiter in the history of the sport.
In just his second season in Fayetteville, Calipari has lived up to that reputation with a massive 2025 offseason.
In what most consider to be one of the best freshman classes of all time, Calipari landed two top-10 recruits in guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. Both freshmen are projected to be lottery selections in the 2026 NBA Draft.
6-foot-4 guard Darius Acuff has been spectacular in his first season, posting upwards of 20 points per game, along with six assists. The freshman superstar has quickly established himself as one of the best players in all of college basketball.
Alongside Acuff in the Razorbacks' backcourt, Thomas is also having quite the freshman campaign, scoring 15 points per game.
The freshman duo leads an Arkansas offense that's scoring over 88 points per game while ranking seventh in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. The Razorbacks' backcourt is among the best in college basketball.
Senior forward Trevon Brazile has also been great offensively in his fourth season in Fayetteville, posting 12.5 points and seven rebounds per contest. When healthy, Brazile has established himself as an elite two-way player and a vital asset to an otherwise pretty young Hogs team.
Calipari’s bunch hasn't been as efficient on the other end of the floor, ranking outside the top 60 in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
Former Alabama forward Nick Pringle has proven to be a great transfer portal acquisition this offseason as well, adding significant size to Arkansas' frontcourt. That has made it tough for opponents to find clean looks near the basket.
If the 15th-ranked Razorbacks are to navigate a tricky conference schedule over the last five weeks of the season, they'll definitely need to improve on the defensive end of the floor.
Mississippi State Basketball
After a promising start to the season, Mississippi State has gone cold and enters Saturday’s SEC duel with a .500 overall record on the season.
The Bulldogs have lost six of their last seven games and are in “must-win” mode heading into Saturday’s contest.
Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans is in his fourth season in Starkville, having led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first three years. Jans certainly has a tall order ahead of him if Mississippi State is to receive its fourth consecutive tournament bid.
The Bulldogs' head coach has earned a reputation as a stellar defensive-minded coach, leading New Mexico State to four WAC titles in his five years at the helm.
Jans is known for his style of relentless defensive pressure with an overemphasis on the importance of crashing the glass.
The coach established a culture of Mississippi State playing harder than its opponents, while also often implementing full-court press and intricate defensive trapping schemes.
Jans’ players are taught to primarily focus on being the hardest-working unit on the floor while also controlling the tempo of the game. This "hard work above all else" mindset is how Jans has successfully established a winning culture, making the “Big Dance” in six of his eight seasons as a collegiate head coach.
In 2026, his Bulldogs bunch ranks just 70th in defensive efficiency, according to Haslametrics. For a head coach who has thrived on the significance of defensive prowess, it's easy to see why Mississippi State has struggled mightily over the last couple of weeks.
On the other end of the floor, junior guard Josh Hubbard has been the savior for a largely mediocre offense. In his third season in Starkville, the six-foot guard has proven to be one of the best scorers in college basketball, averaging just under 21 points per game.
Hubbard is an extremely gifted scorer, racking up over 18 points per game in each of his first two seasons. While he's converting just 40% of his field goal attempts, if the Bulldogs are to go on a run to close the season, it'll undoubtedly be on his back.
Alongside Hubbard, senior guard Jayden Epps has also been very effective on the offensive end of the floor, posting over 15 points per game.
The Bulldogs' frontcourt has been a non-factor offensively, without a single forward on the roster posting double-figure scoring efforts. Both Achor Achor and Quincy Ballard are great defensively, but they struggle to capitalize near the basket, scoring less than six points per game.
Arkansas vs. Mississippi State Betting Analysis
Saturday’s SEC battle has major implications, with both teams looking to get back in the win column and gain momentum for the remainder of an extremely difficult conference schedule.
The Razorbacks boast an impressive tournament resume, with victories over the likes of Tennessee, Texas Tech and Louisville.
On the other hand, Jans’ Bulldogs are in big trouble from a long-term perspective, with their tournament hopes seemingly unlikely to come to fruition without winning the SEC Tournament.
While I do think the Bulldogs are due for a victory, they face a very athletic and well-coached Arkansas team with Final Four aspirations.
I expect Calipari’s bunch to get back to its winning ways following a disappointing home loss to his former Kentucky squad.
I'll reluctantly back the Hogs to cover the spread here.
I feel more confident in Arkansas winning the game outright, so I'll definitely have some exposure to the Razorbacks ML in a few parlays.
My Pick: Lean Arkansas -6.5
