Game Information
Missouri Tigers (13-4) at LSU Tigers (12-5)
Time: 2:30pm CT Saturday
How to watch: SEC Network
DraftKings Odds
Spread: LSU -4.5
Total: 154.5
KenPom Projection
LSU 80, Mizzou 76
Mizzou Looks To Go 4-1 In SEC
The Missouri Tigers hope to continue their strong start to conference play when they travel to meet the LSU Tigers on Saturday.
Mizzou is 3-1 in the SEC and sits in a five-way tie atop the league standings heading into the weekend.
Stone, Pierce Making Massive Difference
Missouri is coming off an impressive 84-74 win over Auburn this past Wednesday thanks in large part to two players who missed much of the early portion of the season due to injury. Jayden Stone and Trent Pierce combined for 40 points against Auburn, including shooting a sizzling 7-of-12 from three-point range.
The Tigers shot 9-of-19 (47.4%) from deep as a team against Auburn, and they could use more of that against an LSU team that ranks 197th in the country in three-point field goal percentage defense with opponents shooting 34.2% from long range.
LSU In Desperation Mode
LSU is coming off a brutal home loss on Wednesday against Kentucky. The Tigers led by 16 at the half before UK stormed back and won the game on a buzzer beater. The defeat dropped LSU to 0-4 in the SEC, leaving the Tigers as the only team in the league without a conference win this season.
LSU will have a big advantage on Saturday having shot 77% from the free throw line this season. Missouri is one of the worst teams in the country from the charity stripe at 66%.
My Lean
I don’t like this spot for Mizzou. LSU is going to be in absolute desperation mode at 0-4 in the SEC, and Missouri may be a little fat and happy after the nice win over Auburn.
I also don’t think this is a good stylistic matchup for Mizzou. Mark Mitchell and company like to bully teams in the paint, ranking 11th in the country in two-point field goal percentage. But interior defense is a strength for their opponent, as LSU is a top 30 team in the nation in two-point field goal percentage defense.
Plus, in a game with a tight spread, I’d want to be on the team that hits its free throws down the stretch.
Lean: LSU -4.5 at -112 on DraftKings
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Wednesday night on the STL Sports Central YouTube channel. Follow him on X @GamblingDads, and click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Get Eric's picks for all sports by following him in the Action Network app with the username "esontag". Disclaimer