No. 23 Florida Gators visit Mississippi State Bulldogs in SEC clash on CBS

By Scott Matthews

The No. 23 Florida Gators have a lot to play for when they visit the unranked Mississippi State Bulldogs in a nationally televised SEC conference clash at Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday (1 pm ET, CBS).

Florida has not lost in six road games this season, the only SEC team without a setback away from home. The last time the Gators won six straight on the road was eight seasons ago, and the last time they won this many road games in a season was 2005-06, when they beat out every other team in March Madness and won it all at the NCAA Tournament.

Another source of motivation for the Gators is that Mississippi State was the last SEC West team to beat them – but it’s when that loss occurred that will give Florida its best and biggest reason to blow out the Bulldogs Saturday.

Mississippi State knocked Florida out of the SEC Tournament last March with a 75-69 win, thanks in large part to the Bulldogs’ Barry Stewart hitting five free throws in the last minute. It was Mississippi State’s third win over the Gators in the last four meetings.

And the Bulldogs (10-9 SU, 3-10-1 ATS, 2-3 SEC) appear ripe for the picking, losing seven of their past 10. They’re also at the bottom of most SEC defensive categories, giving up a league-worst 70.6 points per game.

Florida (16-4 SU, 6-8 ATS, 5-1 SEC) has won three straight, the latest a 104-91 win against the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday. The Gators cashed as a 3-point road underdog.

Gator guards Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton each had season highs with 24 points.

The Bulldogs’ latest loss was an 81-74 setback against the Vanderbilt Commodores on Thursday.

I really like the Gators in this one as a 6-point favorite. Check out my latest video at www.smpicks.com.