(8) Mississippi State takes on (9) Baylor in the first of Friday’s 16 March Madness first-round games.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2008. But that could change this afternoon in Raleigh against the Baylor Bears, who have been battered by injuries — including one that ended the season of forward Josh Ojianwuna.
Since winning the NCAA Tournament in 2021, Baylor has suffered three consecutive second-round exits. Given Mississippi State’s health and their battle-tested edge from SEC competition, the Bulldogs have the advantage.
Keep an eye on Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe — an explosive guard projected as a top-five pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. His season may end this afternoon, but he has a bright future in the pros.
The winner of this game will face the winner of the matchup that follows, between Duke and Mount St. Mary’s. Regardless of who advances, a deep tournament run seems unlikely.
How to Watch Mississippi State vs. Baylor
The Mississippi State-Baylor game tips off at 12:15 PM Eastern and airs nationally on CBS. The network TV broadcast means there are multiple ways to watch for free.
If you have an antenna, you can watch the game for free over the air.
The March Madness Live app or website offers this and other CBS games for free.
The first-round game also streams on the CBS, Paramount+, and Sling apps and websites.
(8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Baylor
Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 12:15 PM Eastern
Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
TV: CBS
Streaming: CBS, Paramount+, Sling, March Madness Live App, DirecTV Stream (free trial), Hulu + Live TV (free trial), YouTube TV (free trial)
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