Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs FIU Golden Panthers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/2/25

The Blue Raiders and Golden Panthers are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Golden Panthers will host the game at Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, FL. Middle Tennessee is favored by -3.5 in this Conference USA conference contest against FIU. The game’s over/under currently sits at 147.5 points.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS VS FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: FIU Golden Panthers +3.5

This game will be played at Ocean Bank Convocation Center at 7:00 ET on Thursday, January 2nd.

WHY BET THE FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Golden Panthers.
• Not only will FIU pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +3.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.

Can the Blue Raiders Live Up to the Hype on the Road?

Middle Tennessee fell to 7-4 on the season after an 82-64 loss to Tennessee on Monday. The Blue Raiders were +27 point underdogs going into the game, but they managed to cover the spread.

Middle Tennessee led 40-34 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 24 points while allowing 48. The game’s total points of 146 went over the 144.5 O/U line.

Middle Tennessee’s offense struggled in their last game, shooting just 40.7% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc, finishing with 64 points. Their effective field goal percentage was 47.5%, and they managed only 6 offensive rebounds and 5 assists as a team.

Camryn Weston and Chaz Lanier led the way, with Weston scoring 24 points on 9/18 shooting, including 3/6 from three. Lanier added 23 points, hitting 5 of 10 from deep. Zakai Zeigler contributed 17 points and dished out 15 assists, despite shooting just 1/5 from three-point range.

Middle Tennessee’s defense struggled, giving up 82 points on 48% shooting from the field. They allowed 17 two-point baskets on 34 attempts, a 50% success rate for their opponents.

The Blue Raiders also had trouble defending the perimeter, as their opponents hit 10 of 22 three-pointers, good for 45%. From the free-throw line, Middle Tennessee’s defense sent their opponents to the line 23 times, where they converted 18 free throws, shooting 78%.

Will FIU Win at Home?

FIU Golden Panthers Recent Game/Games

FIU improved to 4-7 on the season with an 80-66 win over Utah Tech on Monday. The Golden Panthers were -5.5 favorites going into the game and covered the spread with the 14-point victory.

FIU dominated the first half, leading 47-19 at halftime, but allowed 47 points in the 2nd half while scoring 33. The O/U line was set at 146.5, and the game ended just under that at 146 points.

FIU’s offense was clicking in their latest game, putting up 80 points on 54.5% shooting from the field. They were efficient from deep, hitting 43.8% of their threes, and their effective field goal percentage stood at 61.8%.

Beon Riley led the way with 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Noa Gonsalves added 18 points. Travis Gray was also a key contributor, scoring 15 points and hitting 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.

Despite FIU’s defensive struggles, they managed to hold their opponent to 66 points. However, they allowed a 54% shooting performance, with 30 made field goals on 55 attempts.

FIU’s defense gave up 23 two-pointers on 39 attempts (59%) and 7 threes on 16 attempts (43%). The opponent also went 13/22 from the free-throw line, shooting 59%. FIU allowed 7 offensive rebounds.