Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Tennessee Volunteers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/23/24

Looking to win big? The Blue Raiders and Volunteers face off at 7:00 ET on SECN. The Volunteers are hosting the game at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, TN. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 142.5 points, and Tennessee is favored by -26.5 vs. Middle Tennessee.

MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS VS TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders +26.5

This game will be played at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center at 7:00 ET on Monday, December 23rd.

WHY BET THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 75-72 in favor of the Volunteers.
• Even though we have Tennessee winning straight-up, we like Middle Tennessee at +26.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 142.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Will Middle Tennessee Win on the Road?

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Recent Game/Games

Middle Tennessee improved to 7-3 on the season with a narrow 67-65 win over Lipscomb on Thursday. The Blue Raiders were favored by 2.5 points going into the game but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game ended at 132, falling short of the O/U line of 148.5.

Middle Tennessee led 37-30 at halftime but allowed Lipscomb to score 35 points in the second half while managing just 30 points themselves. Despite the close call, the Blue Raiders held on for the win.

Middle Tennessee struggled offensively in their last game, shooting just 38.1% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc. Their effective field goal percentage was 42.9%, and they hit only 59.1% of their free throws. The Blue Raiders managed 19 offensive rebounds and finished with just 8 assists.

Jacob Ognacevic was a bright spot, scoring 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 1-of-3 from three-point range. Jestin Porter added 14 points, despite shooting 4-of-14 overall and 1-of-6 from deep. Essam Mostafa contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Gyasi Powell chipped in 11 points, hitting 2-of-5 from three.

Middle Tennessee’s defense held their opponents to 65 points, with a field goal percentage of 38% (24/63). They limited two-point shooting to 18/42 (42%).

From beyond the arc, the Blue Raiders allowed 6 threes on 21 attempts (28%). Their opponents shot 59% from the free-throw line, making 13 of 22.

Can the Volunteers Secure a Win at Home?

Tennessee improved to 11-0 this season with an 84-36 win over Western Carolina on Tuesday. The Volunteers, who were heavy favorites at -36.5, covered the spread with the win.

Tennessee led 38-15 at halftime and continued their dominance in the 2nd half, outscoring the Catamounts 46-21. The game’s total points ended at 120, falling short of the 142.5 over/under line.

Tennessee put up 84 points in their last game, shooting 46.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 52.2%. They hit 57.1% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from deep, connecting on just 29.6% of their threes (8/27). At the free-throw line, the Volunteers were efficient, making 12 of 14 attempts (85.7%).

The Volunteers dished out 22 assists and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds. Chaz Lanier led the way with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 42.1% overall and 42.9% from three (3/7). Jordan Gainey added 17 points, hitting 75% of his shots and 50% from beyond the arc (2/4), while Darlinstone Dubar contributed 13 points, shooting 62.5% from the field.

Despite Tennessee’s defensive efforts, they gave up 36 points in their last game. The Volunteers allowed their opponent to shoot 46% from the field, with 32 made baskets on 69 attempts.

From two-point range, Tennessee’s defense allowed 24 makes on 42 attempts, a 57% shooting rate. They also gave up 8 threes on 27 attempts, with their opponent shooting 29% from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, Tennessee’s opponent shot 85%, making 12 of 14 attempts. The Volunteers also allowed 14 offensive rebounds.