Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/18/25
Planning on watching today’s Hilltoppers and Blue Raiders game? Catch the action at Murphy Athletic Center in Murfreesboro, TN, as the Blue Raiders hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 154.5 points, and Middle Tennessee is favored by -3.5 to win at home against Western Kentucky.
WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS VS MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders -3.5
This game will be played at Murphy Athletic Center at 7:00 ET on Saturday, January 18th.
WHY BET THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 78-69 in favor of the Blue Raiders.
- Not only will Middle Tennessee pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -3.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 154.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.
Does Western Kentucky Have a Shot at a Road Win?
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Recent Game/Games
Western Kentucky improved to 9-6 on the season with an 85-69 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday. The Hilltoppers, playing at home, were -7.5 point favorites and covered the spread. The total points for the game were 154, falling short of the 162.5 O/U line.
Western Kentucky took control early, leading 40-25 at halftime. They scored 45 points in the 2nd half but allowed 44 points, which may be a concern moving forward.
Western Kentucky put up 85 points in their last game, shooting 42.6% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range, connecting on 11 of 26 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 52.5%, and they hit 71% of their free throws, going 22 for 31 from the line.
Adrian Wooley led the way with 27 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 53.3% from the field and 42.9% from deep. Tyrone Marshall Jr. added 20 points, hitting 50% of his threes, while Enoch Kalambay contributed 19 points and 8 rebounds, making 66.7% of his three-point attempts.
Western Kentucky’s defense gave up 69 points in their last game, with opponents shooting 42% from the field, connecting on 26 of 61 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 15 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, also at a 42% clip.
From three-point range, Western Kentucky’s opponents hit 11 of 26 shots, good for 42%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 31 times, where they converted 22 free throws, shooting 71%. Western Kentucky allowed 9 offensive rebounds in the game.
Will Middle Tennessee Secure A Victory as Home Favorites?
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Recent Game/Games
Middle Tennessee improved to 10-5 on the season with an 81-64 win over Jacksonville State on Saturday. The Blue Raiders were favored by 5.5 points and covered the spread with the victory.
Middle Tennessee led 37-27 at halftime and added 44 points in the 2nd half while allowing 37. The total points for the game were 145, just under the O/U line of 145.5.
Middle Tennessee put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 46.8% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.2%. They connected on 58.3% of their two-point attempts, while hitting 30.8% from beyond the arc, making 8 of 26 threes. At the free-throw line, they shot 73.9%, going 17 for 23.
Essam Mostafa was dominant inside, shooting 83.3% from the field, finishing with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Jaron Pierre Jr. also added 22 points and 9 boards, despite shooting 36.4%. Jestin Porter led the way with 29 points, hitting 6 threes at a 42.9% clip, though he shot 40.9% overall. The Blue Raiders grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and dished out 16 assists in the win.
Middle Tennessee put up 64 points in their last game, shooting 46% from the field on 29 of 62 attempts. They were effective inside, hitting 58% of their two-point shots, going 21 for 36.
From beyond the arc, the Blue Raiders shot 30%, making 8 of 26 three-point attempts. They also went to the free-throw line 23 times, converting 17 of those for a 73% free-throw percentage. Offensively, they grabbed 13 rebounds.