The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles and the Murray State Racers meet Saturday in college basketball action from CFSB Center. 

Tennessee Tech limps into this one at 2-14 so far. The Eagles have lost five of their last six games, most recently to Austin Peay. As for Murray State, they’re sitting at 5-7 this year. The Racers are 1-5 in their last six games and coming off a loss to Jacksonville State. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Tennessee Tech opened their year on a nine-game losing streak before finally getting a win over Southeast Missouri State on December 30. Four more losses to Eastern Illinois, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky and Belmont came before a win over Tennessee State, and the Eagles then lost to Austin Peay in their last game. 

In Thursday’s 72-69 loss to the Governors, Tennessee Tech’s Jr. Clay posted 29 points with three rebounds and two assists to lead the team. Damaria Franklin was also in double-figures there with 22 points, six rebounds and one assist in 34 minutes. 

Over on the Murray State side, they started out fairly strong this year at 4-2. The Racers then lost four straight to Austin Peay, Belmont, Morehead State and Eastern Illinois. Since then it’s been a win over Tennessee-Martin and a loss to Jacksonville State for the Racers. 

In Thursday’s 85-82 loss to the Gamecocks, Murray State’s Chico Carter posted 21 points with two rebounds and one assist, while KJ Williams doubled up on 19 points and 11 rebounds. Tevin Bitemn chipped in with 14 points, six assists and three rebounds as well. 

The Racers are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games overall and 12-4 ATS in their last 16 home games. Murray State is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games and the under is 18-6-2 in their last 26 overall. 

Meanwhile, the Eagles are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five Saturday games and 3-1-1 ATS in their last five after a straight-up loss. Tennessee Tech is 3-0-1 ATS in their last four after an ATS win and the over is 9-4 in their last 13 overall. 

PICK: I’m going to take a stab on Tennessee Tech here. The Eagles’ record looks ugly, but if you take a closer glance at their final scores this season, Tennessee Tech has been able to hang around in quite a few games. Murray State has been scoring well over their last pair and is probably the better team on paper, but I like the Eagles to eke into a cover.