The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and Liberty Flames meet on Thursday in college basketball action at Murphy Center. Here’s a Middle Tennessee vs Liberty prediction. This article will include a Middle Tennessee vs Liberty Pick.
Liberty Flames Betting Preview
The Liberty Flames (23-6, 16-9-1 ATS) were in an excellent run of six consecutive wins, but couldn’t make it seven in a row as Kennesaw State stopped them with an 85-80 victory. Liberty’s previous loss came to Jacksonville State, but the Flames did get revenge with a narrow 59-55 win. Liberty is 2nd in the CUSA Standings with the same record as Middle Tennessee and just 0.5 games behind the leaders Jacksonville State.
Liberty averages 75.4 PPG (142nd) and allows 61.7 PPG (8th). The Flames are 332nd in rebounds (33.3) and 40th in assists (16.4). Kaden Metheny leads the team with 13.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 2.0 APG. Taelon Peter follows him with 12.8 PPG and 3.9 RPG, while Zach Cleveland has 10.4 PPG, a team-high 6.5 RP, and a team-high 5.0 APG.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Betting Preview
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (20-9, 15-10-2 ATS) are playing well late in the season as they won five of the previous six games. Middle Tennessee is on a three-game winning streak; the Blue Raiders beat Sam Houston, New Mexico State, and UTEP. Middle Tennessee is 3rd in the CUSA Standings, so this game is a literal battle for the No. 2 seed.
Middle Tennessee is averaging 75.9 PPG (128th) and is allowing 71.4 PPG (161st). The Blue Raiders are getting 38.0 RPG (60th) and dish out 12.5 APG (308th). Jestin Porter is the team’s top scorer with 15.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and a team-high 1.2 SPG. Essam Mostafa adds 13.8 PPG and a team-high 8.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.0 BPG, while Camryn Weston contributes 11.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, a team-high 3.5 APG, and 1.1 SPG.
Why Liberty will beat Middle Tennessee
- Liberty has won each of its last seven night games.
- Middle Tennessee has lost four of its last five night games following an overtime win.
- Middle Tennessee has lost the first half in 14 of its last 15 Thursday games against the Conference USA.
Why Middle Tennessee will beat Liberty
- Middle Tennessee has won 31 of its last 36 games against the Conference USA at Charles M. Murphy Athletic Center.
- The home team has won the first half in each of Liberty’s last seven games.
Total Points Facts
- Five of Middle Tennessee’s last six games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 144+ points.
- Six of Liberty’s last eight games against Conference opponents have produced a total of 133 or fewer points.
Matchup/League Facts
- Middle Tennessee ranks 37th among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point percentage this season (30.7%).
- Middle Tennessee ranks 44th among Division 1 teams for blocks per game this season (4.5).
- Liberty ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent assists per game this season (9.3).
- Liberty ranks 1st among Division 1 teams for opponent three-point percentage this season (27.7%).
Middle Tennessee vs Liberty Prediction
It’s going to be a tight clash that could be decided with a single basket in the dying moments of the game. I am going to avoid betting on the winner here as I cannot pick a winner. I do expect a hard-fought tilt with some great defensive showings, especially from Liberty, a top-10 defense in the country. The first H2H meeting of the season went Under, while Under occurred in seven of Liberty’s last ten games. Middle Tennessee has hit the Game Total Under in 8 of its last 13 games at home, while Liberty has hit the Game Total Under in 17 of its last 29 games. Back Under.