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The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (9-3) and the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers (10-0) meet Monday. Tip-off from Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center is set for 7 p.m. ET (SEC Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Middle Tennessee vs. Tennessee odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The Blue Raiders picked up a 67-65 win against Lipscomb last time out on Thursday, pushing at most shops as a 2-point favorite. The Under (148) has cashed in 2 in a row and 3 of the past 4 outings. MTSU is 4-1-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 7 games, while going 6-2-2 ATS in 10 outings this season.
The Volunteers crushed Western Carolina 84-36 as a 36-point favorite Tuesday while the Under (142.5) cashed. Tennessee is 8-1-1 ATS in the past 10 games, while the Under is on a 6-1 run in the previous 7 outings.
This is the first meeting since March 19, 2012, a 71-64 victory by the Blue Raiders. The Vols are 5-1 straight up and 4-2 ATS in the past 6 meetings since Nov. 10, 2006.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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Middle Tennessee at Tennessee odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds. Lines last updated at 10:55 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Middle Tennessee +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000) | Tennessee -10000 (bet $10,000 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Middle Tennessee +26.5 (-110) | Tennessee -26.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 142.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Middle Tennessee at Tennessee picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 82, Middle Tennessee 58
Moneyline
Tennessee (-10000) will cost you 100 times your potential return, and it shouldn’t need to be said, but that’s way too much risk and not enough reward.
Over the long term, even if you’re backing the top-ranked team, there is never a reason to play such a heavy favorite. That’s amateur hour.
PASS.
Against the spread
Take MIDDLE TENNESSEE +26.5 (-110) catching the points in this pre-holiday battle at Tennessee -26.5 (-110).
The Blue Raiders have played well, including outright wins as underdogs against Abilene Christian, Ohio and UAB. While that’s not exactly on par with the top-ranked Vols, don’t expect Middle Tennessee to be fazed. It should be able to hang around and keep it within 26 points.
Over/Under
UNDER 142.5 (-115) is a strong play.
The Under has cashed in 3 in a row for the top-ranked Vols, while going 6-1 in the past 7 games. Tennessee’s defense is phenomenal, allowing 56.0 points per game, which is 2nd in the nation. The Vols are No. 1 in defensive field-goal percentage (33.9%) and defensive 3-pointer percentage (24.4%).
The Under has cashed in 3 of the past 4 games for Middle Tennessee, too, allowing 69 or more points in 4 of the past 5 contests.
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