Charlotte 49ers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Prediction & Game Preview - 2/13/2022

Time: 3 p.m. ET

Venue: Murphy Center, Murfreesboro, TN

Where to watch: ESPN+

DraftKings: Middle Tennessee -7.5

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: Middle Tennessee -7.5

Charlotte: 13-10 (6-5 C-USA)

Middle Tennessee: 16-7 (7-3 C-USA)

Charlotte: lost three of five

Middle Tennessee: won seven of eight

Sunday is certainly your day if you love Conference USA basketball. We keep the fun times rolling with this matchup between the Charlotte 49ers and the Middle Tennessee state blue Raiders, and the home team continues to impress and that is the way that I will be rolling in this matchup.

Middle Tennessee might be one of the more unsung teams in this conference, and as we've seen throughout this season, the conference is pretty stacked at the top and has the potential to be a two-team invite for the NCAA tournament should things bounce the way that they are.

It wouldn't be the first time Middle Tennessee found its way to the NCAA tournament but we can never count them out because of the pedigree and the history involving this program. And right now the blue Raiders are playing as better has any team in the conference right now having won four of five coming off a 15 point victory over Old Dominion on Thursday.

Eli Lawrence led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds and the blue Raiders won despite shooting just 39% from the field. It was the defense that paved the way for Middle Tennessee State on Thursday, holding the monarchs to just 34% shooting from the floor and forcing them to miss ten of their 12 three-point attempts.

That victory was actually Middle Tennessee's first cover in three games. They failed to cover as 12 1/2 point favorites against UTSA, and we're 11 point underdogs in a 22-point loss to presumable conference favorite UAB.

That minor hiccup for Middle Tennessee has not deterred them from being a betting darling on the books. In 21 games that Middle Tennessee has been on the books for, they have covered in 14 of them and have pushed two of them. When it comes to actually find teams that may be worth taking a flyer on every now and then, Middle Tennessee has proven that to be the case.

This game will go a long way in determining who finishes first place in the East division. Middle Tennessee is 7-3 in conference play, while Charlotte is not far behind at 6-5 with Florida Atlantic chilling in-between at 8-4.

But considering these two teams are meeting for the first time this season, this game may not have as much weight for the home team as it would the road team. Middle Tennessee at this juncture can afford another loss. 

They'd prefer not to go that route and just went out to ensure at least a solid chance of making the NCAA tournament, but the Raiders don't necessarily need to win this game. More So what I mean is that the pressure is on the road team than it is the home team. Hence why you see the books favoring Middle Tennessee at around 6 1/2 to 7 points heading into this game.

Charlotte has lost three of five coming into this game and is coming off a five-point loss to Louisiana Tech on Thursday in which the 49ers were also 4-point underdogs. Got to love those bad beats, eh?

Despite a valiant effort from Jahmir Young scoring a game-high 28 points to go with five rebounds and five assists, the free-throw game plagued Charlotte late. Despite going a respectable 10 of 12, Louisiana Tech went 18 of 21, clearly showing that it was just enough to squeeze out that narrow 5-point win. There’s no shame in losing to LA Tech; the Bulldogs are also one of those better teams in the conference with an 18-6 record.

But Charlotte has also been inconsistent on the books, going 11-12 against the spread this season, but the 49ers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven following an outright loss. To that extent, I would take Charlotte given how well they’ve hung with the better teams, but this is normally the time when Middle Tennessee State tends to play its best basketball. 

If it comes down to a scoring affair, Middle Tennessee has the edge given the over is 5-1 in MTSU’s last six. I trust that well-balanced offense to carry them over Young’s heroic efforts. Middle Tennessee by 10

Charlotte is 86-101 ATS as a road underdog or pick.

Charlotte is 118-165 ATS following three straight conference games.

Middle Tennessee is 8-2 ATS this season as a favorite.

The under is 64-39 when Middle Tennessee makes 78 percent of their free throws or better in the previous game.

PG: Jahmir Young

SG: Austin Butler

SF: Clyde Trapp

PF: Jackson Threadgill

C: Aly Khalifa

PG: Donovan Sims

SG: Josh Jefferson

SF: Eli Lawrence

PF: DeAndre Dishman

C: Tyler Millin

Points: Jahmir Young -- 19.3

Rebounds: Austin Butler -- 6.1

Assists: Aly Khalifa -- 3.7

Points: Josh Jefferson -- 14.0

Rebounds: DeAndre Dishman -- 4.6

Assists: Donovan Sims -- 2.7