The Buccaneers hope to be lousy hosts on Wednesday as the USC Upstate Spartans pay a visit to ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center on the college basketball betting menu.

East Tennessee State battles the Spartans, currently sitting with a 8-6 mark (1-0 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals bettors, are 0-0 for the Buccaneers and 1-0 for the Spartans.



View USC Upstate vs East Tennessee State Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game puts the Buccaneers, most recently No. 118 in the Odds Shark power rankings, up against the Spartans, who rate No. 187 in the latest survey. Meanwhile, math and computer-based handicapping simulations run on this game predict a potential 73-72 victory for the Spartans.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up East Tennessee State's No. 169 nationally ranked offense (68.9 points per game) against a Spartans defense that sits as the No. 246 at 70.1 PPG. The Buccaneers have been averaging 42.8% from the field, less than the Spartans have managed so far this season (45.5% on average).

Defensively, USC Upstate features the nation's No. 255-rated defense on the road, allowing 75 points per game. East Tennessee State, meanwhile, comes in at No. 49 nationally in scoring at home.

USC Upstate lost its last outing, a 72-66 result against South Carolina on December 31. USC Upstate suffered a 72-66 loss against South Carolina on Saturday, getting 20 points from Torrey Craig in a losing effort at Colonial Life Arena.

In their last action, East Tennessee State was a 65-58 loser on the road against Clemson. Adam Sollazzo scored 27 points for East Tennessee State on Sunday, but the Tigers managed a 65-58 victory over the Buccaneers at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Next up:
USC Upstate home to Kennesaw State, Saturday, January 7
East Tennessee State home to Mercer, Saturday, January 7