Middle Tennessee will go down in history for its monumental upset of Michigan State in last year’s NCAAB tournament, but few remember the Blue Raiders’ innocuous second game when they got beaten easily. This year’s Blue Raiders team is out for more than a one-and-done Madness with the team going 20-1 in conference play including the C-USA tourney. Middle Tennessee is in prime upset territory taking on Minnesota in the Round of 64.
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 10 games.
- Minnesota is 2-6 SU and ATS in its last 8 games in March.
- Middle Tennessee is 10-0 SU in its last 10 games.
Middle Tennessee dominates inside the arc, scoring 58 percent of its points from two-point range. The senior frontcourt duo of JaCorey Williams and Reggie Upshaw has averaged a combined 31.8 points and 14.1 rebounds, with both players shooting over 52 percent from the field. The Blue Raiders defense looks good statistically, and they are good, but those numbers may be inflated by playing in the offense-deficient C-USA.
To be frank, nobody expected the Golden Gophers to be nearly as good as they have been. The team had eight wins last season and Richard Pitino kicked multiple players to the curb but here Minnesota is. Jordan Murphy has found more consistency in his game late in the season, as the sophomore has averaged 15.2 points and 12.2 rebounds in the past 10 and has only been held to single-digit points once in that span.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The 24-9 and 19-12 ATS Minnesota Golden Gophers will face the 30-4 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, who own a 23-10 ATS mark on the season. In totals betting, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are 18-13 on the OVER/UNDER so far this season while the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are 12-20-1.
The power rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the Minnesota Golden Gophers rated this week at No. 118 and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders sitting at No. 4.
Statistical Matchup
Scoring and defensive stats point to some betting edges in this matchup. The game features Minnesota's No. 101-ranked scoring average of 75.27 PPG, against a Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders defense rated No. 18 and allowing 63.32 PPG. The Minnesota Golden Gophers FG% has averaged 43.48% to date this season, less than the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders shooters have managed so far (48.98% per game).
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Blue Raiders grabbed a 83-72 win over the Thundering Herd on Saturday, behind a 30-point effort from Giddy Potts at Legacy Arena.
The Golden Gophers endured a 84-77 loss at the hands of the Wolverines on Saturday, despite a 23-point effort from Nate Mason at Verizon Center.
