The East Tennessee State Buccaneers host Mercer on Saturday, looking to build on their 9-18 mark against the 17-9 Bears in college hoops action at ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center.

The Buccaneers are 9-18 so far on the season, and 1-2 ATS vs. the number. The Bears, meanwhile, are 17-9 and 0-3 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen East Tennessee State go 1-2 and the Bears go 2-0 on the totals.



View Mercer vs East Tennessee State Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The power rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the Buccaneers rated this week at No. 322 and the Bears sitting at No. 174. It may or may not play a role in Odds Shark score prediction modelling that produced a 70-56 result in favor of the Bears.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits East Tennessee State's No. 269-ranked offense, averaging 63.4 PPG, against a Bears defense that ranks No. 14 at 57.5 PPG. The Buccaneers field goal percentage has averaged 41.2% so far, less than the Bears marksmen have achieved on the year, 42.1% per game.

Defensively, Mercer features the nation's No. 34-rated defense on the road, allowing 61.6 points per game. East Tennessee State, meanwhile, comes in at No. 154 nationally in scoring at home.

Mercer was a 70-59 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against USC Upstate. Mercer got 18 points from Bud Thomas en route to a 70-59 victory over USC Upstate on Thursday at G. B. Hodge Center.

East Tennessee State was a 79-70 Sportsbook in its last match at home against Kennesaw State. The Buccaneers grabbed a 79-70 win over the Owls on Thursday, behind a 23-point effort from John Walton at ETSU/MSHA Athletic Center.

Next up:
Mercer home to Lipscomb, Thursday, February 21
East Tennessee State at North Florida, Thursday, February 21