MTSU Blue Raiders vs Old Dominion Monarchs Prediction, 2/26/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: MTSU Blue Raiders vs Old Dominion Monarchs

Date: Friday, February 26, 2021

Location: Chartway Arena in Norfolk, VA

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: MTSU (+9.5)

Chartway Arena is the site where and the Old Dominion Monarchs (12-6) will play the MTSU Blue Raiders (5-13) on Friday. Old Dominion opens this matchup as 9.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 134.

MTSU heads into this game with a win-loss mark of 5-13 this year. They average 63.6 pts per contest (326th in D-1) while hitting 39.8% from the field. The Blue Raiders are shooting 32.9% on shots from downtown (136 of 414) and 67.6% from the charity stripe. As a unit, MTSU is grabbing 33.5 boards per contest and has accounted for 177 assists for the season, which is 314th in D-1 in terms of passing the ball. They are losing possession via turnover 15.3 times per game and as a basketball team they are committing 16.8 personal fouls every game. When they are on defense, the Blue Raiders have forced 14.6 turnovers on a nightly basis and they draw 14.2 personal fouls. They are 117th in D-1 in giving up assists to their opponents with 224 surrendered on the year. The Blue Raiders defensively are giving up a field goal percentage of 46.6% (469 of 1,007) and they relinquish 35.3 boards per game as a basketball team. They give up 30.9% on shots from distance while they are 195th in college basketball in points per game allowed (70.4).

The MTSU Blue Raiders faced the Marshall Thundering Herd and went home with a loss by a final score of 96-85 in their last game. MTSU walked away from the contest with a 50.0% FG percentage (33 of 66) and buried 12 of 24 shots from distance. When they shot from the free throw line, the Blue Raiders buried 7 of 9 attempts for a percentage of 77.8%. In regard to getting rebounds, they compiled 28 with 10 of them being of the offensive variety. They also dished out 12 assists for the matchup in addition to forcing the opposition into 15 turnovers and earning 10 steals. When discussing defense, MTSU allowed the other team to go 60.7% from the field on 37 of 61 shooting. Marshall doled out 22 dimes and had 7 steals for this contest. In addition, Marshall snagged 26 boards (6 offensive, 20 defensive) and earned 7 rejections. Marshall finished 85.7% from the charity stripe by converting 12 of their 14 attempts. They converted 10 out of their 28 shots from beyond the arc.

Jalen Jordan is someone who played a role for the matchup. He recorded 25 points on 9 of 11 shooting. He played for 35 mins played and grabbed 2 rebounds. Jordan ended up shooting 81.8% from the field and also totaled 3 assists. An additional guy that was a factor in this matchup for the Blue Raiders was Jordan Davis. He snagged 3 rebounds in his 37 min on the hardwood. He finished the game shooting 46.7% from the field in this contest by connecting on 7-of-15 (17 points). Overall, Davis accounted for 4 assists.

Old Dominion has a record of 12-6 so far this season. Old Dominion has totaled 1,248 points on the year (69.3 per game) and they average 36.8 boards per contest. The Monarchs have committed 16.1 personal fouls every game while shooting 70.5% from the charity stripe. As an offense, the Monarchs are hitting on 44.6% from the field, which has them ranked 159th in the nation. They are assisting teammates 12.8 times per contest (214th in the country) and they lose possession via turnover 13.4 times per contest. The Monarchs defensively are ranked 144th in Division 1 in points per game surrendered with 69.2. The Old Dominion defense gives up 34.6% from downtown (155 of 448) and opponents are making 68.0% of their foul shots. They relinquish 13.4 dimes and 33.4 rebounds per game, which is 213th and 109th in the country. They are able to force 12.9 turnovers on a nightly basis and have let teams shoot 42.9% from the floor (161st in D-1).

The last time they took the court, the Old Dominion Monarchs walked away with a victory by a final of 65-58 when they faced the UAB Blazers. The Monarchs corralled 28 defensive boards and 10 offensive rebounds totaling 38 in this game. They also gave up possession of the ball 15 times, while recording 10 steals for the matchup. The Blazers committed 17 fouls in this game which got the Monarchs to the free throw line for a total of 21 shots. They were able to make 18 of the free throw attempts for a rate of 85.7%. When it comes to shots from beyond the perimeter, Old Dominion converted 7 out of their 15 tries (46.7%). When all was said and done, the Monarchs finished the game shooting 20 out of 51 from the field which gave them a rate of 39.2%. The Monarchs permitted the Blazers to bury 22 out of 60 attempts from the floor which gave them a percentage of 36.7% in this matchup. They finished 26.7% from three-point range by connecting on 4 of 15 and walked away from this one shooting 10 of 17 at the charity stripe (58.8%). With respect to attacking the glass, Old Dominion allowed UAB to grab 29 in total (9 on the offensive glass).

Xavier Green ended up being a major contributor for the Monarchs in this contest. He converted 6 of 8 in this game for a rate of 75.0%, and earned 5 rebounds. Green earned 16 points in his 39 mins of playing time and had 1 assist for this contest. An additional guy that played a role for Old Dominion was Malik Curry. He wrapped the game up with 5 assists in his 29 mins played, and he put in 2 out of 10 from the floor. Curry finished going 20.0% from the field as well as contributing 11 points and 4 rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Old Dominion (-9.5)

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