Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee will open their NIT Tournament run with a Volunteer-state clash tonight.
After winning the Southern Conference regular season, the Mocs saw their NCAA Tournament hopes dashed with an overtime loss in the semifinal to Furman. However, playing their in-state rivals will get them fired up, as they face a Blue Raider team that fell short in a Conference USA semifinal comeback bid
My Chattanooga vs. Middle Tennessee predictions break down why the wrong team is favored to win this postseason showdown. Read more in my college basketball picks for Wednesday, March 19.
Who will win Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee?
I like Chattanooga to win in an upset. The Mocs run a very efficient offense, and while they take a ton of 3-point shots, they aren’t solely reliant upon them to get wins. They take care of the ball very well and rank Top 15 nationally at finishing inside the arc.
While Middle Tennessee will find offense against a leaky Chattanooga defense, I don’t think it’ll be enough. The Blue Raiders aren’t great at anything offensively and have had a lot of close games against Quad-3 opponents. Furthermore, the Blue Raiders went just 1-5 this season against Quad-2 foes, while the Mocs were 3-0.
Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee prediction
My best bet: Chattanooga moneyline (+115 at bet365)
With the spread sitting at just two points in favor of the Blue Raiders, I’ll go with the underdog to win on the road.
Chattanooga has no problem playing away from home, having won eight straight-road games heading into the NIT. Not only that, but the Mocs have been road dogs eight times this season and have covered in seven of those contests.
One way to keep a home crowd quiet is to consistently score points and limit fast-break opportunities. Chattanooga does that with high frequency, posting a solid 17.3% turnover rate away from home.
When the Mocs play away from home, they’re Top 20 nationally in effective FG%, Top 15 in 2-pt%, and take a much lower rate of long-range shots. They also defend the perimeter quite well, don’t concede a lot of free throws, and have shown an ability to defeat quality opponents.
Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee has lost six of its last 14 games, with three of those defeats coming to Quad-3 teams. The common theme in five of those six losses was a combination of poor defense and an offense that struggled to find points consistently. The other key factor in many of those defeats was an inability to force turnovers.
The Blue Raiders rank in the 300s in FT rate, 277th in 3-pt%, and well outside the Top 100 in turnover rate, offensive rebounding, and eFG%. Their defense is solid on the perimeter, but opponents score more than 41% of their points near the rim.
Middle Tennessee won’t be able to stop the likes of Bash Wieland, Frank Champion, and Trey Bonham from getting to the rim or to the charity stripe. Throw in Honor Huff making nearly 43% of his 245 long-range efforts on the season — including 42.9% away from home — and it’s hard to see how the Blue Raiders keep up behind an inconsistent offense.
Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee same-game parlay (SGP)
Chattanooga moneyline
Under 154.5
Neither team to score 40 points in the 1H
In Chattanooga’s last 10 games, there have only been four instances of a team reaching 40 points before halftime — two of which came via a 91-86 shootout with Western Carolina. Given the inconsistent offensive production by the Blue Raiders and the Mocs taking fewer 3-pointers on the road, I’ll take a lower-scoring first half.
Chattanooga also doesn’t play at a very high pace, and things tend to slow down a bit in a tournament setting. The Blue Raiders have seen 155 points scored in just three of their last 17 games, and I think the total has been bet up a bit too much after opening at 150.5.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game CBB moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your school goes up by 18+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee odds
Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee live odds
Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee opening odds
- Spread: Chattanooga +3.5 (-110) | Middle Tennessee -3.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Chattanooga +150 | Middle Tennessee -180
- Over/Under: Over 150.5 (-110) | Under 150.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of bet365
Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee betting trend to know
Chattanooga has hit the team total Over in 21 of its last 27 games (+14.40 Units / 47% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Chattanooga vs. Middle Tennessee.
How to watch Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee
| Location | Murphy Center, Murfreesboro, TN |
| Date | Tuesday, 3-18-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
