Middle Tennessee vs Liberty Prediction College Basketball Picks 1/4/25

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are visiting the Liberty Flames on Saturday, January 4th at the Liberty Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Liberty Flames Prediction. We will examine:

The Liberty Flames’ recent form and player performance

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders’ recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Liberty Flames

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Recent betting trends in games played between Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and Liberty Flames

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Liberty Flames game

Liberty Flames Preview

The Liberty Flames have a 12-2 record this season and are sitting in the 7th place of the USA. Liberty is coming off a 70-71 loss by Western Kentucky. The Flames are 8-3 against the spread, and 5-6 in over/under while having a 6-1 home record. 

Offensively, Liberty is averaging 81.4 points per game, which ranks 65th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 58.2 points per game, which is the 6th-best in the nation. The Flames shoot 51.3% from the field, which is the 5th-best nationally, and 39% from beyond the arc (21st). The Flames shoot 66.3% from the free-throw line (308th) and are grabbing 36.1 rebounds per game (202nd).

Kaden Metheny leads Liberty in scoring this season, with an average of 14.2 points, while Owen Aguino adds 9.9 points and 6 rebounds per game. 

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Preview

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders have a 10-4 record this season and are sitting in third place in the USA. Middle Tennessee is coming off a 73-69 win in Florida International. The Blue Raiders are 8-2-2 against the spread, and 6-6 in over/under while having a 3-2 road record.

Offensively, Middle Tennessee averages 79.5 points per game, which ranks 95th in the nation. Defensively, they allow 71.1 points per game (179th). The Blue Raiders shoot 46.2% from the field (130th) and 31.4% from beyond the arc (289th). The Blue Raiders shoot 67.9% from the free throw line (278th) and are grabbing 40.2 rebounds per game (33rd).

Jestin Porter leads Middle Tennessee in scoring this season, with an average of 15.2 points, while Essam Mostafa adds 12.5 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds. Middle Tennessee will take on Kennesaw State after this game.

Why the Liberty Flames will win

• Liberty has won 27 of its last 30 night games at Liberty Arena (Lynchburg).
• Middle Tennessee has lost each of its last six Saturday night road games against the Conference USA.
• Liberty has won the first half in each of its last eight games at Liberty Arena (Lynchburg) against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Why the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders will win

• Middle Tennessee has won eight of its last nine night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
• Liberty has lost each of its last four night games against the Conference USA.
• Middle Tennessee has won the first half in four of its last five night games.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Liberty Flames Prediction

Both teams were tied 1-1 wins in their two previous meetings last season, with each team winning and covering the spread at home. Middle Tennessee won 69-61 and Liberty won 88-53. In this Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs Liberty Flames Prediction, Liberty is coming as -8.5 home favorites. Liberty is better both offensively, scoring 1.9 points more than Middle Tennessee, and defensively, allowing 12.9 points less. The Flames are winning by an average of 13.2 points this season, while the Blue Raiders are winning by an average of 8.4 points. Liberty has been playing excellent basketball this season, as they combine the 6th-best defense in the nation, with the 5th-best field goal percentage, and the 21st-best 3-point percentage. The Flames destroyed the Blue Raiders last season by 25 points at home, and I expect them to get the job done today as well. Take the Liberty Flames and lay the points at home.