Time:<\/strong> 7:30 PM ET \/ 4:30 PM PT
Broadcast:<\/strong> CBS Sports Network
Location:<\/strong> Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, TN
Spread:<\/strong> Middle Tennessee -1.5 | Total: 139.5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liberty vs Middle Tennessee Betting Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The quality of play on the gridiron in Conference-USA has certainly taken a hit in recent seasons, but the product on the hardwood has been surprisingly-good this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liberty and Middle Tennessee enter Thursday tied for the No. 2 seed. The winner will join Jacksonville State at 12-5 atop the conference standings, while the loser will likely earn the 3-seed in next week’s tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’re not overly-concerned with Liberty’s loss to Kennesaw State on Sunday. The Owls play a high-variance style and caught fire in the second half. Liberty held a double-digit lead in the first half of that one before Kennesaw opened the second half on a 24-4 run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liberty’s offense is top-2 in C-USA in efficiency, effective field goal shooting, turnover rate, three-point shooting, two-point shooting and assist rate. The Flames earned a 73-63 home win over Middle Tennessee in early January. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Blue Raiders have been playing with fire recently. Since January 23, Middle Tennessee is 7-4. Six of those seven wins have come by five points or less. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have a two-point win over Sam Houston, a three-point win over UTEP, a one-point win over Kennesaw, a four-point win over Sam Houston, a five-point win over New Mexico State and a one-point win in overtime over UTEP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Middle Tennessee is No. 11 in the country in KenPom’s luck rating this season (Liberty is outside the top-225).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liberty vs Middle Tennessee Predictions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Middle Tennessee trailed by ten with under seven minutes remaining before stealing Saturday’s contest at UTEP. In the prior game against New Mexico State, the Raiders were down by seven with seven minutes remaining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Middle Tennessee is 0-4 against the spread in its last four home games. Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay is a very easy guy to trust in these spots. The Flames’ eight-man rotation consists of four juniors and four seniors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liberty has gone 10-3 against the spread away from home this season, including outright wins over Charleston, Kansas State and McNeese State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liberty vs Middle Tennessee Prediction: Liberty -1.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\nGoldSheet Top Picks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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