Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Picks, Prediction, Odds and Line Movement for Friday, January 2, 2026
It’s a contest of teams from Conference USA on the hardwood as the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs travel to the Volunteer State to battle the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Friday night and we have you covered with our Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee prediction. Louisiana Tech comes in after dropping UTEP at home 75-63 in their previous contest Sunday, covering the line as a 2.5-point favorite. Middle Tennessee fell 69-60 on the road to #8 Houston in their previous game Sunday, covering the line as a 26.5-point underdog. In the all-time series between the schools, the Bulldogs own a 10-7 advantage, though the Blue Raiders earned a 77-75 double overtime win in the most recent matchup, which came in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama on March 13, 2025. Read more about this Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
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Louisiana Tech Seeking Third Straight Win
Louisiana Tech won their second straight and fourth in their last five games as they dropped UTEP at home Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs improved to 8-4 overall and stand 1-0 in Conference USA action on the year. Against UTEP, Louisiana Tech gave up the first bucket of the game and last trailed at 5-4 with 18:05 to go in the opening half. The Bulldogs reeled off 11 straight points to go up 15-5 and maintained a 10-point edge at the half. Louisiana Tech didn’t let UTEP closer than six in the second half while leading by as many as 20 en route to the win. The Bulldogs shot 42.3% from the floor, including 11 of 24 from three-point range, and forced 15 UTEP turnovers to offset a 20 of 34 showing at the free throw line. DJ Dudley led Louisiana Tech with 18 points and six rebounds in the win.
The Bulldogs are putting up an average of 71.8 points per game, putting them 298th in the nation in scoring offense this season. Louisiana Tech grabs 42.2 rebounds per contest (18th) and dishes out 13.3 assists per game. The Bulldogs allow an average of 56.1 points per game, putting them 1st in the nation. AJ Bates is one of three players for the Bulldogs averaging in double figures as he averages 12.1 points and 6.3 assists a night. DJ Dudley (12.1 points) and Kaden Cooper (11.4 points, 8.7 rebounds) are good secondary scoring options. Scooter Williams, Avery Thomas II, Sir Issac Herron, Jaylen Fenner, Keegan Rowell, Kylan Howze, Melian Martinez, Will Jeffress, Will Allen and Jermaurhiyun Anderson are key role players for the Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech shoots 45.8% from the floor as a team, leaving them 172nd in Division I on the year. The team hits 30.9% from beyond the arc while averaging six triples per contest. Louisiana Tech cashes in a putrid 63.3% of their chances at the free throw line this season, putting them 353rd in Division I.
Key Injury Report for Louisiana Tech:
- No Key Injuries
Blue Raiders Shooting to Prevail at Home
Middle Tennessee hung tough against #8 Houston on the road but couldn’t pick up the win, snapping their two-game win streak in the process. The Blue Raiders enter this game 7-5 overall and 0-1 in Conference USA action on the year. Against Houston, Middle Tennessee took their biggest lead at 16-13 with 9:44 to play in the first half and was within 33-28 at the half. The Blue Raiders got within two with 17:04 remaining but got no closer as the Cougars proved to be too much, especially at home. Middle Tennessee shot 47% from the field, including 11 of 28 from three-point range, but turned the ball over 19 times in the loss. Kamari Lands led the Blue Raiders with 18 points in the loss.
The Blue Raiders are average on the offensive end of the floor this season, ranking 206th in the nation with 76.5 points per game. Middle Tennessee is 125th in rebounding with 38 boards per contest and stand 201st by dishing out 14.2 assists per game. The Blue Raiders are slightly above average on the defensive end this season by allowing 71.2 points per game, putting them 133rd in the nation in scoring defense. Kamari Lands is one of four players scoring in double figures this season for the Blue Raiders with 13 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on the year. Torey Alston (12.3 points, 8.6 rebounds) and Jahvin Carter (12.2 points) are also averaging in double figures. Sean Smith (10.3 points, 3.5 assists), Savon Wykle, Alec Oglesby, Chris Loofe, Tre Green, James Dent Jr., Luka Jovanovic, Jarred Hall and Marcus Whitlock Jr. all have to step up and make some plays for the team to succeed. Middle Tennessee is shooting 44.1% from the field as a team on the year. The Blue Raiders drain an average of 9.3 triples a night while splashing a lousy 33.1% of their attempts from beyond the arc. Middle Tennessee is struggling at the charity stripe, connecting on 69.8% of their attempts this season.
Key Injury Report for Middle Tennessee:
- No Key Injuries
Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Insiders Room | +1,793.00 |
| 2 |  Tony Karpinski | +1,731.00 |
| 3 |  Jesse Schule | +1,599.00 |
| 4 |  Rob Vinciletti | +1,284.00 |
| 5 |  David Delano | +1,232.00 |
Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Spread Pick
- Middle Tennessee -6 (4 units)
Louisiana Tech is hoping that freshmen and junior college players can step up and contribute in order to keep the team at least at the same level of success of previous seasons. The Bulldogs have a winning record but they are a perfect 8-0 at home while they are 0-4 on the road, getting outscored on average by 13 points a game in those contests. They have four wins against teams ranked 226th or worse in the KenPom rankings and three over non-Division I foes. Each of Middle Tennessee’s losses came against teams in the top 75 of the KenPom rankings. Louisiana Tech is 177th in that department. Couple those numbers with the Bulldogs’ road issues and Middle Tennessee’s 5-1 home mark and back the Blue Raiders in this one.
Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Over/Under Pick
- Under 141.5 (4 units)
Louisiana Tech has seen the under post a 6-3 mark in their nine games with a posted total last year. The Bulldogs are 19th in effective field goal percentage defense (45%) though they are 2nd in field goal percentage defense (35.1%) and 1st in three-point defense (24.5%) on the year. Louisiana Tech is below average in tempo as they are 344th with an average of 65.3 possessions a night. Middle Tennessee is 135th in defensive efficiency, 122nd in effective field goal percentage defense (49.7%), 185th in two-point defense (50.3%) and 10th in three-point defense (27.5%) this season. Both teams are sound defensively and are mediocre on offense. Take the under in this contest as a result.
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