Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Houston Cougars, Picks and Prediction for Monday, December 29, 2025 Blue Raiders at Cougars Preview
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (7-4) travel to Houston to face the No. 8 Houston Cougars (11-1) on Monday, December 29, 2025 at the Fertitta Center. Get in on the action with our free NCAAB picks.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Analysis
Middle Tennessee enters this game with solid offensive production, scoring 78.0 points per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and converting a fair amount of looks from deep. The Blue Raiders have been competitive in most outings and leverage ball movement and perimeter shooting to stay in games.
Team Overview and Metrics
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PPG: 78.0
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FG%: .439
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3P%: .326
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Rebounds: 36.0 per game
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Assists: 14.2 per game
Strengths
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Balanced scoring: Multiple contributors like Jahvin Carter (13.0 PPG) and Kamari Lands (12.5 PPG) keep defenses honest.
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Good ball movement: Middle Tennessee averages solid assist numbers and can find open shots.
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Active defense: The Blue Raiders generate steals and blocks at respectable rates.
Weaknesses
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Perimeter shooting: Their 32.6% from three is modest against a Houston defense that lives on perimeter closeouts.
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Road struggles: Middle Tennessee is just 1-1 away from home and will face its toughest road test yet.
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Defensive efficiency: Allowing 71.4 PPG leaves room for explosive offenses to pull away.
Houston Cougars Analysis
Houston enters this matchup as a top-10 team and a dominant home force, possessing one of the most efficient offensive attacks in the country. The Cougars are unbeaten at the Fertitta Center and have outscored opponents by nearly 20 points per game.
Team Overview and Metrics
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PPG: 79.5
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FG%: .457
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3P made per game: 9.4
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Rebounds: 35.0 per game
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Assists: 17.3 per game
Strengths
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Elite home record: Houston is 6-0 at home this season.
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Three-point attack: The Cougars average 9.4 made threes per game, giving them spacing and firepower.
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Balanced offense: Houston moves the ball well (17.3 assists per game) and pressures defenses with pace.
Weaknesses
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Turnovers can hurt: High assist rates can come with turnover spikes against pressure defense.
Standout Players and Key Matchups
Middle Tennessee
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Jahvin Carter: Leading scorer averaging about 13.0 PPG, drives the offense and creates shots.
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Kamari Lands: Secondary scorer providing rebounding and inside presence.
Houston
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Emanuel Sharp: Leading Houston with around 17.8 PPG and strong shooting efficiency.
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Milos Uzan: Playmaker averaging around 11.3 PPG and 5.0 APG, setting the tone for ball movement.
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Kingston Flemings: Another scoring threat who adds depth to the Cougar perimeter attack.
Middle Tennessee vs Houston Prediction Reasoning
Houston's style of play often smothers smaller schools. This game should get ugly early as MTSU struggles for every bucket. Check out all the sportsbook promos to see if you are getting a great deal on your bets on Middle Tennessee. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for Houston with the Kickr promo code. Make sure when you place your bet on Houston vs Middle Tennessee you are using the BetMGM bonus code.
Final Score Projection: Houston 87, Middle Tennessee 52
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