Middle Tennessee vs Rider Odds and Picks (Nov. 23)

• Rider is a one-point favorite against Middle Tennessee on Tuesday, Nov. 23rd
• Rider is 0-5 ATS, 0-2 as a favorite
• Middle Tennessee is 2-1 ATS

Rider (2-3) is a one-point favorite over Middle Tennessee in the first round of the Cancun Challenge on Tuesday at 12:30 pm ET at the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The teams will meet for the first time.

Middle Tennessee (3-1) has as plus-23.3 scoring margin in its first four games, second in Conference USA.

Middle Tennessee vs Rider Odds

Odds from DraftKings on Nov. 22.

Middle Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season its last time out, losing to host Stephen F. Austin 87-74 in the campus round of the Cancun Challenge in Nacogdoches, Texas. The Blue Raiders have beaten NAIA Brescia, Bethune-Cookman and Winthrop.

Rider, which has lost two straight, was picked to finish sixth in the Metro Atlantic in the preseason coaches’ poll after finishing last at 6-17 a year ago. Middle Tennessee was picked to finish 12th in the 14-team Conference USA after going 5-18 last season.

Rider 1-2 Punch

Guard Dwight Murray Jr. and forward Dimencio Vaughn were named to the preseason Metro Athletic first and second teams, respectively,  and both are off to fast starts.

Murray, a 6’2 junior, had a career-high 30 points and added 13 rebounds in an 81-74 loss at Bucknell on Wednesday. He  is averaging 17.4 points a game, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Vaughn, a 6’5 senior, has been here before. Vaughn averaged 13 points a game in four seasons with the Broncos and was first-team All Metro Atlantic in 2019-20 before transferring to Ole Miss, where he played in only 16 games a year ago. He is averaging 11.4 points and 6.0 rebounds, and his addition is one of the reasons Rider was picked to finish higher this year.

Power forward Ajiri Ogemuno-Johnson and guard Allen Powell started last season. Ogemuno-Johnson, a 6’8 senior, adds an inside presence and is averaging 8.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Corey McKeithan had 13 points against Buffalo on Saturday.

🚨🚨 BREAKING: Corey McKeithan Named MAAC Rookie of the Week! 🚨🚨https://t.co/HGyxMvnhj4#GoBroncs #MAACHoops

— Rider Men’s Basketball (@RiderMBB) November 22, 2021

Blue Raiders Bring Pressure

Middle Tennessee has built its 3-1 start on its strength at the defensive end. The Blue Raiders are fifth in NCAA Division I in turnover margin  (plus-9.4) and have forced 84 turnovers to rank eighth in turnovers per game. Their 84 turnovers are the most in the first four games in 20 years.

Older hands are leading the way for a group that starts three guards and does not have a rotation member over 6’7. Junior guard Eli Lawrence, 6’5, has nine steals and Green Bay graduate transfer guard Josh Jefferson , 6’2, has eight. Fifth-year senior guard Donovan Sims, 6’1, has 116 career steals.

Jefferson was added in an attempt to bring more punch to an offense that averaged only 62 points per game and was 332nd in Ken Pom in adjusted offensive efficiency, and he has contributed immediately.

Jefferson is averaging 13.8 points per game after averaging 14.8 in 21 games (nine starts) a year ago at Green Bay, where he shot just 38.8 percent from the field. He had 23 points against Stephen F. Austin, making 14 of 14 free throw attempts. Lawrence is averaging 11.5 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds.

Jalen Jordan, 6’3, one of two returning starters and the primary point guard a year ago, has not played in the first four games for unspecified reasons. Sims has received more time as a result.

By the Numbers

The Broncs, who lost at Mid American favorite Buffalo on Saturday their last time out, have played the more difficult schedule so fear. Buffalo is ranked No. 80 by KenPom. Stephen F. Austin is 148th.

The pick: Rider -1 (105)