Southeast Missouri State vs Tennessee Tech Predictions & Odds for OVC Championship Game

• Southeast Missouri State are 1.5-point underdogs to Tennessee Tech in the OVC Championship Game
• The Redhawks bounced top-seeded Morehead State in the semifinals
• See below for the latest OVC Tournament Championship Final odds, plus analysis and best bets

As predicted, the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament was a wild one.

Now, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (18-16, 10-8 OVC) — the tournament’s no. 5 seed — will take on the 2nd-ranked Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (16-16, 11-7 OVC) in the OVC Championship final, with the winner punching their ticket into the NCAA Tournament.

It all gets underway Saturday night (March 5) at 8pm ET from the Ford Center in Evansville, IN. You can watch the game live on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Southeast Missouri State vs Tennessee Tech Odds

The Redhawks enter as 1.5-point underdogs, in a game that features a total of 150.5. After disposing of 8-seeded Lindenwood in the opener, they upended 4-seed Tennessee State in the quarterfinals.

SEMO saved their best work last game, upsetting top-seeded Morehead State Friday — a team that got a double-bye to the semifinals.

This will be their fourth game in four days.

As for the Golden Eagles, they carried one of two double-byes to the semifinals, where they made quick work of no. 3 UT Martin.

DRAFTKINGS
SPORTSBOOK

Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly + a No Sweat NBA SGP Every Day!

LOCK IN PROMO

SIGNUP PROMO

BET $5
GET $200

+ A NO SWEAT NBA SGP

GET PROMO

Odds as of Mar 3 at DraftKings. 

Southeast Missouri State vs Tennessee Tech Betting Analysis

While this game is definitely high stakes, the winner’s ticket to the dance is destined to be a play-in game in the First Four, if SBD’s projected March Madness bracket holds true to form.

After averaging 87.5 points over the first two games, points were at a premium as SEMO downed Morehead State 65-58. The Redhawks overcame a 5-point halftime deficit, going on to outscore the Eagles by 12 in the final 20 minutes.

Chris Harris was the leading scorer for the Redhawks, dropping 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists. It was the second straight game he’s led the team in scoring, following up on a monster 29-point, 12 rebound gem in a 91-83 win over Tennessee State in the quarterfinals.

The Redhawks are celebrating in Evansville after knocking off #1 Morehead State to get to their first OVC Tournament Championship game in 23 years!!! See you Saturday. pic.twitter.com/MqLLqp22nq

— SEMO Men’s Basketball 🏀⚫️🔴 (@SEMOMBB) March 4, 2023

Philip Russell had 14 points and five rebounds, while Josh Earley delivered 11 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks off the bench.

Their defense was outstanding, holding the Eagles to 36.4% shooting from the field, including a 6-for-19 mark from three, a 31.6% clip.

After having not played in six days. Tennessee Tech shook off the rust, and broke open a 26-26 tie at the half to win going away, 78-63 over the UT Martin Skyhawks.

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK

Offer

T&Cs

Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets - Guaranteed!

Must be 21+. T&C Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

LOCK IN PROMO

SIGNUP PROMO

BET $5
GET $150

BET NOW

Jaylen Sebree could not be stopped, pacing the Golden Eagles with 28 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, including a sharp 4-for-6 mark from downtown. Brett Thompson chipped in with 19 points, five rebounds and a pair of dimes.

Tennesse Tech got it done on the defensive end as well, holding UT Martin to 38.5% shooting from the field, and a bleak 5-for-28 from downtown, a 17.9% clip.

Southeast Missouri St vs Tennessee Tech Head-to-Head

This will be the third and final meeting between these schools this season, after the teams split a pair of spirited regular-season matchups.

SEMO needed double overtime, but outlasted Tennessee Tech 84-77. Harris was huge in the win, dropping 23 points and 11 boards.

The Golden Eagles returned the favor two weeks later, downing the Redhawks in a close 82-80 decision. Sebree stuffed the stat sheet, with 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals, while drilling four triples.

Southeast Missouri State vs Tennessee Tech Prediction

These are highly unchartered waters for both schools. The Redhawks have just one NCAA Tournament appearance, a 64-61 loss to LSU in 2000.

You need a time machine to find the last Tennessee Tech appearance, which is a big reason neither school is even close to surfacing in the NCAA Tournament odds. The Golden Eagles last made the dance in 1963, and their only other appearance was in 1958.

Southeast Missouri has been money on a neutral site, going 5-0 against the spread in all five games this season. Tennessee Tech hasn’t been a favorite much this year, but they have mustered a 6-5 ATS mark in those 11 contests.

Congrats to graduate forward @Jsebree3 on being named to the All-OVC First Team for the first time in his career! His impact will never be forgotten in Cookeville! Now go finish the job in Evansville this weekend!#WingsUp #OVCit pic.twitter.com/VuSpWnZLjz

— TTU Men's Basketball (@TTU_Basketball) February 28, 2023

SEMO is 9-7-1 ATS in 16 games they’ve entered as underdogs.

While I’m definitely leaning SE Missouri, four games in four days is a slog at any level. That doesn’t mean it won’t be high scoring, just that fatigue will take a toll in high-pressure situations.

Instead, let’s focus on the total, a figure these teams have crossed with ease in two previous matchups.

Both bleed points: the Redhawks surrender 76.5 points per game, which ranks 338th in the NCAA, while Tennessee Tech gives up 73.2 per contest, which ranks 275th, Let’s bank on another high-scoring affair.