Murray State Racers vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Murray State vs Western Kentucky NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Bowling Green.

Murray State vs Western Kentucky Prediction

Don't miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Racers and Hilltoppers. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Hilltoppers at E. A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, KY. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 148.5 points, and Western Kentucky is favored by -4.5 at home against Murray State.

Murray State vs. Western Kentucky Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Murray State Racers at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Where: Bowling Green at E. A. Diddle Arena
Date: Saturday, December 14th
Betting Odds WKENT -4.5, MURST +154 | WKENT -191 O/U 148.5

Racers Preview: Will Murray State Be The Talk of E. A. Diddle Arena?

Murray State improved to 5-2 on the season with a 73-53 home win over Southeast Missouri State on Sunday. The Racers entered the game as -15.5 point favorites and covered the spread, while the total points of 126 fell short of the 147 O/U line.

After a 33-33 tie at halftime, Murray State's defense clamped down, allowing just 20 points in the 2nd half while scoring 40 of their own.

Racers Offense Breakdown

Murray State put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 48.1% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, hitting 9 of 18 threes. Their effective field goal percentage was 55.6%, and they grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, with just 10 assists as a team.

JaCobi Wood led the way with 23 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 53.3% overall and 75% from three (3/4). Nick Ellington added 15 points on 6/8 shooting, while Terence Harcum, Brendan Terry, and Teddy Washington Jr. each contributed 12 points.

Racers Team Defense

Even though Murray State gave up 53 points, they allowed their opponent to shoot 48% from the field, including 50% from beyond the arc. The Racers’ defense also sent the other team to the line 20 times, where they hit 12 free throws.

On the boards, Murray State struggled, giving up 14 offensive rebounds. Their opponent shot 36 two-pointers, making 17 for a 47% success rate.

Hilltoppers Preview: Can the Hilltoppers Deliver Being Favored at Home?

Western Kentucky improved to 5-3 on the season with an 84-60 win over Tennessee State on Tuesday. The Hilltoppers were -14 favorites going into the game and covered the spread with the victory.

Western Kentucky led 44-31 at halftime and continued to control the game in the 2nd half, outscoring the Tigers 40-29. The total points for the game were 144, falling short of the 161.5 O/U line.

Hilltoppers Offense Breakdown

Western Kentucky put up 84 points in their last game, shooting 47.5% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 55.7%. They hit 38.5% from three-point range, connecting on 10 of 26 attempts, and were strong at the free-throw line, making 16 of 20 for 80%.

Khristian Lander was a standout, hitting 5 of 7 threes and finishing with 19 points and 4 assists. Brandon Weston led the team with 22 points, despite going 0 for 4 from deep.

Hilltoppers Team Defense

Western Kentucky's defense gave up 60 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 47% from the field on 29 of 61 attempts. Inside the arc, they allowed 54% shooting, as the other team made 19 of 35 two-point shots.

From three-point range, Western Kentucky's defense saw the other team hit 10 of 26 attempts, good for 38%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 20 times, where they converted 16 shots for 80%. The Hilltoppers limited offensive rebounds, giving up just 5.

Racers vs Hilltoppers Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

Murray State has a 1-4 record in their last five road games. In this stretch, they averaged 74 points per game while allowing 81. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-2.
When looking at their past three home matchups, Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 3-0 while averaging 73 per game. The team went 1-2 overall in these games.
As the betting underdog, the Racers have an ATS mark of just 6-4 in their last ten games. Murray State posted a straight up mark of 3-7 in these matchups.
In their last five games as the betting favorite, the Hilltoppers have a strong straight up record of 5-0. In addition, their ATS record was 3-0-2 in these scenarios.