Lindenwood Lions vs Tennessee State Tigers Picks and Predictions January 24th 2026

Tennessee State heads to Saint Charles to face Lindenwood on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3:30 PM ET at Hyland Arena. It’s an Ohio Valley conference game on ESPN+. Tennessee State comes in 12-7 overall and has been shaky away from home at 5-6. Lindenwood is 12-8, and the real headline is the home split, the Lions are 9-1 in this building.

Lindenwood is favored by 3.5 with a total of 161.5. That total is aggressive, basically assuming both teams get into the 80s or close to it. The spread says oddsmakers are respecting Tennessee State’s ability to score, but giving Lindenwood a meaningful home-court bump.

Tennessee State Tigers vs Lindenwood Lions Odds

These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers and shop for the best number on the latest college basketball odds.

Team	Moneyline	Spread	Total
Tennessee State Tigers	+134	+3.5 (-111)	O 161.5 (-111)
Lindenwood Lions	-165	-3.5 (-112)	U 161.5 (-114)

Tennessee State Tigers Betting Form

Tennessee State is coming off a 74-66 loss to SIUE, and that game matters because it showed what happens when their offense doesn’t dictate the terms. Travis Harper II and Dante Harris combined for 33, and Aaron Nkrumah chipped in 13 and six boards, but Tennessee State couldn’t quite get the pace and shot quality it wanted. That’s the concern in this matchup because Lindenwood is comfortable playing fast at home, but it can also make you take tougher shots if you’re not sharp early.

The offensive ceiling is real. Tennessee State is scoring 80.6 points per game and they rebound well enough to create extra chances, ranking 81st in rebounds per game. They can win games by outscoring opponents, and they can also survive cold stretches because they don’t mind attacking the rim and getting to the line. Nkrumah’s recent 30-point outburst against Morehead State is the type of indicator I care about. It tells you they have a player who can swing a short spread game even on the road.

The road record is the hang-up. 5-6 isn’t terrible, but it suggests they’re not consistently translating that offense away from home. If you want to track Tennessee State’s recent results and how they’ve performed in road spots, the Tennessee State stats and results hub is a useful reference.

Lindenwood Lions Betting Form

Lindenwood just beat Tennessee Tech 89-68 and it looked like a comfortable home performance. Anias Futrell stuffing the stat sheet with 25, 10, and five assists is exactly the type of output that makes Lindenwood tough here. They’re balanced enough that they can win through pace, but they can also win through efficiency if the opponent tries to slow them down.

The home record is the biggest betting input. 9-1 at Hyland Arena is strong, and it’s not just noise when the offensive profile matches it. Lindenwood averages 80.4 points per game, shoots 47.0% from the field, and rebounds at a high level with 40.0 per game. That’s a real advantage if the game turns into a possession battle late, because second chances and defensive rebounds prevent the underdog from getting extra looks.

Lindenwood also plays faster than Tennessee State, sitting at 71.0 possessions per game. If they’re able to keep the game in that range, they can create more scoring chances and more volatility. At home, volatility usually helps the favorite.

Tennessee State Tigers vs Lindenwood Lions Matchup Breakdown

This is mostly about tempo control and shot quality. Lindenwood wants pace and volume, especially inside the arc, and their two-point attempt profile suggests they’re comfortable attacking. Tennessee State is capable of scoring in a faster game, but it’s also the team that benefits if the tempo settles and the game becomes more about half-court creation and late-game execution.

The total at 161.5 is the number that jumps out. Both teams can score, but 161.5 assumes either an extremely efficient game or a pace that stays elevated for 40 minutes. Tennessee State’s slower pace number matters because if they succeed in dragging this down even slightly, the total starts looking inflated. That’s the Under case.

The Over case is pretty simple: Lindenwood’s home pace shows up, both teams live around 70-plus possessions, and you get enough free throws late to push it over. I think that’s possible, but it’s not the most likely script if Tennessee State is intentional about controlling the game state. The sports betting strategy guide is a good reminder that totals like this can swing hard based on whether the last four minutes are competitive and foul-heavy.

Open

Jan 24, 2026 23:59 EST

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Score

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-9.50 -106

Spread

+9.50 -106

o+155.00-108

Total

u+155.00-108

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Moneyline

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2 Picks Available

Open

Jan 24, 2026 22:00 EST

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Score

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+2.50 -110

Spread

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o+150.50-115

Total

u+150.50-105

+128

Moneyline

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2 Picks Available

Open

Jan 24, 2026 22:00 EST

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Score

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-1.50 -106

Spread

+1.50 -106

o+142.00-108

Total

u+142.00-108

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Moneyline

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4 Picks Available

Tennessee State Tigers vs Lindenwood Lions Predictions and Best Bets

My lean on the side is Tennessee State +3.5. This feels like a one-possession game more often than not. Tennessee State has the scoring to trade, and if they can keep Lindenwood from getting easy runouts, they should be live late. The number is also giving you some protection against Lindenwood’s home edge, which is the main reason I wouldn’t take the moneyline.

On the total, I lean Under 161.5. It’s a big number, and it needs a very specific type of game. Tennessee State’s best strategy is slowing the pace and limiting transition, and if they do that, the total becomes difficult to clear even if both teams have decent offensive nights.

Best Bet: Under 161.5 (-114).

NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

Conference games with short spreads and high totals are where bettors can get the most value, but only if they’re willing to be selective. You’re often betting game script more than team quality, and the market doesn’t always price that perfectly.

ScoresAndStats helps you compare opportunities across the board with today’s college basketball picks. And if you’re tracking multiple games and want a clean hub for schedules and team context while you shop numbers, the NCAAB teams page keeps everything organized.