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Mercer heads to McKenzie Arena on Thursday, February 5, 2026 for a 7:00 PM ET tip against Chattanooga, with this Southern Conference matchup airing on ESPN+. It’s a bit unusual seeing the road team listed as the favorite given Mercer’s 4-8 away record, but the market is clearly buying the offensive ceiling. Mercer scores in waves, and Chattanooga has been vulnerable to opponents that can keep consistent pressure on the rim and the glass.
Mercer is 15-8 and coming off a 95-point outburst against VMI, a game that looked easy for long stretches because the Bears were scoring efficiently and controlling possessions. Chattanooga is 9-14 and just lost 75-70 to Furman, another tight game where the Mocs showed they can compete, but still struggled to finish. The number here is basically asking whether Mercer’s offense travels well enough to cover, or whether Chattanooga’s shooting and home comfort keep this inside one possession late.
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Mercer vs Chattanooga Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor movement leading up to tipoff and compare price. If you’re tracking Mercer vs Chattanooga odds, keep an eye on the latest college basketball odds as the market updates.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Bears | -239 | -4.5 (-117) | O 155.5 |
| Chattanooga Mocs | +187 | +4.5 (-108) | U 155.5 |
Mercer Bears Betting Form
Mercer’s offense is the entire handicap. They’re averaging 85.9 points per game, top 30 nationally, and they’re not doing it with one gimmick. They can score in transition, they can score in the half court, and they can keep the floor balanced enough that you don’t get to load up on a single action. Baraka Okojie is the driver, and when he’s creating shots for himself and others, Mercer’s possessions tend to end with something clean, not desperation.
Armani Mighty matters just as much in this matchup because he changes how Mercer wins possessions. His rebounding and inside presence create second looks and put opponents in foul trouble. That’s a big deal when you’re laying -4.5 on the road. The warning sign is still the road record, and it’s real. Mercer’s offense hasn’t always looked as crisp away from home, and if they settle into early-clock threes without paint touches, they can give away the edge that makes them a favorite. For a quick check on how Mercer’s profile has been trending, Mercer’s stats and results are easy to scan through the NCAAB teams hub.
Chattanooga Mocs Betting Form
Chattanooga’s most dangerous trait is how quickly they can change a game with threes. They make 10.7 threes per game, and that’s the type of volume that keeps an underdog live even when the matchup isn’t perfect. Brennan Watkins and Teddy Washington Jr. give them enough scoring punch that they don’t need a flawless offensive night to get into the mid 70s, especially at home where their spacing and comfort tend to look a little better.
The bigger issue is defense and consistency. Chattanooga can’t afford extended empty stretches if Mercer is scoring normally, because Mercer will string together two or three efficient possessions and suddenly the Mocs are chasing. The free throw shooting helps in close games, and it’s one reason I don’t hate them in a late script, but they still need to avoid giving Mercer extra possessions on the glass. If Chattanooga loses the rebounding battle and also allows Mercer to play at a comfortable tempo, it’s hard to see them covering without a hot three-point night.
Mercer Bears vs Chattanooga Mocs Matchup Breakdown
The pace battle sets the tone. Mercer is comfortable in a moderate-to-up tempo game where it can get early offense and keep pressure on the rim, while Chattanooga would prefer a slightly tighter game that leans on half-court execution and three-point variance. If Chattanooga can slow Mercer’s first action and force longer possessions, that helps both the underdog and the Under.
Shot profile matters too. Mercer’s best path is paint touches, free throws, and offensive rebounding. Chattanooga’s best path is spacing the floor, hitting threes, and making Mercer defend multiple actions without helping off shooters. The rebound margin is the swing stat. If Mercer is getting second chances, Chattanooga’s defense gets stretched until it breaks. If Chattanooga can finish defensive possessions cleanly, the +4.5 looks much more realistic.
Late-game dynamics are worth keeping in mind with this total. If Mercer is ahead by 6–10 late, Chattanooga is the type of team that can extend the game with fouls while still hunting threes, and that can push both the spread and total into uncomfortable ranges. That’s one reason I usually handicap this type of matchup with a betting strategy guide mindset, focusing on game script rather than just season averages.
UC Irvine Anteaters
vs
CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
Open
vs
Feb 05, 2026 22:00 EST
–
Score
–
-16.00 -110
Spread
+16.00 -110
o+145.50-110
Total
u+145.50-110
-2,000
Moneyline
+1,100
CSU Fullerton Titans
vs
UC Riverside Highlanders
Open
vs
Feb 05, 2026 22:00 EST
–
Score
–
-6.50 -110
Spread
+6.50 -110
o+155.00-110
Total
u+155.00-110
-333
Moneyline
+260
Cal Baptist Lancers
vs
Tarleton State Texans
Open
vs
Feb 05, 2026 22:00 EST
–
Score
–
-9.50 -110
Spread
+9.50 -110
o+141.50-110
Total
u+141.50-110
-526
Moneyline
+385
Mercer Bears vs Chattanooga Mocs Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Mercer -4.5, but it’s tied directly to whether their offense looks normal away from home. The matchup fits because Chattanooga doesn’t consistently defend the paint or the glass well enough to survive Mercer’s pressure for 40 minutes. If Okojie is controlling tempo and Mighty is creating second chances, Mercer doesn’t need a perfect shooting night to cover. They just need to avoid the road mistakes that turn a solid advantage into a one-possession game.
On the total, I lean Under 155.5. The number is high for a game where Chattanooga’s pace is typically slower, and Mercer can still win and cover without playing a pure track meet. The risk is obvious: both teams can hit threes, and free throws can add points late. But if Chattanooga isn’t converting efficiently inside and Mercer is scoring in more methodical stretches, 155.5 asks for a pretty clean offensive night from both sides.
Best Bet: Mercer Bears -4.5 (-117).
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NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
College basketball slates are too big to bet purely off rankings or records. The best edge usually comes from identifying which teams can impose their style, and which matchups create predictable possession battles. When you’re betting conference games, especially midweek, it’s often the same handful of factors deciding outcomes: tempo control, rebounding, free throws, and late-game execution.
If you’re building a card for Thursday, it helps to compare matchups across the board and avoid forcing action into numbers that already feel efficient. Checking today’s college basketball picks is a simple way to see where the strongest leans are forming and how different bettors are attacking sides and totals across the slate.
