Middle Tenn State vs. Syracuse

#15 Middle Tennessee State has plenty of flaws, ranked #9 in scoring in Conference USA, plus dead last in three throw shooting (61.7%). The Blue Raiders beat just one team ranked in the Top 100 in RPI this season. It's remarkable they've gotten this far, giving up 90 points in a C-USA tourney game and beating Old Dominion in the title game by one basket. Middle Tennessee State shocked the world with the upset of Michigan State the last game, so they are in a let-down spot. The Blue Raiders are just the eighth #15 seed to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. Ken Pomeroy ranks Middle Tennessee #106 in the country, while Syracuse is #33. Syracuse's significant statistical edge comes on defense, where the Orange rank #10 in the country in three-point defense, allowing opponents to make just 30.3 percent of their attempts from behind the arc while still forcing opponents to take 40.3 percent of their shots from deep. Syracuse just crushed Dayton, 70-51, and the Orange is 8-2 ATS against a team with a winning percentage above .600. Play Syracuse.