Prediction: SE Missouri St Redhawks VS Tennessee St Tigers 2025-12-20

Tennessee State Tigers vs. Southeast Missouri State Redhawks: A Clash of OVC Underdogs with a Touch of Drama

Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round for what promises to be a thrilling Southern Conference showdown between the Tennessee State Tigers (7-4, 1-0 OVC) and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (5-7, 0-1 OVC). Buckle up—it’s like watching two cars at a stoplight both trying to decide who’s going to go first. Spoiler: Neither wants to lose.

Parsing the Odds: A Tale of Two Sieves
Let’s start with the numbers. Tennessee State, fresh off a 78-71 win over UT Martin, is favored by 1.5 points across most books, with DraftKings pricing them at -1.5 (1.8) and the Redhawks at +1.5 (2.05). The total is set at 151.5 points, which sounds about right given both teams’ combined inability to shoot. Tennessee State makes 5.5 threes per game at 26.8% (362nd in the nation—yes, they’re that bad), while the Redhawks are slightly better but still shoot like a toddler in a free-throw contest (6.4 threes at 302nd). If these teams had a three-point contest, the trophy would be called “Best of the WORST.”

Defensively? Tennessee State allows 74.7 points per game (223rd), and the Redhawks give up 76.4 (256th). Imagine two leaky sieves playing a game of “Let’s see who can hold back the flood longer.” The Tigers’ +51 scoring differential edges out the Redhawks’ +20, but both are basically math problems no one wants to solve.

News Digest: Injuries, Home Court, and the Eternal Quest for an OVC Win
Tennessee State’s star, Aaron Nkrumah, dropped 23 points in their last win, which is impressive given the Tigers’ offense is about as reliable as a toaster oven during a power outage. They’re riding a four-game home winning streak, which is either a fluke or the Gentry Center’s HVAC system secretly hyping up the crowd.

The Redhawks, meanwhile, are 0-1 in OVC play after an 85-74 loss to Tennessee Tech. Their leading scorer, BJ Ward, chipped in 19, but the team’s road struggles are glaring—73.5 PPG on the road vs. 82.4 at home. If the Redhawks want to win their first conference game, they’ll need to channel their inner “fast break” (they lead the OVC in fast-break points at 13.8 per game). Too bad their three-point shooting (35.5% from Carmen Taylor) isn’t as explosive.

Humor Injection: The Absurdity of College Hoops
Tennessee State’s defense is so porous, they’d let a breeze score a layup. Their +4.7 scoring margin is basically the basketball equivalent of “I’ll win by 0.5 points.” The Redhawks, on the other hand, are like that friend who always says, “I’ll win this one for sure,” but then trips over their own shoelaces and spills coffee on their jersey.

And let’s not forget the Redhawks’ home game boost—82.4 PPG vs. 73.5 on the road. That’s a 9-point swing, which in basketball terms is about as meaningful as a participation trophy.

Prediction: Tigers in the Tank, Redhawks in the Rearview
While the Redhawks’ home-court advantage is a sliver of hope, Tennessee State’s superior scoring margin (+51 vs. +20), stronger home streak, and slightly better defense make them the pick. The 1.5-point spread feels like the bookmakers are saying, “We’re not sure who’ll win, but let’s make you sweat over a single point.”

Final Verdict: Bet the Tigers to cover the 1.5-point spread. If you’re feeling spicy, take the Over on points—these teams shoot like they’re playing in a blizzard. But if you want to win outright? Tennessee State’s 7-4 record and 1-0 OVC start suggest they’ll edge this one. Unless, of course, the Redhawks pull off a miracle. Spoiler: They won’t.

“The Tigers’ defense is a sieve, but at least it’s a warm one.” — Me, your sports oracle and part-time stand-up comedian.

Created: Dec. 20, 2025, 10:12 a.m. GMT

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