The Tennessee State Tigers and Murray State Racers will open the 2026-27 college basketball season on Monday as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET.
Tennessee State finished the 2025-26 season 23-10, tying for the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title at 15-5 and going 3-1 on neutral courts. Murray State went 20-13, tying for third in the Missouri Valley Conference at 12-8 with a 3-3 neutral-site record.
Murray State enters as a 10.5-point favorite with an over/under of 165.5 points. The money line lists Murray State at -562 and Tennessee State at +440.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which has posted an 11-1 record on top-rated over/under picks since 2025, projects a total of 160 points and favors the under, which hits in 63% of simulations. The model also indicates one side of the spread covers in nearly 70% of simulations.
Both rosters feature significant transfer additions. Tennessee State welcomes center Aaron Bradshaw, guard Arterio Morris, and guard Ty-Laur Johnson, who averaged 14.6 points per game at San Diego last season. Murray State adds guard Kaden Magwood from Auburn and forward Brigham Rogers from Belmont, where Rogers averaged 7.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
