The SMU Mustangs host the Memphis Tigers in AAC action at the Moody Coliseum.
These teams are fighting it out in the AAC team standings and are both at 8-6 in conference play, tied for third place. The Mustangs are 18-8 on the season and they head home after losing to Tulsa in their last outing. The Tigers are 19-8 on the season and they are coming off a nail-biting win over the 22nd ranked Houston Cougars last weekend. This game will be televised nationally by CBS and the oddsmakers are saying that this will be a very close contest.
The Memphis Tigers are having trouble closing out games. They have squandered leads and let home wins slip away against Georgia, SMU, and South Florida among other teams this season. But in their last outing against #22 Houston, the Tigers’ defense helped them pick up the win.
Precious Achiuwa sank a free throw with 28.2 seconds left to give Memphis a 60-59 win over the Cougars. Malcolm Dandridge led the team with 12 points while Achiuwa, Tyler Harris and Lester Quinones each scored 10 for Memphis which improved to 8-6 in the American Athletic Conference team standings.
The Tigers are scoring an average of 73.3 points per game and they are shooting the ball at a 44.8% clip. Memphis is averaging 39.5 rebounds per game and they are issuing an average of 14.1 assists per contest. The Tigers are allowing their opponents to score an average of 65.3 points per game while also blocking 6.1 shots per game and picking up 8.1 steals per outing.
The SMU Mustangs suffered a second straight defeat at the hands of Tulsa last Saturday. The Mustangs defense allowed the Golden Hurricanes to shoot 59% in the second half to blow the game wide open. The final score was 79-57 and SMU fell to 18-8 overall and 8-6 in conference action.
Tyson Jolly led the Mustangs with 18 points on 7-15 shooting with five rebounds. Isiaha Mike added 13 points and four boards for SMU while Kendric Davis had 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Mustangs only got a total of eight points from their bench and they made only 8 out of 30 three-point attempts.
The Mustangs are putting up 75.0 points per game this season. They are making 45.9% of their field goal attempts and are dishing off an average of 16.0 assists per game. SMU is allowing its opponents to score an average of 69.7 points per game while pulling down 37.0 rebounds per contest. The Mustangs are also averaging 3.2 blocks and 5.8 steals per contest.
Memphis is 13-7 SU in their last 20 games played. The Tigers are 1-3 SU in their last four road games, and 7-3 SU in their last 10 February games. SMU is 6-4 SU in their last 10 games played. The Mustangs are 8-0 SU in their last eight games played at home, and 13-3 SU in their last 16 Tuesday games. Head to head, the SMU is 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against Memphis.
Penny Hardaway was looking at a great season but after freshman James Wiseman was declared ineligible, the Tigers have been in chaos. It’s been a roller-coaster season for Memphis and after starting at 13-1 SU, they are just 6-7 SU in their last 13 outings.
This SMU program was one of the best in the nation three years ago. They’ve stumbled in the previous two seasons but are at a respectable 18-8 this year. They have been inconsistent on the road but have been solid all year round at their home court, which should be the key here. This team has not lost at home since December.
I like the Mustangs here because while they’ve struggled to play on the road, they beat this Memphis team last month. This game though is played at SMU’s home court where they are 14-1 SU this season. I don’t think this game will be close at all. I like the Mustangs to win on the road here.
PREDICTION: SMU MUSTANGS
Memphis is 6-2 ATS in their last eight games played. The Tigers are 3-1 ATS in their last four games played on the road. SMU is 1-4 ATS in their last five games played. Southern Methodist is 4-1 ATS in their last five games played at home, and 1-4 ATS in their last five February games. Head to head, SMU is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games played against Memphis. Southern Methodist is also 8-1 ATS in their last nine home games against Memphis.
Memphis has plenty of freshmen on its lineup and without the needed experience, they will have problems winning conference road games. The Mustangs have one of the most efficient offenses in the nation this season and I don’t think that the Tigers have the firepower to keep up with them. I like SMU to cover the spread here.
PREDICTION: SMU -4.5
The total has gone over in four out of the last six games played by Memphis. The over is 4-2 in the Tigers’ last six games against the AAC. The total has gone over in eight out of the last 10 games played by Southern Methodist. The over is 4-1 in their last five home games. The over is also 6-0 in SMU’s last six AAC games. Head to head, the total has gone under in six out of their last 10 meetings.
Memphis doesn’t have an efficient offense and they aren’t consistent on that end of the floor. On defense though, they are impressive and because of that, the under makes a lot of sense here. SMU has a very efficient offense but they play at a slow pace. The Mustangs love a low scoring game and they are coming off a game where they scored only 57 points. The Tigers are coming off a road game where they shot just 35% from the field. This one should be a low-scoring game.
PREDICTION: UNDER 143
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