Memphis Tigers vs SMU Mustangs Prediction, 1/28/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Memphis Tigers vs SMU Mustangs

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021

Location: Moody Coliseum in Dallas, TX

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Memphis (+3)

The SMU Mustangs (8-3) host the Memphis Tigers (9-5) at Moody Coliseum on Thursday. SMU opens this game as 3-point favorites. The over/under opens at 141.5.

Memphis enters this one with a mark of 9-5 on the season. They turn it over 15.4 times per contest and as a group they are committing 19.4 fouls on a nightly basis. As a unit, Memphis is collecting 40.9 boards per contest and has totaled 223 assists this year, which ranks 59th in D-1 in terms of passing the rock. The Tigers are hitting 34.5% on shots beyond the perimeter (102 of 296) and 60.9% from the free throw line. They have an average of 71.9 pts per game (185th in college basketball) while going 43.2% from the field. On the defensive end of the court, the Tigers have forced 16.1 turnovers every game while drawing 17.0 personal fouls. The Tigers defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 38.5% (303 of 787) and they surrender 34.1 rebounds per game as a basketball team. They are 128th in D-1 in giving up assists to the opposition with 154 relinquished this year. They surrender 28.6% on shots from downtown while they are 29th in college basketball in points per game allowed (62.6).

The Memphis Tigers stepped onto the hardwood against the Mustangs and walked away with a win by a score of 76-72 in their last contest. Memphis walked away from the game with a 50.9% field goal percentage (27 out of 53) and knocked down 10 of 21 three-point shots. When they shot from the free throw line, the Tigers made 12 of their 25 attempts for a rate of 48.0%. In terms of getting rebounds, they earned 29 with 8 of them being on the offensive end. They also doled out 13 assists in the game in addition to getting 6 steals and 8 blocks. Concerning the defense, Memphis allowed 50.9% from the floor on 27 out of 53 shooting. SMU distributed 15 assists and had 4 steals in the matchup. In addition, the Mustangs pulled down 26 rebounds (6 offensive, 20 defensive) and had 8 blocks. SMU walked away from this one shooting 83.3% from the charity stripe by knocking down 5 of 6 shots. They made 11 of 25 tries from beyond the arc.

Alex Lomax is one guy who was a major factor for the contest. He accumulated 14 points on 4 of 6 shooting. He played 27 minutes and snagged 2 rebounds. Lomax finished shooting 66.7% from the floor and recorded 5 assists. Another guy that came through in this contest for the Tigers was Landers Nolley. He totaled 2 boards and earned 3 dimes. He finished 57.1% from the floor for this game by going 4-of-7 (12 points). When all was said and done, Nolley saw the court for 25 min.

SMU has a win-loss mark of 8-3 for the campaign. The Mustangs commit 16.6 personal fouls every game and they shoot 74.1% from the charity stripe. They are dishing out assists 16.8 times per game (32nd in college basketball) and they turn it over 13.3 times per contest. SMU has totaled 863 points on the year (78.5 per game) and they pull in 38.1 boards per game. When it comes to offensive execution, the Mustangs are shooting 47.1% from the floor, which is ranked 64th in the nation. The Mustangs on the defensive side of the court are 111th in college basketball in points per game surrendered with 67.7. The SMU defense concedes 34.6% on 3-pointers (89 of 257) and their opposition knocks down 68.0% of their free throw shots. They have allowed 13.6 assists and 34.6 boards per contest, which ranks them 223rd and 153rd in the country. They are forcing their opponents into 14.0 turnovers on a nightly basis and allow teams to shoot 40.0% from the floor (50th in college hoops).

In their loss to Memphis, the Mustangs earned 20 defensive boards and 6 offensive rebounds totaling 26 in this game. They also stuffed 4 tries while earning 4 steals in the matchup. The Tigers were called for 13 personal fouls for this game which got the Mustangs to the free throw line for 6 shots. They were able to knock down 5 of the free throws for a rate of 83.3%. Pertaining to shots from downtown, SMU converted 11 out of their 25 attempts (44.0%). In all, the Mustangs ended up going 28 for 58 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 48.3%. The Mustangs allowed the Tigers to bury 27 out of 53 tries from the field which left them with a rate of 50.9% for this contest. They finished 47.6% from three-point range via 10 out of 21 and ended up shooting 12 out of 25 at the free throw line (48.0%). In reference to rebounds, SMU allowed Memphis to grab 29 in total (8 offensive).

Tyson Jolly was important for the Mustangs for this game. He converted 6 of 8 for the contest for a field goal percentage of 75.0%, which had him finishing with 15 points. Jolly snagged 3 boards in his 21 mins and had 2 assists for this game. One more player who came through for SMU was Emmanuel Bandoumel. He notched 13 points in 32 minutes on the court by way of 4 of 8 from the floor in this game. Bandoumel ended up shooting 50.0% from the field while also contributing 2 assists and 3 rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Memphis (+3)

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