SMU Mustangs vs Memphis Tigers Prediction, 1/26/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: SMU Mustangs vs Memphis Tigers

Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Location: FedExForum in Memphis, TN

TV: ESPNU

Odds/Point Spread: SMU (+3)

The SMU Mustangs (8-2) head to FedExForum on Tuesday where they'll meet the Memphis Tigers (8-5). SMU opens this matchup as 3-point underdogs. The over/under opens at 142.5.

SMU comes into this one with a mark of 8-2 so far this season. They have an average of 79.1 pts per contest (53rd in the nation) while hitting 47.0% from the field. The Mustangs are connecting on 36.2% on shots from beyond the arc (80 of 221) and 73.8% from the free throw line. As a unit, SMU is pulling down 38.7 rebounds per game and has racked up 170 dimes for the year, which is 180th in the nation in terms of passing the ball. They lose possession via turnover 12.9 times per contest and as a squad are committing 16.1 fouls on a nightly basis. When they are on defense, the Mustangs have forced 14.2 turnovers every game while drawing 18.5 personal fouls. They relinquish 33.5% on 3-pointers and they are ranked 92nd in the country in points per game from their opponents (66.9). The Mustangs are giving up an opponent FG percentage of 39.0% (234 of 600) and they surrender 35.0 rebounds per game as a unit. They are currently ranked 86th in college hoops in giving up assists to their opponents with 137 relinquished on the year.

The SMU Mustangs took the court against the UCF Knights and notched a win by a score of 78-65 in their last game. SMU wrapped up the contest having earned a 53.8% FG percentage (28 of 52) and buried 6 of their 15 3-point shots. From the free throw line, the Mustangs converted 16 of their 17 attempts for a rate of 94.1%. With respect to grabbing rebounds, they earned 30 with 5 of them being of the offensive sort. They also dished out 16 assists in the game while earning 5 steals and 7 rejections. In terms of defense, SMU allowed the other team to shoot 53.8% from the floor on 28 of 52 shooting. UCF recorded 12 dimes and had 3 steals in this matchup. On top of that, the Knights had 28 rebounds (11 offensive, 17 defensive) and got 7 rejections. UCF shot 75.0% from the charity stripe by knocking down 9 of their 12 tries. They also buried 8 out of their 22 tries from beyond the arc.

Kendric Davis is a player who came through in this matchup. He walked away with 21 points on 7 of 13 shooting. He saw the court for 36 minutes and grabbed 5 rebounds. Davis finished the contest at 53.8% from the field and also totaled 9 assists. An additional guy that played a role in this contest for the Mustangs was Yor Anei. He snagged 2 boards and collected 2 dimes. He ended up shooting 71.4% from the field in this contest by going 5-of-7 (12 points). Overall, Anei played for 22 min.

Memphis has a mark of 8-5 for the season. Memphis has tallied 930 points this year (71.5 per contest) and they snag 41.7 rebounds per game. The Tigers are responsible for committing 19.8 personal fouls per contest and they shoot 62.2% from the free throw line. In terms of offensive execution, the Tigers are connecting on 42.7% from the field, which has them ranked 257th in the nation. They are assisting teammates 16.2 times per contest (46th in college basketball) and they are giving up possession 15.7 times per contest. The Tigers on the defensive end are ranked 19th in the nation in PPG given up with 61.8. They have conceded 10.7 assists and 34.3 rebounds every game, which has them ranked 43rd and 139th in the nation. The Memphis defense concedes 27.2% on shots from beyond the perimeter (76 of 279) and opponents are converting on 65.9% of their shots from the free throw line. They are forcing 16.0 turnovers on a nightly basis and allow teams to shoot 37.7% from the floor (7th in college basketball).

The last time they took the court, the Memphis Tigers went home victorious with a score of 80-53 against the East Carolina Pirates. The Tigers were able to snag 32 defensive boards and 8 offensive rebounds totaling 40 for the contest. They blocked 4 attempts while recording 5 steals in this game. The Pirates had 17 personal fouls for the game which got the Tigers to the free throw line for 19 attempts. They were able to make 11 of those for a rate of 57.9%. In the matter of shots from distance, Memphis knocked down 11 of their 25 attempts (44.0%). Overall, the Tigers walked away from this one shooting 29 for 58 from the field which had them shooting 50.0%. The Tigers allowed the Pirates to bury 19 of 64 attempts from the field which had them shooting 29.7% in this contest. They went 18.2% from three-point range by hitting 4 of 22 and ended up going 11 out of 15 at the free throw line (73.3%). With respect to cleaning up the glass, Memphis allowed East Carolina to snag 32 in total (12 offensive).

Moussa Cisse ended up having an impact for the Tigers in the game. He knocked down 7 of 13 for the matchup for a field goal rate of 53.8%, which gave him 15 points. Cisse totaled 9 rebounds in his 24 minutes and added 2 dimes in the game. Someone else that ended being a contributor for Memphis was Boogie Ellis. He notched 11 points in 19 minutes on the hardwood by going 3 out of 6 shooting for the game. Ellis wrapped this one up going 50.0% from the floor in addition to collecting 2 dimes and 2 boards.

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

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

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