SMU Mustangs vs UCF Knights Prediction, 1/8/2023 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: SMU Mustangs vs UCF Knights

Date: Sunday, January 8, 2023

Location: Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL

TV: ESPNU

The SMU Mustangs (6-9) are on their way to Addition Financial Arena on Sunday where they will try to defeat the UCF Knights (11-4).

The SMU Mustangs stepped onto the hardwood against Houston and took a loss by a final of 87-53 in their last game. SMU finished the game with a 30.6% field goal percentage (15 of 49) and made 3 of their 20 3-point shots. When they shot from the charity stripe, the Mustangs converted 20 of their 28 shots for a rate of 71.4%. In the matter of rebounding, they compiled 20 with 5 of them being offensive. They also recorded 8 dimes in this game as well as forcing the other team into 10 turnovers and having 5 steals. When discussing defense, SMU let their opponent shoot 45.6% from the field on 31 of 68 shooting. Houston totaled 17 dimes and had 6 steals in the matchup. Furthermore, Houston collected 52 rebounds (20 offensive, 32 defensive), but didn't record a block for the team. Houston walked away from this one shooting 78.9% at the free throw line by knocking down 15 of 19 tries. They also converted 10 out of their 30 shots from downtown. With respect to personal fouls, the Mustangs ended up finishing with 18 and Houston totaled 22 personal fouls.

Efe Odigie is a player who was a major factor in the matchup. He finished shooting 62.5% from the floor but had no dimes when the game ended. He played 20 mins and grabbed 5 rebounds. He ended up scoring 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting.

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SMU comes into this matchup with a record of 6-9 on the campaign. They currently have an average of 68.8 pts per game (259th in the country) while going 42.4% from the field. The Mustangs are shooting 31.6% on shots from distance (93 of 294) and 70.6% from the free throw line. As a team, SMU is pulling in 35.7 boards per game and is sitting with 183 dimes for the year, which ranks 274th in the country in terms of passing. They are turning it over 12.3 times per game and as a unit they are committing 17.2 fouls on a nightly basis.

On the defensive end, the Mustangs are forcing 11.8 turnovers per game and they draw 16.8 fouls. They relinquish 33.6% from beyond the arc and they are ranked 242nd in college hoops in PPG from their opponents (71.2). The Mustangs defense is giving up a shooting percentage of 42.0% (385 of 916) and they relinquish 38.0 boards per game as a unit. They rank 259th in college basketball in giving up assists to their opponents with 210 conceded so far this season.

For their last game, the UCF Knights took home the win by a final score of 64-61 when they played East Carolina. The Knights were able to snag 26 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds for a total of 34 in this matchup. They also turned it over 13 times, while earning 2 steals in the matchup. East Carolina committed 19 personal fouls in the game which took the Knights to the free throw line for 18 tries. They were able to make 15 of the free throws for a percentage of 83.3%. In terms of 3-pointers, UCF converted 5 out of 15 tries (33.3%). Overall, the Knights finished shooting 22 out of 51 from the field which gave them a rate of 43.1%. The Knights permitted East Carolina to make 20 of their 57 attempts from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 35.1% for the contest. They went 29.6% from beyond the perimeter by going 8 out of 27 and ended up going 13 of 22 at the free throw line (59.1%). In reference to team rebounding, UCF permitted East Carolina to get 26 overall (10 on the offensive glass).

C.J. Kelly was important for the Knights in this game. He buried 9 of 13 in the matchup for a rate of 69.2%, and tallied 3 rebounds. He totaled 30 points in his 33 mins on the court and earned 1 assist in this matchup.

UCF has a mark of 11-4 for the season. The Knights are responsible for committing 15.7 personal fouls every game and they shoot 74.4% from the free throw line. They are dishing out assists 13.1 times per contest (209th in the country) and they are turning it over 13.8 times per game. UCF has 1,037 pts for the season (69.1 per contest) and they snag 37.1 boards per game. As an offense, the Knights are shooting 43.0% from the field, which is ranked 259th in the nation.

The UCF defense gives up 30.4% on shots from 3-point land (103 of 339) and their opposition makes 69.2% of their free throw shots. They surrender 11.4 assists and 32.9 rebounds per game, which is ranked 96th and 109th in college basketball. The Knights on the defensive end are ranked 19th in the country in PPG given up with 60.5. They have forced 14.0 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 38.5% from the floor (22nd in the nation).

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take SMU

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