SMU Mustangs vs. Memphis Tigers Predictions, Picks, Odds and NCAA Basketball Betting Preview – February 25, 2016

The No. 24 SMU Mustangs are banned from the postseason this year. That means they can focus all their energies on winning their first back-to-back regular season conference championships in nearly 50 years. The Mustangs may be in for a treat when they visit Memphis on Thursday night. The Tigers are seventh in the American Conference as they continue to struggle stringing together wins.

Can the Mustangs take one step closer to the championship? Or will they stumble at Memphis? Read on as we take a look at this big conference matchup. For more college basketball action, check out our complete previews for Indiana vs. Illinois and Providence vs. Seton Hall.

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SMU Mustangs vs. Memphis Tigers Preview

Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis

When: Thursday, February 25, 6:00 PM ET

Line: SMU Mustangs (-4.5) at Memphis Tigers (+4.5) – view all NCAA Basketball lines

Betting on the SMU Mustangs (22-4)

SMU is a half-game behind the first-place Temple Owls in the American Conference. The Mustangs need to keep winning with the end of the regular season fast approaching. They get a pretty manageable matchup on the road next, taking on the seventh-place Memphis Tigers.

Each game will be especially memorable for SMU’s seniors. They won’t be making the trip to the conference or NCAA tournaments due to sanctions imposed on the program. Nic Moore and Markus Kennedy should lead the way in this game. Moore had 22 points and seven assists, while Kennedy scored a season-high 19 points with nine rebounds in Sunday’s 74-63 win over East Carolina.

Moore has been a solid player for the Mustangs recently. He’s averaging 22 points on 51.9 percent shooting from three over his last four games. He also scored 22 in an 80-68 victory over Memphis on January 30. Expect the senior guard to continue lighting up the scoreboard as his college career approaches its end.

The Mustangs are 5-1 ATS in their last six games against Memphis.

Betting on the Memphis Tigers (15-12)

Memphis may be struggling to string together some wins this season. But they’ve been good playing at home in FedEx Forum. The Tigers are 13-5 at home this season, most recently beating UCF 73-56 on February 17. They rank first in scoring in conference play, putting up 75.3 points per game. But they allow their opponents plenty of opportunities, giving up 75.5 points per game.

Dedric Lawson is the Tigers’ court general this season. He leads the team with 15 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He’s stepped it up a notch recently, averaging 19 points and 11.6 rebounds in recording five straight double-doubles. The freshman forward wasn’t at his best last month against SMU, though. He had 13 boards but shot 1 for 9 from the floor.

Shaq Goodwin could help Lawson pound the ball inside the pain in this matchup. He’s averaging close to double-double figures with 14.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season. He had 15 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the year’s first game against SMU.

Avery Woodson can offer some support from the backcourt. He’s been pretty hot recently with back-to-back double digit scoring outings. Woodson has scored 14.5 points per game on 44 percent shooting from three in his last two games.

Memphis has won four of their last five home games against SMU, going 3-2 against the spread.

Writer’s Prediction

Memphis upsets SMU to cover +4.5.

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