Florida vs. Memphis: What Bettors Need to Know
By Covers.com
Florida Gators vs. Memphis Tigers (+2.5, OFF)
Florida looks to build on its impressive win over Kansas when the 17th-ranked Gators face No. 14 Memphis on Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. Memphis is averaging 84.8 points and has won six straight since losing at Oklahoma State, while Florida is holding opponents to 60.9 points per game and forced 24 turnovers in last Tuesday’s 67-61 win over Kansas. Both teams were projected as top-four seeds of the NCAA Tournament’s West Region in Joe Lunardi's latest edition of Bracketology at espn.com.
Florida has been dealing with a number of injuries and suspensions all season, but the Gators are slowly reaching full strength. Guards Scottie Wilbekin and Kasey Hill played together for the first time this season against Kansas, and Wilbekin was named SEC Player of the Week after scoring a career-high 18 points in the victory. Memphis boasts a quartet of talented guards, but Florida can’t overlook sophomore forward Shaq Goodwin, averaging 13.6 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds.
LINE: The line opened with Memphis as 2.5-point dogs. The total is currently off the board.
ABOUT FLORIDA (7-2, 4-2 ATS): Center Patric Young is averaging 10.4 and 5.6 rebounds, and the Gators’ frontcourt should be even stronger later this month when highly touted freshman forward Chris Walker (academics) joins the team. Virginia Tech transfer Dorian Finney-Smith continues to impress while leading the Gators in rebounding (8.2 rebounds per game), and senior forward Casey Prather averages a team-high 18.3 points. Prather has improved his offensive game this season by consistently getting to the foul line, where he’s made 50 of his 68 attempts.
ABOUT MEMPHIS (7-1, 4-2 ATS): Coach Josh Pastner is looking for more from his four senior guards – Joe Jackson, Geron Johnson, Chris Crawford and Michael Dixon – after they struggled in a lackluster 73-59 win over Arkansas-Little Rock last Friday. “When they don't play well, our team is not going to be as good,” Pastner said. “We need those guys to be really good every single time on the floor. We're counting on those guys to be elite - not individually, but collectively.” Freshman forward Austin Nichols has started every game and averages 10.8 points and 5.5 rebounds.
TRENDS:
* Florida is 4-1 ATS in its last five games overall.
* Memphis is 5-1 ATS in its last six neutral site games.
* Under is 5-1 in Florida's last six non-conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Memphis' last four games overall.
TIP-INS:
1. Florida has held six of its past eight opponents to 61 points or fewer.
2. The teams have a common opponent in Arkansas-Little Rock, with Memphis winning by 14 and Florida cruising to an 86-56 win on Nov. 16.
3. The Gators and Tigers have met just once before, with Florida claiming an 84-83 victory on Dec. 18, 1976.
College Basketball Information
Pitt-Cincinnati were Big East rivals until this year, now both sides are in different leagues; Pitt is 5-3 in last eight series games. Bearcats scored an average of 50.5 ppg in losing last two games, at New Mexico/vs Xavier. Panthers are 8-0 so far playing #318 schedule- they're 2-0 vs top 100 teams, beating Stanford by 21, Penn State by 9. ACC favorites are 13-4 vs spread playing on a neutral floor.
Wake Forest hasn't played in 10 days since OT win over Richmond in last game, when they were down 12 with 7:31 left; Deacons are 8-2 vs #323 schedule, shooting just 64.5% from foul line. St Bonaventure split two top 100 games, beating Iona 102-89 Saturday, losing to Louisiana Tech by 4 on neutral floor, but they also had bad 72-70 loss at Siena.
7-2 Charlotte beat Michigan/Kansas State on a neutral floor; their two losses were by a point and in OT; 49ers are turning ball over 19.7% of time. Florida State was in same Puerto Rico tourney- they lost by hoop in OT to Michigan; Seminoles turn ball over 23.2% of time, very bad. FSU beat Charlotte 79-76 last season. First game in nine days for both.
First game in 12 days for Providence team that lost its PG for season, bad news for thin team; PC's bench plays 7th-least minutes in country. Friars shoot just 43.1% inside arc. Yale is 2-3 on road; they lost by 18 at UConn, in only top 100 game this year. Ivy League road underdogs are 9-8 vs spread. Big East home favorites are 18-12. This is first game in ten days for Yale.
5-4 Washington is currently lowest-rated team in Pac-12; they lost by 7 at San Diego State in only true road game- they lost by 18-11 to Indiana, BC on neutral floor last month. Tulane lost lot of transfers after move to Big East fell through; Green Wave is 5-5 while playing schedule ranked in bottom 15; opponents are shooting 40% from arc, 54.9% inside arc.
10-0 Wichita State has true road wins by 23 at Tulsa, 5 at Saint Louis; Shockers had revenge win over Tennessee Saturday, face Alabama squad here that is 0-3 vs top 100 teams, losing by 9-10-2 points, with loss to Drexel in triple OT. Tide turns ball over 19.3% of time; best team they beat so far is #121 Texas Tech. MVC road favorites are 7-1 vs spread.
7-2 Florida is playing its 4th straight top 50 opponent; Gators won by 6 over Kansas last game, are forcing turnovers 23.6% of time (#12), are #7 in defensive efficiency. Memphis won tourney in Orlando, avenging loss to Oklahoma State in finals- 101-80 loss in Stillwater was only true road game for Tigers. Memphis is forcing turnovers 23.3% of time. SEC home favorites are 22-16 vs spread.
Cal Poly made 20-28 inside arc, 2-18 outside arc in 63-60 Bracket Buster win over LMU last year, game Lions led by 7 with 17:47 left. Mustangs are just 4-5 this year, 0-3 in true road games, with loss at #153 Fresno State the most alarming one. First home game in 30 days for LMU team that lost by 7 at Valpo Saturday- they've lost four of last six games.
Cal-Irvine already split pair of road games at Pac-12 squads, winning by 14 at Washington, losing by 17 at Cal; Anteaters are 1-4 vs teams in top 200, but only one of losses was by more than six points. 9-0 Oregon is getting LY's PG Artis back here after suspension; Ducks are making 42% from arc, 58.6% inside arc, now with Artis they're much deeper team.
7-2 Manhattan is ranked #90, tops in MAAC; Jaspers are already 6-0 on road, winning by 5 at UNCW Sunday- they do turn ball over 20% of time, which isn't good. South Carolina survived 19 turnovers in a 63-57 win over Manhattan in Brooklyn LY; this is only second game in last 24 days for Gamecocks, who lost by 27 at Oklahoma State eleven days ago.
Murray State is hurting with PG Jackson (knee) out for year; Racers are 2-5 vs D-I teams, winning last two games by total of six points after 0-5 start vs D-I clubs. Southern Illinois is 1-7 vs D-I teams, losing last three games by 3-4-9 points; Salukis are making 30.6% from arc. OVC home favorites are 3-6 against spread; MVC road dogs are 13-11 vs spread.
Denver had great week last week, beating Colorado State/Wyoming, two teams they usually lose to; three of Pioneers' last four games either went to OT or were decided by three points. Belmont lost two of last three games, losing by 13 at South Dakota State Saturday; Bruins' losses are by 8-13-13 points. Belmont had two days to prep for Princeton offense.
New Mexico had 29-18 edge on foul line, held Aggies to 4-19 from arc in fairly easy 79-70 (up 10 at half) win in Las Cruces 13 days ago. Lobos got roughed up by Kansas over weekend and has trip to Vegas coming up this weekend; they're 3-2 vs top 100 teams, winning by 3-9-9, with a double OT win over UAB. Aggies are overscheduled- they've lost four of last five games, winning last game in OT at Drake.
Armadillosports.com