Tulsa vs. SMU Pick
No. 14 SMU looks to lock up at least a share of the AAC regular-season title tonight at 8PM ET when the Mustangs host Tulsa.
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, SMU is heavily favored tonight, as the Mustangs are getting odds of -16.5 points against Tulsa. The over/under total for the game is listed at 135 points. SMU has won four of the last five against Tulsa, including a 76-53 win on the road on Feb. 4.
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SMU is on an 11-game winning streak to move to 25-4 on the season and 15-1 in the AAC. The Mustangs are also strong against the spread, covering in nine of their last 10 to get to 18-5-1 ATS on the season. SMU is averaging 73 points per game on offense while allowing just 59 points per contest. When at home, the Mustangs score 76.4 points per game on offense while allowing 56.2 on defense. Semi Ojeleye is averaging 18.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game to lead the team while Ben Moore adds 11.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Tulsa has won back-to-back games since suffering a six-game losing streak. The Golden Hurricanes are 14-14 on the season and 8-8 in the AAC. Tulsa is 15-12 against the spread on the season and just 5-8 ATS on the road. It is averaging 67.6 points per game on offense while allowing only 69.1 on defense. When on the road, Tulsa only manages 62.7 points per game. Tulsa has just one player averaging double figures, who is Junior Etou, averaging 12.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
SMU is being asked to cover a lot for an offense that doesn’t typically post a big number, but the Mustangs have a defense that should help it cover tonight. In the first meeting at Tulsa, the Mustangs held the Golden Hurricanes to just 18 of 49 shooting. SMU’s defense gets even better at home and should have no problem locking up this below average Tulsa offense.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY PREDICTION: SMU -16.5