SMU vs. Memphis prediction and odds for Thursday, January 26 (SMU's offense can't keep up)

Memphis is building a strong at-large resume ahead of the NCAA Tournament and gets the opportunity to blowout an inferior league opponent.

The Tigers are 15-5 on the season around former SMU guard Kendric Davis, who has been the star of Penny Hardway’s club this season, averaging over 21 points per game and nearly six assists. He gets to face his old squad on Thursday, who is in the midst of a rebuild under first year head coach Rob Lanier.

Can Memphis cover the double digit spread, or will the Mustangs hang around like they did at home over the weekend against Wichita State, losing by two?

Here are the odds for Thursday’s meeting:

SMU vs. Memphis odds, spread and total

SMU vs. Memphis prediction and pick

The SMU is offense is going to struggle to hold up its end of the bargain in this one. The group is shooting 30% from 3 this season (outside the top 300 nationally), 47% on two-point tries (280th) and 69% from the free throw line (254th). Not only are they facing a Memphis team that has a 20-point per game scorer at point guard, they are are a dominant interior group, top 10 in field goal percentage at the rim according to Haslametrics.

The Tigers defense is suffocating, tops in the AAC in turnover rate and do a good job of running off of misses and scoring in transition, where they are top third in the country.

Memphis is off an impressive win at Cincinnati and is starting to look like a troubling at-large team come NCAA Tournament time. Factor in that Davis gets to face his old team and this is setting up for a Memphis blowout.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.