College Basketball Predictions: Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis (Sunday)
Welcome back to another Sunday of college basketball picks and predictions. There are a ton of intriguing matchups on tap today, so let’s get into the top plays before the action tips off.
A Big East showdown featuring UConn vs. St. John’s headlines the picks. Plus, we check out predictions for Arizona State vs. Kansas State in the Big 12 and Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis in the AAC.
Note that all betting lines are accurate as of this writing, but shop around for the best odds. Enjoy these college basketball picks and predictions for Sunday, February 23rd’s game Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis.
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Sunday’s Best College Basketball Bets: Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Florida Atlantic vs. Memphis (-9.5) | O/U 159.5 (-110/-110)
A week ago, Memphis lost in overtime on the road at Wichita State. It was a rare blemish for a team now 11-2 in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and had won eight straight beforehand. Let's back the Tigers to get back on track at home with Florida Atlantic coming to town.
Memphis has responded well after losses this season. It's 4-0 SU in games following a loss so far, winning by an average of 10.3 PPG. Penny Hardaway's squad should also benefit greatly from having a full week off ahead of today's home matchup. Furthermore, the Tigers have just a one-game lead in the AAC over North Texas and UAB - making a win today even more important.
Last weekend's loss at Wichita State requires some context as well. Memphis had an eight-point second-half lead and even led by four with less than a minute remaining. It should've been a Tigers victory but multiple late missed shots and free throws cost them.
Florida Atlantic, coincidentally, also lost to Wichita last time out (on Thursday). However, the Owls' season is going a bit differently than their opponents today. They're 15-11 overall, 8-5 in conference play and 104th in the NET Rankings.
Florida Atlantic has regularly underperformed against tough competition and on the road. It's 1-5 ATS as underdogs this year and just 3-7 ATS on the road. Taking on a hungry and well-rested Memphis team is not an ideal time to bounce back.
Memphis owns a massive advantage in three-point shooting on both sides today. Florida Atlantic is allowing opponents to shoot 38.8% from three this year (362nd in Division I) while Memphis is shooting 40.4% from deep (fourth). On the other side, the Tigers are holding teams to a conference-best 29.4% three-point rate in AAC play.
This discrepancy is the main reason why Memphis beat Florida Atlantic by a score of 90-62 back in January. The Tigers shot 55.6% from the perimeter while the Owls went just 5-for-31 from deep (16.1%). The margin might not be as big this time around, but it should still be a comfortable victory for the home favorites.
Pick: Memphis -9.5 (-105)