UTEP Miners+8? over MEMPHIS: (3* selection)
Memphis has put together a pretty good season in John Calapari?s first year including an impressive 71-62 road win at Utah in the opening round of the NIT. But 23-8 UTEP (16-7 ATS) has been an underrated team all season in our opinion, and we think that this point spread is inflated as well. The Miners have won 6 of their last 8 games with the last loss coming by only 3 points to Tulsa in the WAC Tourney semis on the Golden Hurricane?s homecourt. UTEP F/C Wolfram (23 ppg. on 60% FG shooting and 7.5 rpg.) is one of the leading scorers in the nation and JC transfer PG Costello (14.5 ppg.. and 4.5 apg.) has also been a catalyst for the Miners this season. UTEP is the much better shooting team in this matchup at 49% FG on the season compared to 43% for Memphis, while both teams play defense in the 41% FG range. Of course Memphis is at home in this matchup, but they have been a better point spread play on the road and UTEP is 7-3 ATS away from home for the year. Memphis went 10-6 in regular season C-USA play, but they had also lost 3 of 4 coming into the NIT and are 4-5 ATS over their last 9 games. F/C Wise is the Tigers? best player at 15 ppg. and 11 rpg., but Memphis is pretty balanced after that. We will take UTEP and the points for 3-units in this spot where the winner will take on either Pepperdine or New Mexico in the quarterfinals.
Memphis has put together a pretty good season in John Calapari?s first year including an impressive 71-62 road win at Utah in the opening round of the NIT. But 23-8 UTEP (16-7 ATS) has been an underrated team all season in our opinion, and we think that this point spread is inflated as well. The Miners have won 6 of their last 8 games with the last loss coming by only 3 points to Tulsa in the WAC Tourney semis on the Golden Hurricane?s homecourt. UTEP F/C Wolfram (23 ppg. on 60% FG shooting and 7.5 rpg.) is one of the leading scorers in the nation and JC transfer PG Costello (14.5 ppg.. and 4.5 apg.) has also been a catalyst for the Miners this season. UTEP is the much better shooting team in this matchup at 49% FG on the season compared to 43% for Memphis, while both teams play defense in the 41% FG range. Of course Memphis is at home in this matchup, but they have been a better point spread play on the road and UTEP is 7-3 ATS away from home for the year. Memphis went 10-6 in regular season C-USA play, but they had also lost 3 of 4 coming into the NIT and are 4-5 ATS over their last 9 games. F/C Wise is the Tigers? best player at 15 ppg. and 11 rpg., but Memphis is pretty balanced after that. We will take UTEP and the points for 3-units in this spot where the winner will take on either Pepperdine or New Mexico in the quarterfinals.
