Memphis Tigers vs South Florida Bulls Prediction, 3/2/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Memphis Tigers vs USF Bulls

Date: Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Location: Yuengling Center in Tampa, FL

TV: ESPNU

Odds/Point Spread: Memphis (-8.5)

The Memphis Tigers (14-6) travel to Yuengling Center on Tuesday where they'll take on the USF Bulls (8-10). Memphis opens this contest as 8.5-point favorites. The O/U is set at 133.

Memphis steps onto the hardwood with a mark of 14-6 on the season. They turn the ball over 16.5 times per contest and as a unit they are committing 19.2 fouls on a nightly basis. As a team, Memphis is collecting 40.4 boards per contest and has racked up 327 dimes on the year, which is 78th in Division 1 in terms of passing the rock. The Tigers are connecting on 34.9% on shots from downtown (147 of 421) and 62.4% from the charity stripe. They average 72.5 points per game (151st in the nation) while connecting on 44.0% from the field. Defensively, the Tigers are forcing their opponents into 16.6 turnovers per game while drawing 17.3 personal fouls. The Tigers defense is giving up a FG percentage of 38.8% (435 of 1,121) and they relinquish 32.9 boards per contest as a unit. They are currently ranked 83rd in the nation in giving up assists to the opposition with 223 surrendered this year. They are giving up 27.2% on 3-point shots and they rank 19th in D-1 in PPG from their opponents (62.6).

The Memphis Tigers played the Cincinnati Bearcats and notched a win by a score of 80-74 in their last contest. Memphis wrapped up the contest with a 42.9% FG percentage (30 out of 70) and converted 7 out of their 26 shots from distance. When they shot from the charity stripe, the Tigers made 13 of their 17 attempts for a rate of 76.5%. In terms of grabbing rebounds, they compiled 42 with 16 of them being of the offensive variety. They also doled out 22 assists in the game while forcing 15 turnovers and having 8 steals. Concerning defending, Memphis allowed 45.6% from the floor on 26 of 57 shooting. Cincinnati distributed 11 assists and had 7 steals in this matchup. In addition, Cincinnati had 28 boards (6 offensive, 22 defensive) and had 6 rejections. Cincinnati finished shooting 61.9% when shooting free throws by making 13 of their 21 attempts. They made 9 of 24 shots from beyond the arc.

Boogie Ellis is one guy who had an impact for the matchup. He ended up finishing with 17 points on 5 of 11 shooting. He saw the court for 28 minutes played and also pulled down 7 rebounds. Ellis finished 45.5% from the field and also distributed 2 assists. One more player that was a determining factor in the matchup for the Tigers was Landers Nolley. He grabbed 4 rebounds in his 30 min played on the night. He walked away from this one shooting 40.0% from the floor in the matchup via 6-of-15 (14 points). In all, Nolley had 1 assist.

South Florida has a record of 8-10 so far this season. The Bulls commit 17.3 personal fouls every game and they hit 63.4% from the free throw line. They are assisting teammates 11.7 times per contest (287th in college basketball) and they cough up possession 14.2 times per contest. South Florida has totaled 1,194 points this year (66.3 per game) and they pull down 37.6 boards per game. When it comes to offense, the Bulls are shooting 40.8% from the floor, which has them ranked 324th in the nation. The Bulls on defense are ranked 208th in the country in points allowed per game with 71.1. The South Florida defense allows 33.4% on 3-point attempts (140 of 419) and opponents are knocking down 70.9% of their shots from the free throw line. They give up 14.9 assists and 32.8 total rebounds per game, which has them ranked 296th and 88th in Division 1. They are able to force 12.3 TO's per game and have allowed teams to shoot 45.4% from the field (267th in college hoops).

For their last game, the USF Bulls went home defeated by a final of 98-52 when they played the Houston Cougars. The Bulls recorded 15 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive rebounds totaling 22 in the matchup. They also gave up possession 14 times, while earning 3 steals for this contest. The Cougars earned 16 fouls for this contest which took the Bulls to the free throw line for 13 attempts. They were able to make 7 of those for a clip of 53.8%. With regard to 3-point attempts, South Florida made 7 of 18 attempts (38.9%). At the conclusion of this game, the Bulls finished the game shooting 19 out of 52 from the floor which had them at 36.5%. The Bulls allowed the Cougars to convert 39 of their 65 tries from the floor which left them shooting 60.0% in this contest. They finished the game shooting 45.5% from three-point range by going 15 of 33 and finished the game at 5 of 6 from the free throw line (83.3%). In the matter of how they cleaned up the glass, South Florida allowed Houston to grab 33 overall (9 on the offensive side).

Xavier Castaneda ended up having an impact for the Bulls for the matchup. He converted 3 out of 8 in this game giving him a field goal percentage of 37.5%, and had 7 rebounds. Castaneda accumulated 11 points in his 35 mins of playing time and earned 4 dimes in this matchup. An additional guy that ended up playing a role for South Florida was Caleb Murphy. He ended up finishing with no assists in 35 mins played, and he shot 4 of 9 from the floor. Murphy walked away from this one going 44.4% from the field as well as totaling 10 points and 2 total rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Memphis (-8.5)

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