It will be a battle between AAC opponents when the Tulane Green Wave (4-9, 0-1 AAC) welcome the SMU Mustangs (9-4, 1-0 AAC) to Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse. The game starts at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, January 4, 2019, and will air on ESPN2.
SMU Mustangs vs. Tulane Green Wave Betting Prediction
The Mustangs come in on a high note after topping the Northwestern State Demons in their last matchup, 69-58. SMU won the rebounding battle. The Mustangs had more offensive rebounds (21 vs. nine) and total rebounds (44 vs. 33). SMU rallied around Jimmy Whitt Jr., who was the team’s leading scorer with 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting.
In the Green Wave’s last game, they lost to the No. 17 Florida State Seminoles, 80-69. Florida State won the rebounding battle. The Seminoles had more offensive rebounds (13 vs. eight), defensive rebounds (24 vs. 21) and total rebounds (37 vs. 29). Kevin Zhang put together a solid performance for Tulane, leading both teams in scoring with 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting.
After splitting two games last season, these teams will battle for the first time this year. In the last contest, the Mustangs won 73-62. The Mustangs had a much better turnover percentage (8.5 vs. 20.5) and had a much better offensive rebounding percentage (30.0 vs. 20.0).
This has potential to be an error-filled game for the offense of Tulane. Tulane ranks 295th in the country in ball protection (turnover percentage of 21.2 percent), while the ball-hawking defense of SMU forces the 86th-most turnovers in the nation (21.4 percent). Furthermore, the Mustangs rank 27th in offensive efficiency (116.4), while the Green Wave rank 280th in defensive efficiency (106.8).
SMU vs. Tulane Odds Pick
College Basketball Prediction: SU Winner – Smu, ATS Winner – SMU, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes:
SMU ranks 20th in rebounds allowed per game (30.5) while Tulane ranks 227th (38.8).
The Mustangs rank 27th in steals allowed per game (5.1) while the Green Wave rank 129th (6.9).
SMU averages 23.9 three pointers per game, which ranks 98th in the nation. Tulane ranks 185th in three pointers allowed per game (24.5).
The Mustangs rank 68th in assists per game (15.1) while the Green Wave rank 128th in assists allowed per game (13.3).
Bettings Trends:
The Mustangs’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 3.0, down from 10.0 for the season.
During their last five games, the Green Wave have scored an average of 70.0 points per game (1.8 above their season average) and allowed an average of 74.2 points per game (0.5 below their season average).
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