The South Florida Bulls (9-5) travel to Tennessee in hopes of an upset against the 10th-ranked Memphis Tigers (15-2), presenting an appealing college basketball betting prospect on Thursday, January 18 at 7:00 PM ET. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook offers the Tigers as 12-point favorites (-118) in this showdown.
When: January 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Where: FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee
Watch: ESPN
South Florida Bulls Preview
The Bulls have looked great on paper in their last five games, winning four of them and winning their most recent. Their previous success was an 81-73 showcase over the Rice Owls, with Kasean Pryor contributing 29 points for their success.
Pryor is also leading the Bulls in rebounds each game with 6.5, on top of his 10.5 point production per game. Chris Youngblood is their scoring leader with 14.9 points each game on 40.8 shooting from the field.
The Bulls produce the 133rd-best offense in the nation with 76.4 points per game and 14.6 assists. Their efficiency on offense ranks 174th, with a rating of 107.0. If they have a bad night at the rim, this could get ugly fast against the Tigers.
For their defense, they give up 70.3 points per game and rank 145th. Their efficiency in getting key stops ranks 100th at 98.4. Compared to their offense, they do not carry much room for error.
Memphis Tigers Preview
The Tigers aim to continue rolling past teams and add to their 10-game win streak. Their most recent victory includes a 112-86 thrashing over the Wichita State Shockers, with Jaykwon Walton and Jahvon Quinerly both adding 23 points to fuel their win. This was also a good sign to see the Tigers distribute their scoring load.
Quinerly leads the team in assists with 4.8 each game, but also adds in 14.1 points per game. The biggest threat is David Jones, which averages 20.9 points per game along with 6.7 rebounds (both team highs).
The Tigers rank 34th in the nation for points per game at 81.8. Their efficiency with the ball comes in at 90th in the nation, with a rating of 111.0. They also put up 13.8 assists, showing competitive ball movement for scoring opportunities.
The defense from the Tigers ranks 260th, as they give up 74.4 points per game. They also handle the defensive end with an efficiency of 111.0, ranking 156th in the nation. If they can lock down the half court setting and prevent the Bulls from getting close to 80 points, they have a good shot at success.
Betting Odds
ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook showcases appealing college basketball betting opportunities. Currently, the Memphis Tigers are favored to win, with market analysis indicating they have an 89.3 percent likelihood of achieving that goal at home.
South Florida Bulls: +470
Spread: +12.0 (-116)
Memphis Tigers: -952
Spread: -12.0 (-118)
Total Points: Over 157.5 (-115), Under 157.5 (-120)
Photo Credit: © Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
