No. 17 Memphis Tigers (5-1) +3.5, 139 O/U at No. 19Georgetown Hoyas (6-1) Georgetown, Washington, D.C, 2:00PM Eastern, Saturday
By Jay Horne of Predictem.com
College Football will not be playing for the first weekend in 4 months and college basketball steps in to steal the spot light. One of the games highlighting the weekend is the much anticipated match-up featuring number 17 Memphis Tigers at the number 19 Georgetown Hoyas. The Tigers got a big win against the Hoyas last season 85-71 during a time when Georgetown was ranked the number 8 team in the nation. This game has promising looks to be a great game between the Big East and Conference USA.
Memphis stands at a 5-1 mark on the season with their lone loss coming from no. 10 Xavier. The Tigers shot rather poorly from the floor this season with a field goal percentage of 44.6. Memphis struggles have continues from 3-point range shooting 29% from outside the arc. However on the up side, Memphis averages a strong 42 rebounds per game that ranks in the top 25 in the country. Memphis is also one of the better defensive teams in the nation. They have held opposing teams to shoot a low 39% from the field which ranks 10th in all of college basketball. The Tigers hope the defense will be too much for the Hoyas as it was a season ago.
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Georgetown owns the best defense in America in terms of field goal percentage against opponents. In their 7 games this season, the Hoyas have held opposing teams to only shoot a mere 36.6% from the field. Georgetown also holds a pretty sporty offense that shoots a stout 53.1% from the field ranking them the 2nd best offense in America in terms of field goal percentage. The Hoyas are fresh off one of the nastiest defeats early in the basketball season when they crushed Savannah State 100-38. The Hoyas will have revenge on their minds after losing to the Tigers last year in Memphis. This season everything changes when they get the Tigers at home where the Hoyas are 5-0 on the year.
Sportsinteraction opened the betting line favoring Georgetown to even up the score from last years contest by 3.5 points. (Georgetown -3.5) Moneyline numbers are yet to be determined as they will likely be released Saturday morning. The over/under total has been set at 139 points for the game which is slightly lower than the 156 points scored in last years game.
Georgetown has 5 starters that are averaging double digits in points. The Hoyas are led by some big guys on the inside in forward DaJuan Summers and freshmen center Greg Monroe. Both guys are averaging slightly over 13 points per game and together they are responsible nearly 10 rebounds per game. The big guys will need to manufacture some points in the paint to control Memphis from getting out front. The Hoyas will have the chance to take advantage of the strong inside game they are accustomed to playing. Georgetown will look to continue their undefeated home record this season and prove themselves as a team that will be strong in the Big East this season.
Memphis also has 5 starters who average point totals in double digits. The Tigers are led by one of the most impressive freshmen in all of America. Freshmen guard Tyreke Evans is averaging 16.2 points per game this season along with 6 rebounds per game. Evans has the ability to make plays on his own as well as setup teammates for scoring opportunities. A key feature in this game may be the Tigers bench vs. the Georgetown bench. Memphis averages 10 more points per game than Georgetown and that could play to be a big factor. The Tigers seem to like to run up and down the court more than Georgetown as well. If the Tigers can wear down the Hoyas, they could score yet another victory over Georgetown.
Betting Trends
Memphis has been strong early in the season for bettors. The Tigers are 4-1 ATS in the 5 games with betting lines. Memphis has only been held to under 139 total points in one game this season and that was their lone loss to Xavier 63-58. Georgetown has split the books going 2-2 ATS this season while going on the under total in 2 of 3 games. Georgetown has only scored over 139 points in 1 of their 7 games this season.
Jays Pick: I like the Hoyas to extract a little revenge this team around and the Hoya defense is super strong. Take Georgetown -3.5.