Miami (FL) (4-13) vs SMU (13-4)
Game Info: Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2:00 pm (Watsco Center)
Betting Odds: Miami (FL) +5.5 -- Over/Under: 156.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: ESPNU
The SMU Mustangs and the Miami Hurricanes meet Saturday in college basketball action from the Watsco Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a SMU vs. Miami prediction.
SMU Recap
The SMU Mustangs come into this game looking to build on a 54-52 win over Virginia last time out to improve to 13-4 on the year. After this game, SMU will head home for a game against the Louisville Cardinals.
SMU Wins Back-To-Back Games
Boopie Miller leads the Mustangs in scoring and assists with 14.5 PPG and 5.8 APG while Chuck Harris has 12.4 PPG and Matt Cross has 10.2 PPG with a team-high 8.1 RPG to lead the Mustangs on the glass up to this point in the year. B.J. Edwards has 10.4 PPG with 3.7 RPG and 3.2 APG along with 2.4 SPG as well on the year to cap off the scoring in double figures for SMU so far this season. Samet Yigitoglu has 9.3 PPG with 6.7 RPG and Yohan Traore has 8.2 PPG with 4.5 RPG while Karlo Oquendo has 9.4 PPG with 2.8 RPG. As a team, SMU is averaging 82.9 PPG on 47.3% shooting from the field, 37.4% from three and 72.2% from the foul line this season.
Why the SMU Mustangs will win
- Miami (FL) has lost each of its last 16 games against the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- SMU has won nine of its last 10 games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Miami Recap
The Miami Hurricanes come into this one looking to salvage a win after an 89-54 loss to Duke last time out to fall to 4-13 on the year. After this game, Miami will head back on the road for a game against the Stanford Cardinal.
Hurricanes Lose 6th Straight
Nijel Pack leads the Hurricanes in scoring and assists with 13.9 PPG and 4.3 APG while Lynn Kidd has 11.4 PPG along with 7 RPG and Matthew Cleveland has 12.8 PPG with 4.4 RPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for Miami up to this point in the year. Jalen Blackmon has 7.9 PPG while Brandon Johnson has 7.8 PPG with a team-high 7.2 RPG to lead Miami in rebounding up to this point in the year. Jalil Bethea has 7.1 PPG as well so far this season for the ‘Canes. As a team, Miami is averaging 76.1 PPG on 46.8% shooting from the field, 31.6% from three and 77.7% from the foul line this season.
Why the Miami Hurricanes will win
- SMU has lost eight of its last 10 away games when playing with a rest disadvantage.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Miami (FL)'s last six day games against Conference opponents at Watsco Center have produced a total of 156 or fewer points.
- Each of SMU's last three day games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 164+ points.
SMU vs. Miami Prediction
I’m on SMU here. I know the line feels a bit light given the directions that these two teams are headed and how different those directions are. However, the Mustangs are the clear and obvious better team here, and Miami just looks like they’re starting to quit on the year. The problems within this program are far deeper than Jim Larranaga leaving and I just don’t like the state this program is in. Give me the Mustangs laying the points here.
Chris’s Pick SMU -5.5
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
