Missouri vs Miami (FL) Prediction 3/20/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Miami Hurricanes and the Missouri Tigers will meet on Friday night in an NCAA Tournament First Round matchup at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Missouri Tigers Betting Preview

The Missouri Tigers enter Friday evening’s contest with a 20–12 win‑loss record, including a 10–8 mark in conference play and a 5-6 record on the road at home. The Tigers have compiled wins over Howard, VMI, Minnesota, South Carolina State and the South Dakota State Coyotes, while losing games to Nore Dame and Kansas.

Last month, in the Missouri Tigers dominant 88-64 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Missouri guard Mark Mitchell amassed 17 points (6 of 11 shooting from the field: 5 of 6 shooting from the free-throw line), 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block illustrating his ability to lead the Tigers backcourt.

The Missouri Tigers average 79.7 points on 49.1 percent shooting from the field (18th in country) and 35 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Tigers are allowing opponents 75.3 points per contest.

Senior guard Mark Mitchell leads the Missouri Tigers backcourt averaging 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Senior guard Jayden Stone contributes 13.2 points, 5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1 steal per contest. Junior center Shawn Phillips Jr. provides the Tigers with a strong presence in the paint averaging 7.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. 

Miami Hurricanes Betting Preview

The Miami Hurricanes enter Friday’s contest with a 25–8 overall record, including a 13–5 mark in conference play and a rather impressive 8-2 record on the road. The Hurricanes have amassed wins over Notre Dame, Washington, Oregon and the Illinois Fighting Illini, while dropping games to Duke, Clemson and Wisconsin.

Earlier this season, in the Miami Hurricanes 81-69 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Miami guard Tre Donaldson amassed 23 points (8 of 14 shooting from the field), 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals showcasing his ability to play at a high level.  

The Miami Hurricanes are averaging 81.9 points (34th in nation) on 50.1 percent shooting from the field per game which ranks 10th in the country. Shifting our focus to the defensive side of the basketball, the Hurricanes are allowing opponents 71.2 points per contest.

Senior forward Matthew Reneau leads the Miami Hurricanes averaging 18.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal per game. Senior forward Ernest Udeh Jr. adds 6.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest anchoring the Hurricanes frontcourt. Senior guard Tre Donaldson contributes 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game providing Miami with further stability at the guard position.

Why the Missouri Tigers Will Win

• Quality offense. The Missouri Tigers average 79.7 points on 49.1 percent shooting from the field (18th in country) and 35 percent shooting from three‑point range per game.

• Guard play. Senior guard Mark Mitchell leads the Missouri Tigers backcourt averaging 18.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.  

Why the Miami Hurricanes Will Win

• Elite offense. The Miami Hurricanes are averaging 81.9 points (34th in nation) on 50.1 percent shooting from the field per game which ranks 10th in the country.

• Defensive edge. The Hurricanes are allowing opponents 71.2 points per contest. Conversely, the Missouri Tigers are allowing opponents 75.3 points per contest.

Missouri Tigers vs. Miami Hurricanes Prediction

In my view, Miami’s edge in this matchup comes from how quickly the Hurricanes can turn small advantages into scoring bursts. Additionally, the Hurricanes are playing well, winning four of the team’s last six games played this season. Conversely, Missouri arrives at tomorrow’s game in poor form. More specifically, the Tigers have lost three consecutive games. For me, the Hurricanes are the clear side to be on in this contest. For the reasons just noted, I am backing the Miami Hurricanes to cover the 2.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Miami -2.5