Memphis Tigers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/22/2023

Time: 1 p.m. ET

Venue: Fifth Thrid Arena, Cincinnati, OH

Where to watch: ESPN2

DraftKings: Cincinnati -3

FanDuel: Cincinnati -3.5

BetMGM: Cincinnati -2.5

Caesars: Cincinnati -2.5

Memphis: 14-5 (4-2 AAC)

Cincinnati: 14-6 (5-2 AAC)

Memphis: won 88-78 vs. Wichita State

Cincinnati: won 85-69 at South Florida

Any battle between two of the top five teams in the American Athletic Conference, the Memphis tigers will be taking on the Cincinnati Bearcats in which would be an exciting matchup on Sunday.

 

Memphis has won three of his last four since losing to Tulane on New Year's Day, and is coming off an 88-78 victory over Wichita state on Thursday. Memphis missed out on the cover by 1/2 point and has dropped eight in a row against the spread. DeAndre Williams led the way with 29 points on 9 of 13 shooting while also grabbing 15 rebounds, and Kendrick Davis had 20 points to go along with five assists.

 

Anytime Memphis finds itself playing well that usually tends to be a good thing. Whenever they start winning games that usually puts the pressure on the other mid majors to try and up their game before the NCAA tournament. And if Memphis continues to play this way, they will find their way back into the field of 68. The recent losses to Central Florida, albeit double overtime, and two lane due pause for some concern but I am not overly concerned considering how talented this team tends to be.

 

Memphis will be taking on a Cincinnati team that has also been very good over the last 10 games, winning eight of ten. It also helps that they have won three in a row since losing to the best team in the country, the number one ranked Houston Cougars by 13 points period since then Cincinnati has rattled off a 28 point win against these Carolina, a two point win over SMU on the road and a 16 point victory over South Florida on the road. Those three they were all favored by at least about four points.

 

In the win over South Florida, the Bearcats got tremendous production and 21 points each from David DeJulius and Landers Nolley II. Daniel Skillings was the only other player to finish in double figures with 11 points off the bench in 17 minutes.

 

Cincinnati hasn't been known to be a team that can challenge the top teams in the conference, but this year they are playing solid enough and well enough to be put into that conversation. I don't know if I like Cincinnati as much as I like Memphis, but they are at least making the middle of this conference very interesting and it's going to make some you're serious intrigue if Houston can continue to ride this wave all the way to the top seed in the NCAA tournament.

 

The road team has won three of the last four meetings against the spread while the favorite has covered in three of the last five with one of them being a push. That to me screams everything favors Memphis going into this one because of how good they've been as of late period and again, you do not want to test fade against Memphis. Memphis 79, Cincinnati 68

Betting trends

Memphis is 24-11 ATS after 3 straight conference games the last 3 seasons.

Memphis is 17-6 ATS after allowing 30 points or less in the first half in 2 straight games the last 3 seasons.

Cincinnati is 11-4 ATS as a favorite this season.

Cincinnati is 8-2 ATS at home this season.

Memphis is 3-11 ATS after failing to cover in 3 or more straight games the last 3 seasons.

PG: Kendric Davis

SG: Alex Lomax

SF: Elijah McCadden

PF: Chandler Lawson

C: DeAndre Williams

PG: David DeJulius

SG: Mika Adams-Woods

SF: Landers Nolley II

PF: Ody Oguama

C: Viktor Lakhin

Points:

Rebounds:

Assists:

Points: Landers Nolley II -- 15.4

Rebounds: Viktor Lakhin -- 7.4

Assists: David DeJulius -- 4.2