Cincinnati (10-6) at Memphis (13-3)
When: Thursday, January 16th, 2020
Where: FedExForum,
Memphis, TN
Time: 7:00 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Memphis -5/141
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Everyone is the American Athletic Conference is chasing the Wichita State Shockers and two of the more capable teams of winning the conference will battle Thursday night. The Cincinnati Bearcats visit the Memphis Tigers for the first meeting of the season at FedExForum. Both teams – along with four others – have one conference loss and are looking up at the 3-0 Shockers entering Wednesday’s action. Memphis has struggled of late, but avoided a third straight setback by defeating South Florida on Sunday, rallying from a 14-point deficit to post a 68-64 victory. The Bearcats are clamping down on defense against AAC opponents, holding their last two foes to under 55 points in posting two straight victories. Cincinnati dropped its conference opener at Tulane 76-71, but rebounded with 75-44 and 68-54 triumphs over Tulsa and Central Florida respectively. The Bearcats have won six straight meetings with Memphis including a 69-64 win here last season.
The Bearcats are 1-3 in true road games and a dismal 1-7 ATS in all games away from home. The encouraging sign is that their lone win came last time out against Central Florida when they held the Knights to 19-of-45 from the field. Tre Scott led three players in double-figures with 14 points, while grabbing a team-high 11 rebounds, while Keith Williams chipped in 16 points and six boards. Scott only averages 8.8 points a contest but has scored double-digit points in three of his last four games. Leading scorer Chris Vogt (13.5 points) had 13 versus UCF and is also third in the country in field goal percentage (70.5). Cincinnati will host East Carolina on Sunday.
Memphis very nearly lost their third straight game on Sunday, but shot 54.8 percent from the field in the much-needed win over South Florida , but hit just 17-of-27 foul shots. The Tigers are one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the country (67.4 percent) which give bettors pause when laying points with this team. Leading scorer Precious Achiuwa (15.6) recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds against USF for his fifth straight double-double and ninth of the season. He has also shot at least 70 percent from the floor in four of his last six games. Guard Tyler Harris set a season high with 17 points against Wichita State and then matched that total against USF. Memphis will be at Tulsa next Wednesday.
Cincinnati has owned the Tigers in recent years and their defense seems to playing at a high-level right now. It’s not easy to win on the road in conference play, but the Bearcats have the team that can pull off the upset. I’ll take the points.
Pick: Cincinnati +5
Bearcats are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Bearcats are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Bearcats are 8-20 ATS in their last 28 games overall.
Bearcats are 6-15 ATS in their last 21 games as a favorite.
Bearcats are 7-19 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win.
Bearcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite.
Bearcats are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Bearcats are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Bearcats are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.
Bearcats are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
Tigers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Tigers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog.
Tigers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Tigers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
Under is 4-1 in Bearcats last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Bearcats last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-1 in Bearcats last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 47-12 in Bearcats last 59 games as a road favorite.
Under is 38-11-2 in Bearcats last 51 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 47-14-2 in Bearcats last 63 road games.
Under is 43-13-2 in Bearcats last 58 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 9-3 in Bearcats last 12 games following a ATS win.
Under is 7-3 in Bearcats last 10 Thursday games.
Over is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 games as a home underdog.
Under is 4-1 in Tigers last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 11-3 in Tigers last 14 games following a ATS win.
Under is 6-2 in Tigers last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 13-5 in Tigers last 18 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Tigers last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Road team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
