Memphis Tigers vs. SMU Mustangs Prediction & Game Preview - 2/20/2022

Time: 3 p.m. ET

Venue: Moody Coliseum, Dallas, TX

Where to watch: ESPN

DraftKings: Memphis -2.5

BetMGM: Memphis -2.5

Caesars: NL

Memphis: 15-8 (9-4 AAC)

SMU: 18-6 (9-3 AAC)

Penny Hardaway's group won't go away, apparently, and the Memphis Tigers are finding themselves in the clutches of the AAC race. Memphis comes into Sunday's game on a six-game winning streak and things are beginning to go haywire as we know it.

It's not just that Memphis has seemingly gotten on a roll since Hardaway's epic postgame rant that went viral for all the wrong reasons, but it's the fact who the Tigers have beaten. That includes a shocking 10-point win over the top-seeded Houston Cougars back on Feb. 12.

Memphis answered with an 81-74 win against Cincinnati three days later and appear to have found the formula to go on the road and win some much needed games. Five players scored in double figures in the win over Cincinnati, led by Tyler Harris with 15 points in 22 minutes off the bench.

It is kind of wild that we're here this late into the season talking about Memphis making a run, but not to the extent of which Emoni Bates isn't even part of the rotation. The prodigy and one of the best high schoolers to come into college basketball in the last couple of decades hasn't been anywhere near the program and hasn't played since Jan. 27.

And yet since he's left the team, the Tigers have thrived without him and suddenly have purpose without Bates. Talk about a glaring distraction and trying to understand who wants to be here vs. who wants to actually be a decent human being.

Even if Bates comes back, are the Tigers really in any position to look as good with him in the lineup? I can't see him coming back and blowing this chemistry that was created in his absence? Sometimes it doesn't work that way for college basketball, but I highly doubt Hardaway wants to wait to find out.

Perhaps not as hot as any other team left in this field, but the SMU Mustangs have been one of the better teams in this conference since Day 1 and there appears to be no slowing down in sight.

Despite coming off a disappointing 64-57 road loss to the Temple Owls last week, SMU is still fighting to make the AAC a two-team league at the very least. SMU is a game back in the conference standings behind Houston -- with Memphis not that far behind them -- and things are suddenly more enticing and salivating with this conference that it looked before.

SMU did just about everything right last week against Temple except come out with a win. Michael Weathers had 22 points and shot 10 of 16; Marcus Weathers finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds on 16 shot attempts. That was about it. The rest of SMU's players made a combined seven field goals to close out the game.

Considering how crazy that game shifted in the second half, it's clear that SMU is beatable if the Weathers brothers can't get any help outside of themselves. There's no reason why SMU should combine to make three more threes outside of Weathers while only going to the free throw line nine times.

But things have to look better with the Mustangs coming back home and feeling a bit pissed off after letting that win go. They were up 6 points before choking it away in the second half.

There's no way they can let that happen again, right?

Everything I see points completely away from SMU. For example, the Mustangs are just 2-7 against the spread in their last nine as an underdog. The under is also 6-2 in SMU's last eight. Normal conversation would tend to dictate I trust the favorite here, but don't underestimate how SMU will get up for this game. At home, coming off a loss, with the desire to play better. I like SMU in what would be a mild upset. SMU by 3

Memphis is 27-10 ATS following consecutive conference games.

Memphis is 10-2 ATS off a road win the last 12.

SMU is 10-27 ATS as a home dog of 6 points or less.

PG: Alex Lomax

SG: Lester Quinones

SF: Landers Nolley II

PF: DeAndre Williams

C: Jalen Duren

PG: Kendric Davis

SG: Michael Weathers

SF: Zach Nutall

PF: Emmanuel Bandoumel

C: Marcus Weathers

Points: Jalen Duren -- 11.4

Rebounds: Jalen Duren -- 7.7

Assists: Alex Lomax -- 3.8

Points: Kendric Davis -- 19.1

Rebounds: Marcus Weathers -- 7.1

Assists: Kendric Davis -- 4.8