UCF Knights vs SMU Mustangs Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 01/02/2022

Game Time: 2:00 pm ET, Sunday, January 2, 2022

Venue:  Moody Coliseum, Dallas, TX

Where to Watch:  ESPNU

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  UCF +4, SMU -4; Over/Under:  146 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  UCF +4, SMU -4; Over/Under:  146 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  UCF +3.5, SMU -3.5; Over/Under:  145.5 points

 

UCF Knights:  9-2 (1st place, AAC)

SMU Mustangs:  10-3 (2nd place, AAC)

 

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UCF Knights:  5-0 last 5

SMU Mustangs:  5-0 last 5

 

 

 

UCF is coming into this game with a 9-2 record overall and they are 3-1 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. This will be their 2nd conference matchup of the year and they are currently 1-0 in their conference games this season. Their last loss was against the Auburn Tigers but they have gone on a 5 game winning streak since then with wins coming against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, the North Carolina A&T Aggies, the Temple Owls, the North Alabama Lions, and the Michigan Wolverines in their last game. Darin Green Jr. led the team in points in that game with 27 while Brandon Mahan was next on the team with 26 points. Darius Perry led the team in assists in that game with 7 while Mahan and Cheikh Mbacke Diong both led the team in rebounds with 7 each. They were 51.8% from the field, 60% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 74.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 64.3 PPG against them. UCF has an ATS record of 5-6 this season and their O/U record is 6-5.

 

 

SMU is coming into this game with a 10-3 record overall and they are 8-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. This will be the 2nd conference matchup on their schedule this year and they are currently 1-0 in their conference games this season. Their last loss was against the Loyola Marymount Lions but they have gone on a 7 game winning streak since then with wins coming against the Sam Houston State Bearkats, the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, the UNLV Rebels, the Vanderbilt Commodores, the Dayton Flyers, the New Mexico Lobos, and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in their last game. Kendric Davis led the team in points in that game with 26 while Emmanuel Bandoumel was next on the team with 13 points. Davis and Michael Weathers off the bench both led the team in assists in that game with 3 each while Marcus Weathers led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 45.1% from the field, 36.7% from 3-point range, and 70.8% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 78.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 68.6 PPG against them. SMU has an ATS record of 6-7 this season and their O/U record is 10-3.

 

UCF is coming into this game as a 4 point underdog with the current betting odds according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Both of these teams have been having great seasons as both lead their conference in the 1st and 2nd place spots. Both are coming into this game on win streaks and have been playing very well in their recent games. This should be a close game as these teams are pretty even here so the best bet to place in this game is on UCF to cover the spread.

 

UCF SMU Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Sunday, January 2, 2022 (2:00 pm ET start time) is SMU 70 UCF 68.

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UCF Knights: Will be posted soon.

SMU Mustangs: Will be posted soon.

 

 

UCF Knights:  D. Fuller Jr. (G) Ques Sun - Undisclosed injury.

SMU Mustangs:  None.

 

 

“We want to make sure we execute well. We’ll look to get better from this experience but we can’t have 18 turnovers in any type of game.” - Johnny Dawkins on his expectations for his team.

 

 

“The way we responded over the last four or five minutes, when it really gets hard and which is when the games are won or lost, I love the way we played the last four or five minutes.” - Tim Jankovich on his team’s win against UNM.

 

 

 

D. Green 

B. Mahan 

C. Mbacke Diong 

D. Perry 

C. Walker

 

E. Bandoumel 

K. Davis 

I. Jasey 

Z. Nutall 

M. Weathers

 

 

PPG: D. Green Jr. (15.9)

APG: D. Perry (5.4)

Reb/G: C. Diong (5.9)

 

PPG: K. Davis (21.6)

APG: K. Davis (5.2)

Reb/G: M. Weathers (6.9) 

 

Coaches:

UCF Knights: Johnny Dawkins Jr (6th season)

SMU Mustangs: Tim Jankovich (7th season)