FAU vs. Memphis Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
The East Region’s eight versus nine matchup sees Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers begin their March Madness against mid-major Florida Atlantic. Friday’s bout is the No. 9 Florida Atlantic Owls second NCAA tournament game in program history and first in 22 years. The Owls were an outstanding 31-3 this season, also taking care of business in the Conference USA tournament last weekend. No. 8 Memphis is coming off an upset victory in the AAC tournament, defeating one-seed Houston last Sunday.
Tip-off at Nationwide Arena gets going at 9:20 p.m. EDT, with the Tigers a two-point favourite and the over-under at 153 on the NBA odds.
FAU vs. Memphis NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
The Owls head into Friday having won seven straight outings and covering in five of them. Memphis is 4-1 ATS in their last five games, and 6-1 ATS in their last seven played in March. The Conference USA has provided almost no issues for the Tigers too as they are 18-2 in their last 20 battles with the conference. FAU has managed to cover in seven of their last nine against AAC opponents though, and in such an even contest the winner is likely also to cover.
When FAU is the underdog, nine of their last 12 contests have finished over the total. Memphis is coming off three conference tournament wins In which they scored at least 75 points. Both teams also finished slightly under 80 points per contest this season.
Florida Atlantic Owls (9)
The 31-win Owls enter the tournament ranked in the top 40 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They’re also a top-30 team in the country in three-point shooting (37.8%) and in the top 11 in defending two-point field goals.
Sophomore guards Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin play a big role on both sides of the ball, as both shoot over 36 per cent from three and average a steal a game. Martin went off for a game-high 30 in Saturday’s Conference USA final.
If the Owls are to turn Friday night into a shootout, they have the capability to go shot for shot. FAU has hit triple digits in two of their last seven showings and Martin alongside guards Nicholas Boyd and Michael Forrest all drained at least 50 threes this season.
Memphis Tigers (8)
Point guard Kendric Davis is talented enough to swing the outcomes of meaningful games, and did so in Sunday’s win over Houston. Davis led all scorers with 31 points, the third time in his last four games he’s reached 25 or more points. Davis’ 22.1 points per game ranked eighth in the nation this season. Memphis’ offensive attack can be a one-two punch though as big man DeAndre Williams average just under 18 points a night to go with eight rebounds per game.
After these two the Tigers appear to be getting senior Keonte Kennedy and Alex Lomax healthy for the tournament. Kennedy, Memphis’ third-top scorer, has been out with a hand injury since February and Lomax is still recovering from a groin injury despite battling through it last week.
FAU
MEM