The SMU Mustangs (13-4) travel to face off against the Miami Hurricanes (4-13) on Saturday, January 18th. This game will be played at Watsco Center in Coral Gables and televised on ESPNU. SMU is coming off a win in their previous game, while Miami is looking to get back on track from a loss to the Duke. Tip-off is set for 2:00 ET.
SMU Mustangs vs Miami Hurricanes
The Mustangs Are Coming Off A Win
SMU improved to 13-4 on the season with a narrow 54-52 road win over Virginia on Wednesday. The Mustangs entered the game as 6-point favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game were 106, well under the 134.5 O/U line.
SMU led 27-25 at halftime and matched Virginia’s 27 points in the second half to hold on for the win.
The Hurricanes Are Coming Off A Win
Miami’s season continued to struggle after a tough 89-54 loss to Duke on Tuesday, dropping their record to 4-13. The Hurricanes were +23 point underdogs going into the game and failed to cover the spread.
Miami trailed 50-26 at halftime and couldn’t turn things around in the second half, scoring 28 points while allowing 39. The total points for the game were 143, just under the 144.5 O/U line.
Mustangs Offense Breakdown
SMU’s offense struggled in their last game, managing just 54 points with a field goal percentage of 43.4% (23/53). They hit only 23.8% of their threes, going 5/21, and their free-throw shooting was a mere 42.9% (3/7).
Boopie Miller and Chuck Harris each scored 12 points, though both shot 5/14 from the field. Blake Buchanan added 11 points, shooting 71.4% (5/7) and grabbing 15 rebounds.
Hurricanes Offense Breakdown
In their last game, Miami struggled offensively, scoring just 54 points with a field goal percentage of 39% and an effective field goal percentage of 44.1%. They shot 43.6% from two-point range and 30% from beyond the arc, hitting 6 of 20 three-point attempts. The Hurricanes only managed 5 offensive rebounds and went 2 for 2 from the free-throw line.
Kon Knueppel was a bright spot, hitting 6 of 8 threes and shooting 81.8% overall, finishing with 25 points and 3 assists. Lynn Kidd contributed 20 points, shooting 58.8%, while Cooper Flagg added 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Khaman Maluach grabbed 15 rebounds and shot 85.7% from the field.
Mustangs Team Defense
SMU’s defense was dominant, holding their opponent to just 52 points on 34% shooting from the field. They limited two-point attempts to 14/26, while the opposition struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 4 of their 26 three-point attempts.
From the free-throw line, SMU’s opponent shot 80%, converting 12 of 15 attempts. The Mustangs also controlled the boards, giving up just 5 offensive rebounds.
Hurricanes Team Defense
SMU’s defense was dominant, holding their opponent to just 52 points on 34% shooting from the field. They were particularly effective at defending the three-point line, where they allowed only 4 made threes on 26 attempts (15%).
Inside the arc, the opposition managed to shoot 53%, converting 14 of 26 two-point attempts. SMU also sent them to the free-throw line 15 times, where they hit 12 free throws (80%). The Mustangs limited second-chance opportunities by giving up just 5 offensive rebounds.
Mustangs vs Hurricanes Trends
- When looking at their past three road matchups, SMU has an ATS record of 1-2 while averaging 74 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
- Across their three previous home games, Miami has an ATS mark of 0-3. Their straight up record in these matchups was 0-3 while averaging 69 points per game.
- Looking back on the team’s last three games as the underdog, the Hurricanes have a straight up record of 0-3. Their record vs the spread in these games was 1-2.
- Across their last three matchups as the betting favorite, the Mustangs have an overall record of 3-0 while going 1-2 against the spread.
Mustangs vs Hurricanes Prediction
As the underdogs with a spread of +5.5, we recommend going with the Hurricanes on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 157.5 and given that our model is projecting 145 points between the teams, we like the under.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:January 18, 2025 Miami (FL) Hurricanes, SMU Mustangs