Memphis vs Missouri Prediction & Picks: Expect Twosome of Tigers to Produce Points Aplenty in Columbia

One of the highest-scoring and most entertaining games on tonight’s college basketball schedule is likely to be in Columbia, Missouri, where a Tiger fight will take place between Memphis and Missouri (9:00 pm ET, SEC Network).

Last season, these two teams were among the better offensive teams in the country, with both ranking in the top 30 in college basketball in both scoring and offensive efficiency.

Season-opening wins over SWAC competition–Arkansas-Pine Bluff for Missouri and Jackson State for Memphis–aren’t going to provide much definitive about what either team will be this season. But returns from those games would indicate that a high level of offensive success should be the expectation again.

Bet on College Basketball This Season at BetDSI

It has been well over a decade since Memphis and Missouri met on the hardwood, with the most recent meeting coming in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. In that matchup, Mizzou outlasted Tyreke Evans and Memphis 102-91 to reach the Elite Eight.

Will tonight’s contest see that much scoring? Out of the numerous games on tonight’s schedule, this is one of only a few with a total set at 160 or above.

Memphis vs Missouri Odds

Odds are via Bovada.

Spread

• Memphis +2.5 (-110)
• Missouri -2.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 161 (-110)
• Under 161 (-110)

Moneyline

• Memphis +120
• Missouri -140

Memphis vs Missouri Prediction and Picks

Prediction: Missouri to win

Picks: Memphis/Missouri over 161 (-110 at Bovada) & Missouri ML (-140 at Bovada)

Last season, Memphis ranked 21st in the country in scoring (79.4 PPG) and 22nd in field-goal percentage (47.9%), and at KenPom, they came in 22nd in temp and 26th in offensive efficiency.

On the other side, Missouri ranked 26th in scoring (78.9 PPG) and 36th in field-goal percentage (47.2%), and at KenPom, they came in ninth in offensive efficiency.

Personnel has changed a good bit on both teams from last season, but results don’t seem likely to.

In Memphis’s 94-77 win over Jackson State on Monday, the Tigers shot 50.7% from the field and 39.3% from three, with newcomers Jaykwon Walton and David Jones leading the way with 19 and 15, respectively.

Missouri also comfortably took care of business against a SWAC team in their opener on Monday, dispatching Arkansas-Pine Bluff 101-79 while shooting 56.3% from the field and 40% from three. Five Tigers scored 15+ points, led by Sean East II’s 21 and 18 apiece by Nick Honor and Tamar Bates.

Again, these games against vastly inferior opposition aren’t going to tell us much about what to expect tonight or going forward for either Memphis or Missouri. But to come out of the gate shooting fairly well is always a positive, especially when the second game is going to be such a major step up in competition.

Anything’s possible here. We could have a low-scoring game. You never know, right? What you read in the tea leaves doesn’t always come true. But in this case, it almost certainly will based on how these teams play.

My focus for this matchup is the over, but I will add a little sprinkle on the ML for the home team. I don’t love going too wild on sides early on, but Missouri is at home, and I think they will be able to pull out the win. In a close game, I trust them to make their foul shots to close it out.

Other College Basketball Content

• Arizona vs Duke Prediction, Odds & Picks