Temple Owls (14-10) vs. SMU Mustangs (8-16)
February 8, 2023 8:00 pm EDT
The Line: SMU Mustangs +1 / Temple Owls -1; Over/Under: 138.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Temple Owls and the SMU Mustangs meet Wednesday in college basketball action from SMU Moody Coliseum. Temple enters this one at 14-10 overall. The Owls lost to Houston in their last game. As for SMU, they’re 8-16 on the season after a loss to East Carolina. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Temple Owls
Temple started out the year on a shaky run, going just 9-7 over their first 16 games. The owls have gone 5-3 since then, beating Tulsa, East Carolina, Houston, South Florida and UCF with losses otherwise to Tulane, Memphis and Houston.
In the Houston rematch on Sunday, the Owls took a 37-33 edge into the second half. Temple faded on a 48-28 deficit from there and lost 81-65, however. Khalif Battle was the top scorer on 24 points with two assists.
SMU Mustangs
Over on the SMU side, they had an even tougher start this year, going 6-10 through their first 16 outings. The Mustangs are 2-6 in the last eight with losses to Tulane, Cincinnati, Wichita State, Memphis, Tulane again and East Carolina.
Back on Saturday versus East Carolina, the Mustangs were down 40-32 in the locker room. SMU got better in the second with a 40-37 run but ended up losing 77-72. Zhuric Phelps was tops on the team with 23 points and five rebounds.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I might take a stab on SMU here. You could make a case either way, though; this seems like a coin-flip proposition. The Mustangs have been struggling lately (well, pretty much all season) but they’re not doing too badly at home. SMU’s last two home losses have come by just two points apiece versus decent teams in Cincinnati and Wichita State. The Mustangs have been away from Moody in three of the last four outings so they should be more comfortable in this one. As for Temple, they’re 4-1 in the last five and easily should be able to hang with SMU on paper. I like the Mustangs to play well enough to cover/win, though. It’ll be a great matchup.
