CBB – Memphis at UAB

Memphis returns to the scene of the crime from a year ago in hopes of extracting revenge this time on the Blazers home court

2007-02-08

Memphis returns to the scene of the crime from a year ago in hopes of extracting revenge this time on the Blazers home court. Since Conference USA was raided, Memphis has lost just once with the realignment, that coming in the 80-74 decision in Birmingham. The Tigers have gone on to beat UAB twice since then, but overall has lost two in a row and three of four way down south.

Memphis, for the most part, is not taken seriously by the national media despite a gaudy 19-3 record. The Tigers lost a ton of talent from a season ago and as usual John Calipari keeps the cupboard well-stocked, be it with young talent. Memphis is in a no-win situation in this league, because of the general weakness of C-USA. The Tigers are 9-0 in the conference and have been a single digit favorite just twice in road game at Houston (-8) and at Central Florida (-9) and won each game by better then 20 points. They are 5-3-1 ATS in league play and will make a serious run at being unbeaten in the conference. Last year’s team was obviously talented and did not need to earn respect. This year’s team is different and a dominating effort on ESPN might cause a few to take a closer look at Calipari’s crew.

First year coach Mike Davis is trying to remake this team on the run and the results of late have been meager. UAB has recruited primarily athletes who could run, jump and press for 40 minutes from the prior regime. The game was all about transition and if a couple of shooters emerged, all the better. Davis style is different from that type of basketball, and opponents are now exposing the Blazers for lack of quality shooters. UAB has dropped four of five league games, not scoring over sixty points in any of them. While the defense is still sufficient in holding opposing teams to 64.5 PPG on 41.7% shooting, putting up only 60.1 points a game in C-USA play is not enough.

Memphis is a 9.5-point road favorite as seen at Sportsbook.com. This will be the sixth time the Tigers are in this role and they are 4-1 and 2-2-1 ATS, winning by an average of 8.8 PPG. Memphis will go after a 12th straight win; having last lost at Arizona before the holidays and they are 33-13 ATS off a home blowout win by 20 points or more.

The Blazers should be jacked to have some TV time considering an 11-11 record. Leading scorer Paul Delaney needs help from teammates and will find this to be a real challenge. Memphis opponents convert just 38.6% from the field, though not quite as proficient on the road. UAB has to overcome the stigma of not scoring in recent games and history suggests that is easier said then done with the Blazers 2-9 ATS after a combined score of 125 points or less over the last 2 seasons.

ESPN will provide the coverage starting at 9 Eastern. Public bettors will likely follow Memphis in this televised contest, thus making following the numbers on the betting Trends page on this and other college basketball games a worthy endeavor. Oddmakers have set a total of 135 and Coach Cal’s clubs at Memphis are 10-2 ATS in a road games where the total is 135 to 139.5, winning by an average of almost twelve a game.

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