Boise State Broncos vs Memphis Tigers Betting Predictions, Odds Picks & Lines
The odds-on favorite, No. 1 seed Memphis, will face No. 2 Boise State in the quarterfinals of this year’s NIT Tournament on Thursday. The Tigers have a 17-8 record this season and have won 11 out of the last 14 games. They were the third-best team in the AAC and came close to going to the NCAA Tournament. Boise State was also left disappointed on the Selection Sunday. This is the sixth straight year that they are missing the Big Dance. They finished the season with a 19-8 record but went 5-7 in their last 12 games. This is the 19th NIT appearance for Memphis, but they haven’t made it out of the second round since 2005. The Broncos are making the 7th appearance and this is their first quarterfinals.
Boise State Broncos vs Memphis Tigers Betting Line Movement
The opening odds favored Memphis by -4 and have been mostly stable. The line jumped to -4.5 at one point but now it’s back to -4 with most bookies. The total has been steady at 143.
Notes On The Memphis Tigers
The Tigers’ calling card is their elite defense. Their performance on that side of the floor wouldn’t be out of place even at the NCAA tournament Final Four. KenPom ranks Memphis as 2nd in adjusted defensive efficiency. They are allowing opposing teams a measly 62.8 points per game and keeping them at 39% from the field. They are very aggressive on defense and use their exceptional length to disrupt opponents’ offensive sets. These numbers are even more impressive if we take into account how fast they play. They were played at the fastest pace in the AAC and rank 47th in the nation in adjusted tempo. On offense, Memphis likes to run and move the ball a lot. They rank 11th in the country with 616% of their field goals coming after assists. The downside of this style of play is a huge number of turnovers.
Memphis offense is well-rounded and balanced with five players scoring between 9.2 and 12.9 ppg. The leading scorer is Landers Nolley II. He was excellent in the first round with 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Notes On The Boise State Broncos
Only a month ago, the Broncos looked destined for the NCAA Tournament. However, after a 4-game losing streak and a first-round exit at the Mountain West tournament, they ended up in the NIT. They were solid in most statistical categories but didn’t excel in any. Still, Boise State is among the top 75 teams in the nation in both defensive and offensive efficiency. The Broncos average 76.5 points while allowing 67.0. But, most of that margin was built up against lesser opposition. When faced with top 100 teams they went 5-6 and were outscored by 3.5 points per contest.
Derrick Alston Jr. is by far the best scorer on the team. He’s averaging 17.3 points per game. It’s worth noting that the second-leading scorer Abu Kigab is out for the season.
Boise State Broncos vs Memphis Tigers Betting Pick: Memphis -4
Boise State has done well against some solid defenses this season but hasn’t faced the relentless pressure Memphis is going to bring to this game. This, along with the Tigers’ solid form and some blue-chip talent on their team should be enough for them to cover.
