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The Memphis Tigers are set to face the Boise State Broncos. Check out our March Madness odds series, which includes our Memphis Boise State prediction, odds, and pick.
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The Memphis Tigers were in real trouble entering the month of February. They had lost to Georgia, Ole Miss, Tulane, and East Carolina. They were nowhere close to the NCAA Tournament. Penny Hardaway was failing to get his team to come together and play cohesive basketball at both ends of the floor. Memphis started the season as a top-20 team, with expectations through the roof for a highly-rated recruiting class. The raw talent was there, but Penny wasn't worth a dime in terms of his coaching performance. The Tigers, as March Madness odds evaluators were aware of at the time, needed to rise to the moment, and everyone knew what that moment was: the Tigers' visit to Houston, the king of the AAC and a team which made the Final Four last year. Memphis had to go through Houston and beat the Cougars twice to make the NCAA field.
That's exactly what they did, which is something to remember when you make your Memphis Boise State prediction.
Memphis's first win against Houston this season was on the road. The Tigers had struggled to protect the ball and make high-pressure free throws in their worst losses. In the road win over Houston, Memphis flipped the script and did those things well, while Houston faltered in those precise areas. The win over Houston transformed the locker room and changed the mental outlook for every Tiger player. Penny Hardaway crossed one threshold with that win. He showed he could get his team to play well in a game of huge importance. The next task was to carry that level of form through the remainder of the season.
Memphis delivered, chiefly in a home-court blowout of Houston a few weeks after the road win in H-Town. Memphis had done enough to get into the NCAA Tournament. In one month, the Tigers rescued their season and banished the ugly memories of December and early January.
Boise State had missed the NCAA Tournament for several frustrating seasons under coach Leon Rice. Boise State always lost the one or two games it absolutely had to win in order to make the Big Dance. This year, that reality changed. Boise State became a strong defensive team, especially late in games. The Broncos routinely held opponents under 63 points and did not make many mistakes in the final five minutes of regulation. They got enough offense to win, but their defense became extremely airtight this year, and that's the new part of the formula Leon Rice found to put this team over the top. Boise State won the Mountain West double, the regular-season and tournament championships. This is something to note when making a Memphis Boise State pick.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Memphis-Boise State odds:
March Madness Odds: Memphis-Boise State Odds
Memphis: -2.5 (-110)
Boise State: +2.5 (-110)
Over: 133 (-110)
Under: 133 (-110)
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Why Memphis Could Cover the Spread
The Tigers' transformation since the Houston win will carry them through this game. Memphis has better athletes than Boise State does. Confidence is everything, and Memphis has it.
Why Boise State Could Cover the Spread
The Broncos know how to shut down talented offenses. They can slow this game down and play the game at their preferred pace, creating the rockfight they want.
Final Memphis-Boise State Prediction & Pick
The talent Memphis has, combined with fresh confidence and belief, will win out. It's a fascinating matchup, one of the best in the Round of 64.
Final Memphis-Boise State Pick: Memphis -2.5
