The FAU Owls take on the Memphis Tigers in Memphis, TN. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN Networks.
Memphis is favored by 9 points on the spread with a moneyline of -500. The total is set at 158.5 points.
Here’s my FAU vs. Memphis predictions and college basketball picks for February 23, 2025.
FAU vs Memphis Prediction
My Pick: Memphis -9 (Play to -11)
My FAU vs Memphis best bet is on the Tigers spread, with the best odds currently available at bet365. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
FAU vs Memphis Odds
| FAU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9 -110 | 158.5 -105 / -115 | +375 |
| Memphis Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9 -110 | 158.5 -105 / -115 | -500 |
- FAU vs Memphis spread: Memphis -9
- FAU vs Memphis over/under: 158.5 points
- FAU vs Memphis moneyline: Memphis -500, FAU +375
- FAU vs Memphis best bet: Memphis -9 (Play to -11)
Spread
I'm taking the Tigers on the spread up to -11.
Moneyline
There's no value on the moneyline.
Over/Under
I have no play on the total.
My Pick: Memphis -9 (Play to -11)
FAU vs Memphis College Basketball Betting Preview
Memphis got a much needed week off after dropping a game to Wichita State in Koch Arena. That was a duel Memphis had a chance to win in regulation, but it couldn't get the job done.
FAU and Memphis met when AAC play tipped off. The Tigers went to Boca Raton and beat the brakes off the Owls, 90-61. The Owls shot a disastrous 5-of-31 from deep (16%).
With how important shooting is to FAU's offensive scheme, missing that many is a recipe for disaster.
I'm not banking on FAU missing a million 3s again, but I can't see its 209th-ranked defense (per KenPom) successfully slowing down Memphis. The Owls are one of the worst teams in America at defending beyond the arc, as opponents shoot 38.8% from downtown.
There's more statistical evidence that backs up FAU's defensive woes — the Owls are 312th nationally at allowing high-quality 3s (per ShotQuality).
That's a scary number to hear against Memphis, which shoots an elite 40% from downtown. The shooting comes from four key cogs — star guards PJ Haggerty (42%) and Tyrese Hunter (41%). Plus, high-impact wings PJ Carter and Colby Rogers both shoot over 38% from deep.
Haggerty isn't just an AAC star; he's a national star. The Tigers' leading scorer averages 21.2 points, putting him in the top 10 in America.
Don't sleep on big man Dain Dainja, either. He'll have a tough task against this pesky FAU post-defense, but he's scored 18+ points in three of his last four games.
Another thing that points in the Tigers' favor is their ability to contain FAU's transition offense. The Owls' offense is a real problem in the open floor, scoring 1.118 points per possession in transition (per Synergy).
However, Memphis's defense can counteract FAU's offensive strengths thanks to its elite 89th-percentile transition defense.
The plan of attack for any team facing Memphis should center around forcing turnovers. It's been a glaring issue during Penny Hardaway's tenure, and the Tigers have a 19% turnover rate this year.
However, FAU's defensive problems will hinder the Owls from exploiting Memphis' turnover issues. The Owls turn opponents over on 17% of their possessions, and they don't pressure enough to get the Tigers' offense out of sync.
It's not all terrible for FAU's defense, as it limits opponents to an ugly 46% from 2-point range (27th nationally). I'm not fully convinced that will matter a ton here since FAU is a very foul-happy team, and Memphis loves hunting for fouls.
Moreover, both teams struggle to finish off possessions with a rebound, as Memphis ranks 336th in defensive rebound rate and FAU sits 264th.
However, FAU is bad on the offensive glass too, and Memphis has the advantage with a top-100 offensive rebounding rate.
Coach Hardaway will also implore his team to increase the score as much as possible. It might seem trivial, but Memphis wants a better tournament seed since it's barely top-50 in KenPom and the NET.
If Memphis wants to begin changing the computer numbers, then it needs to start winning games by margin. Pulling out a four-point win over East Carolina and a three-point win over Rice did the Tigers no favors. They have to impose their will.
I expect a double-digit feasting in Memphis.
