Cincinnati at South Florida Odds, Prediction & TV Info

Posted by Kenny Bell on Tuesday,February 14, 2017 9:51, EDT in

NCAA Basketball News, Betting Tips, Picks & Previews

No. 18 Cincinnati looked like by far the best team in the American Athletic Conference — until the Bearcats lost over the weekend. Now they look for a bounce-back effort on Wednesday night at the worst team in the conference: South Florida. This shouldn’t be close and UC will be solidly favored on NCAA basketball odds.

Cincinnati at South Florida Odds, Prediction & TV Info

When: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7 PM ET
Where: USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Fla.
TV: ESPNU
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Cincinnati / South Florida
Opening NCAAB Lines: Cincinnati favored by TBA

Why Bet On Cincinnati?

The Bearcats (22-3, 11-1 AAC) lost 60-51 at SMU (which now leads the ACC) on Sunday. Four minutes into the second half, Cincinnati had a 40-31 advantage. But it didn’t take long for the Mustangs to turn things around, scoring the next 15 points to take a 46-40 lead. Before their surge was over, they had outscored UC, 25-3.

The Bearcats shot 25.9 percent in the second half and saw their 15-game winning streak come to an end. No. 24 SMU (22-4, 12-1) has now won 19 in a row at home and 18 of its last 19 games overall. Itsonly loss during that span was to UC, 66-64, at Fifth Third Arena on Jan. 12.

“We were gonna have to play really, really well for 40 minutes to win,” said UC coach Mick Cronin, “and we didn’t.”

Jacob Evans led UC with 15 points and made five of 11 from long range, but 12 of his points came in the first half. Kevin Johnson scored 13 for the Bearcats and Kyle Washington added 11. Gary Clark grabbed 12 rebounds, but managed only six points on two-of- seven shooting. The Bearcats made seven of 15 from beyond the arc in the first half, four of 17 in the second.

The Bearcats have matched already their win total from last season and achieved at least 22 wins for the seventh consecutive year. Junior Kyle Washington was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. It marks the seventh time this season the league has honor the Bearcat forward. Washington averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, including his seventh double- double of the season last week for Cincinnati.

The left-hander leads the Bearcats in scoring this season, averaging 13.6 points and shooting 53.0 percent (140-264 from the field while averaging 7.1 rebounds. He has scored in double figures in 19 of 25 games. Washington ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (fourth at .530), double-doubles (tied for fourth with seven), blocks (sixth at 1.5), rebounds (tied for ninth at 7.1) and points (11th at 13.6).

Why Bet On South Florida?

Uh, I wouldn’t. This is one of the worst programs in the country right now as USF already fired its coach early in the season and is dealing with an academic scandal. But the team does come in on a high note, ending a 12-game winning streak Saturday with a 64-57 win over East Carolina.

Junior guard Geno Thorpe piloted the Bulls (7-17, 1-12) to their first conference victory with a game-high 22 points and eight assists. Redshirt freshman forward Tulio Da Silva also posted double-figure points with 13 and grabbed another seven rebounds. The Bulls had to dig themselves out of an early deficit as ECU started the game on an 11-2 run.

Thorpe achieved his 16th double-figure point game this season and fourth contest of 20+ points. Da Silva notched his 14th double-figure game. USF committed just nine turnovers in the contest, a season- low. The Bulls turned 15 ECU turnovers into 22 points. The USF bench outpaced ECU 39-10.

Thorpe was named to the AAC Honor Roll on Monday. He averaged 16.5 points and 5.5 assists per game in a pair of contests for the Bulls. This is the first conference recognition for Thorpe this season. It is the fourth time a Bull was recognized on the weekly honor roll this season.

USF is led by interim head coach Murry Bartow. Coach Bartow has served as a collegiate basketball coach for 30 seasons and boasts eight postseason tournaments, including four NCAA Tournaments. The Bulls were crushed at Cincinnati 94-53 on Jan. 29. Freshman Jarron Cumberland scored 18 of his career-high 26 points in the second half. The UC bench had 60 points. Michael Bibby scored a career-high 17 points for the Bulls, who had a season-high 24 turnovers. Thorpe missed that game. Cincinnati scored 34 points off South Florida’s turnovers.