LSU Tigers vs SMU Mustangs NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/14/24

Betting on today’s Tigers and Mustangs game? Catch the action at Comerica Center in Frisco, TX, as the Mustangs hosts this showdown at 4:00 ET on ESPNU. The odds for this non-conference game currently have SMU as the -4 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 154 points.

LSU TIGERS VS SMU MUSTANGS BETTING PICK

The Pick: SMU Mustangs -4

This game will be played at Comerica Center at 4:00 ET on Saturday, December 14th.

WHY BET THE SMU MUSTANGS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 81-66 in favor of the Mustangs.
• Not only will SMU pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -4.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 154 points, and we like the under with a projected 147 points.

Can the Tigers Pull Off a Road Win?

LSU improved to 8-1 on the season with an 80-71 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday. Playing at home, the Tigers were favored by 14.5 points but didn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 151, surpassing the O/U line of 140.5.

LSU jumped out to a 42-27 lead at halftime but allowed FGCU to score 44 points in the second half while putting up 38 points of their own.

LSU’s offense put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 50% from the field and posting an effective field goal percentage of 56.9%. They were dominant inside, hitting 67.7% of their two-point attempts, while struggling from beyond the arc, going 8-for-27 (29.6%). At the free-throw line, they were nearly perfect, making 14 of 16 attempts (87.5%).

Corey Chest was a force on the boards, grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Daimion Collins led the team with 18 points, while Rahmir Barno added 15, hitting 7 of his 10 shots. Cam Carter and Rory Stewart each connected on 50% of their three-point attempts, with Carter also dishing out 5 assists.

LSU’s defense struggled to contain their opponent, allowing 71 points on 50% shooting from the field. The Tigers had a particularly tough time inside, where they gave up 67% shooting on two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, LSU’s defense held their opponent to 29% shooting, with 8 made threes. They also sent them to the free-throw line 16 times, where they converted 14 attempts, shooting 87%. LSU allowed 11 offensive rebounds in the game.

Is a Home Win Possible for the Mustangs?

SMU Mustangs Recent Game/Games

SMU improved to 8-2 on the season with a 63-51 win over Virginia on Saturday. The Mustangs, who were -9.5 favorites, covered the spread with the victory.

After leading 30-28 at halftime, SMU held Virginia to just 23 points in the 2nd half while scoring 33 of their own. The total points for the game were 114, falling under the O/U line of 135.5.

SMU’s offense struggled from beyond the arc in their last game, hitting just 24% of their threes (6/25), but they were efficient inside, shooting 60% on two-pointers (15/25). Overall, they finished with a 42% field goal percentage and an effective field goal percentage of 48%, scoring 63 points.

Kario Oquendo led the Mustangs with 21 points, connecting on 4 of 6 threes and shooting 60% overall. Isaac McKneely added 17 points, hitting 4 of 8 from deep, while Samet Yiğitoğlu was nearly perfect from the field, going 7 for 8 and finishing with 16 points.

SMU’s defense held their opponent to just 51 points, despite allowing them to shoot 42% from the field. The Mustangs gave up 15 two-point baskets on 25 attempts, a 60% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, SMU limited their opponent to 6 threes on 25 attempts, a 24% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 20 times, where they made 15 shots for a 75% success rate. SMU allowed 8 offensive rebounds in the game.