3-Game NCAAB SWEEPER PASS
(NCAAB) Tulane vs. Southern Methodist,
Point Spread: -23.00 | -110.00 Southern Methodist (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: SMU moved to 22-4 (12-1 in AAC play) with its 60-51 home win over Cincinnati this past Sunday. The Mustangs also jumped from 25 to 19 in Monday's latest AP poll. They now get set to host the 4-20 Tulane Green Wave (1-11 in AAC play). Talk about teams heading in opposite directions? I guess SMU just needs to avoid a let down!

Tulane: The Green Wave enter on an eight-game losing streak and are a poor defensive team, allowing 78.9 PPG (313th) on 48.1% shooting (338th). A trio of guards score in double digits, led by Reynolds at 15.9. He adds 6.6 RPG and fellow guards Harris (10.3) and Frazier (10.2) just reach double digits in scoring. It's not a good thing when head coach Mike Dunleavy admitted to reporters after the team's most recent loss (91-62 at home to Houston), "We took a real step back. For the first 14 minutes we were doing what we needed to do but then we just caved."

SMU: Speaking of head coaches, what a great job Tim Jankovich has done in Dallas, taking over for the controversial Larry Brown. The Mustangs went 4-3 in November but are 18-1 since, entering on an eight-game winning streak. The lone loss in that span is a two-point defeat at Cincinnati, which the team avenged this past Sunday. Junior forward Semi Ojeleye was named the AAC Player of the Week after averaging 24 points and seven rebounds in the wins against Temple (66-50) and Cincinnati. The 6-7 Ojeleye (18.2 & 6.1) has scored in double figures 25 times this season while senior guard Brown (12.0) is closing in on 1,000 career points, while averaging 7.0 RPG this season. PG Milton (13.6-4.1-4.4) and the 6-8 Moore (11.2 & 8.0) are also major contributors.

The pick: SMU wins with defense, ranking 3rd in points allowed (58.0 PPG) and seventh in opponents' FG percentage (38.4%). Tulane is over-matched here and SMU has won all 15 home games this season (9-1 ATS and has outscored lined opponents 76.1-to-55.0 PPG), extending its home winning streak to 19 in a row, Big number to cover but make SMU an 8* play.