South Florida Bulls vs
Portland PilotsPredictions & Preview

South Florida Bulls Favored to Dominate Portland Pilots in Myrtle Beach Invitational Showdown

The South Florida Bulls (2-2) are set to take on the Portland Pilots (2-2) in a nonconference matchup at HTC Center for the Myrtle Beach Invitational. The Bulls are riding a two-game winning streak, with their most recent victory being a 74-55 win over West Georgia. Meanwhile, the Pilots are coming off a 63-61 road win against Long Beach State. The winner of this game will advance to face the winner of the Ohio/Middle Tennessee game, while the losers will also face off. South Florida is the current betting favorite, opening at -8.5 and holding at -6.5. The matchup between these two teams is sure to be an intriguing one.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Bulls -288 | Pilots +240
• Spread: Bulls -6.5 (-110) | Pilots +6.5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 146.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that South Florida will win straight-up is 74%.

South Florida vs Portland Stats

South Florida Bulls

The South Florida Bulls are working to improve both offensively and defensively early in the season. They have been strong in scoring, averaging 78.3 points per game, but shooting only 29.6% from three. Senior guard Kasen Jennings leads the team in scoring and contributes in multiple areas. Defensively, the Bulls are struggling, allowing an average of 77.0 points per game. Improving on defense will be key for the team moving forward. The Bulls have an injury report with two players listed as questionable. In terms of power ranking, South Florida is currently ranked 98, with their offense ranked at 185 and defense at 283. They are 2-2 (1-3 ATS) this season, with room for improvement on both ends of the court.

Portland Pilots Analysis

The Portland Pilots have shown steady performance at the start of the season, with a recent road win against Long Beach State. Their offense is averaging 67.3 points per game and shooting 40.5%, with solid three-point shooting at 33.3%. Senior guard Vukasin Masic is a key player for the team, with impressive stats in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. However, their defense has been struggling, giving up 76.3 points per game. The team has several players listed as questionable or out due to injuries. In terms of power rankings, the Pilots rank 296 overall, with rankings of 307 for offense and 321 for defense. They have a 2-2 record and have shown average shooting percentages and rebounding stats. Defensively, they need to improve in field goal and three-point defense.

South Florida Bulls Expected to Dominate Matchup and Exceed Spread Against Portland

The South Florida Bulls demonstrate a superior level of performance in this matchup and are poised to exceed the spread. Considering the logistics of travel, while Portland must journey across the country, South Florida only needs to make a trip up the I95. Recent defensive statistics reveal that South Florida has exhibited greater defensive prowess, conceding an average of 62.0 points in their last two games, in contrast to Portland's average of 78.3 points over their previous three games. Therefore, it is recommended to support the Bulls with a point spread of 8.5 in this scenario.

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