The Seminoles finally earned their first ACC win. Here's now the betting preview and how to watch the SMU game.
Florida State men's basketball now enters Saturday with a sense of relief.
The relief of finally tasting the first Atlantic Coast Conference victory this season.
FSU now heads against SMU after beating in-star rival Miami. And after overcoming narrow losses including to Wake Forest.
Now they'll pursue the upset against the Mustangs. This time in front of ESPN cameras.
The live TV broadcast will be available on ACC Network. But also offered on Fubo and Sling TV.
Here's Fernie Ruano now with a betting preview:
“Two victories in a row, gentlemen ?”
Before Tuesday night, Florida State men’s basketball head coach Luke Loucks
might have muttered those six words only in his sleep.
Now, the 35-year-old Loucks, the youngest head coach in Division. I men’s college basketball, can use them in an attempt to keep the good vibes going as the road underdog Seminoles (8-11, 1-5), coming off notching their first ACC victory of the season earlier this week, visit the SMU Mustangs (14-5,) at the Moody Coliseum for a 4:00 p.m. (ET) tipoff on Saturday afternoon.
Florida State, with a 3-1 record against the spread in games they’ve tipped off as +12.5 points or more this year, is (+12.5) on the betting line and +557 on the moneyline.
The over/under is 166.5 points, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
After staying up with Syracuse through 30 minutes last week before wilting down the stretch and losing a heartbreaker at home to Wake Forest last Saturday, the Seminoles, an 11.5-point ‘dog in Miami, put a complete game together and snapped a seven-game road losing streak vs. the Hurricanes, who were 11-0 at home before tipoff.
Florida State, which led for less than a minute in the first half despite a 38-37 advantage at the half, took a 49-44 lead early in the second half.
Only this time, the Seminoles would not go away as Martin Somerville nailed a three-pointer to extend Florida State’s lead to 56-51 - just seconds after Chauncey Wiggins had hit a mid-range jumper with nearly a defender around him.
Robert McCray V who — along with big man Alex Steen was active around the rim all night — hit two free throws late to seal FSU’s 65-63 victory.
McCray, averaging 13.8 points per game, turned a Miami turnover into a three-point play before hitting a short hook in the paint to give the Seminoles a 36-35 lead with under 15 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Hurricanes threatened to pull away on several occasions in the first half, but Steen, for one, wouldn’t have it, as his tip-in stopped a 9-0 Miami run with the Seminoles trailing 19-13 at the 11:00 mark.
Florida State limited Miami’s offensive possessions with strong rebounding and pressed at times on defense in order to shorten the shot clock on the Hurricanes.
However, there was still some lapses customary of a young and limited team as FSU several shot clock violations and committed turnovers at unforeseen times during the game, including an arrant pass - after a steal - by freshman Thomas Vassong midway through the first half.
So, it definitely won’t be an easy task as ‘the student takes on his teacher’ with a Seminoles team that is 3-10 in their last 13 games despite the win in Miami.
The Mustangs, 11-1 at home, are averaging 87.5 points per game as a team, which could be a problem for the Seminoles, who are averaging nearly 35 three-pointers a game this season but tend to have long stretches in which said attempts are not going in the basket.
Kevin Miller is averaging 19.8 points per game.
Seminoles vs. Mustangs betting analysis:
Without even taking a look at the betting line, the Seminoles jumped out to me strictly on their travel itinerary being altered by the winter storm sweeping through most parts of the US, including Dallas, Texas, right now.
And if you’re a serious college basketball bettor you should always be aware of all kinds of information you consider valuable, so please keep in mind that the ACC has made the following changes to it’s Saturday men’s basketball schedule:
Wake Forest at Duke (5:45 p.m. to Noon)
North Carolina at Virginia (2 p.m. to Noon) Virginia Tech at Louisville (3:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.)
Dallas, for one, is expected to accumulate three inches of snow and ice by Sunday, according to the Weather Channel.
However, I’ve never been confused with Jim Cantore, but do know that these are young men getting ready for a 4:00 p.m. (ET) tipoff — indoors, no less — and on three days of full-rest as far as Florida State is concerned.
Not pro ballers with multiple cellphones, logging around Gucci bags and juggling a side-piece.
Therefore, a little change to their travel schedule isn’t necessarily going to affect their on-court play. So that’s that for a solid variable.
On the court, Florida State finally showed signs of life on the boards (thanks in large part to Steen),
went to the rim relentlessly (with McCray V doing work) and shot the ball very well () and unlike in previous games, never wilted down the stretch vs. UM.
So, give me the points with FSU in this spot — and let’s trust the Seminoles to either cover the spread or win alright, while plenty of cowboy hats and BBQ pits freeze outside.
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