6:05! Rogers' EARLY College CRUSHER >>> 18-7 L25 NCAAB!
(NCAAB) Southern Methodist vs. Central Florida,
Point Spread: 4.50 | -106.00 Central Florida (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: SMU is 17-4 (7-1 in AAC play) after winning 13 of its last 14 games. The Mustangs look to keep their hot streak going when they take to the road in a league game at 14-5 UCF (5-2 in AAC play).

SMU: Cincinnati is unbeaten in AAC play, leaving the Mustangs a game behind. Tim Jankovich has taken over for Larry Brown in Dallas and will send out a starting a lineup of players between 6-6 and 6-8. All three guards are 6-6, led by PG Milton (13.2-4.2-4.3), joined by backcourt partners Brown (11.3 & 6.8) and Foster (9.6 & 5.1). The 6-7 Ojeleye (17.8 & 7.0) and the 6-8 Moore (11.8 & 7.8) start up front. The Mustangs have held their last 14 opponents to 66 points or less and now rank 4th in the nation, allowing an averaage of 59.4 PPG.

UCF: While the Mustangs have excellent size overall, they own no player like UCF's 7-6 sophomore center Tacko Fall, the league's top rebounder at 10.5 per game. Fall has been outstanding this season, shooting a league-best 78.5 percent while scoring 13.3 PPG. Johnny Dawkins was shown the door after eight seasons as Stanford's head coach. The former Duke star led Stanford to two NIT titles but just two short-lived NCAA appearances. After going 15-15 (8-10 in the Pac 12) last season, the Cardinal faithful said "enough." Dawkins was quickly hired at UCF and a team which was just 12-18 last season, is 14-5. Joining Fall are a trio of guards are led Taylor (16.0), Williams (15.9 & 5.1) and Efianayi (10.8 & 5.2) Redshirt junior forward A.J. Davis (6-8), who led the Knights in scoring last season (just 12.0 PPG), has averaged 10.3 points in the last three games after struggling with his shot since returning from a preseason hand injury. He's up to 7.5 PPG and 7.7 RPG. Defense has been the team's "calling card," allowing 59.2 PPG (3rd) on 34.5% shooting (1st in the nation!).

The pick: SMU ranks third in the nation in rebounding margin (plus-11.7) but UCF is second, at plus-12.3. SMU allows 59.4 PPG but UCF tops that as well, allowing 59.2 per (plus ranks 1st in defensive FG percentage!). SMU is on quite a roll but UCF is 10-1 SU at home, where its allowing only 55.8 PPG. Make the home dog an 8* play.