Weekend Hot Takes: Memphis will maul Houston

Is it getting hot in here or is it just our takes? BetAmerica columnists Ashley Anderson, Jeremy Balan, Ryan Murphy and Thomas Tassone share their sizzling picks for this weekend’s sports action. Handle with caution!

NCAAB: Houston at Memphis, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET

Ashley: The Memphis Tigers have lost three of four games in February, though any one of those losses could have gone the other way. South Florida beat Memphis by a bucket, then Cincinnati prevailed in overtime, and UConn squeaked by with a three-point home victory. The Tigers bounced back Wednesday against East Carolina and now host the 22nd-ranked Cougars in a game Memphis must win to help boost its NCAA tournament resume. Houston is coming off a huge beatdown of Tulsa but fell in overtime to SMU the game before. The Cougars have struggled some on the road and will find themselves on the losing end of a back-and-forth battle at FedExForum.

NCAAB: Sacred Heart (+2) at Merrimack, Friday, 5 p.m. ET

Jeremy: Merrimack took the first meeting between these two teams, 65-57, on Sacred Heart’s home court Jan. 2 and sits atop the Northeast Conference standings. So why am I picking the Pioneers? They’re the rare college basketball team that plays better on the road. They’re 9-6 in away games, compared to 6-4 at home, and three of those road losses came when they were outgunned by major-conference foes Providence, Connecticut, and Central Florida. Sacred Heart has won (and covered) its last three road games in NEC play and will make the conference race a little bit more interesting tonight.

NBA: Denver Nuggets (+1.5) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, 8 p.m. ET

Ryan: Oklahoma City is one of the best home teams in the Western Conference, but that won’t matter a lick tonight when they host the vastly superior Nuggets. Denver has won seven of its last 10 games and demolished the Thunder when they met earlier this season on Dec 14. Nikola Jokic led the way that evening with 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists and should have another monster game tonight.

Boxing: Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET

Thomas: The most anticipated fight of the year is finally here as Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are set for a rematch to decide the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the world! Although Fury is a crafty technical boxer who will enter this contest with a solid game plan, I believe the most powerful striker on the planet will catch him with that DEVASTATING right hand and be too much for Fury to handle. Look for Wilder to end this fight with an electrifying Round 10 KO and defend his WBC belt for the 11th time on Saturday night.

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