NCAA Basketball Preview Cincinnati @ Memphis

The Cincinnati Bearcats have gotten their 2008-09 NCAA basketball campaign off to a great start and come into tonight’s matchup against the Memphis Tigers at FedEx Forum, riding a four-game winning streak in the BetOnline Sportsbook.

Memphis may be the nationally-ranked team in this contest, but the defending national-champion runner-ups have been the more inconsistent of the two teams tonight, alternating wins and losses in each of their last seven games.

The Bearcats are coming off an emphatic 79-49 win over Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Monday, getting 14 points apiece from freshman forward Yancy Gates and junior guard Deonta Vaughn.

The Tigers are coming off a 87-49 rout over Drexel on Monday, covering a huge 22.5-point spread as home favorites for NCAA college basketball sports betting enthusiasts in the process.

Freshman shooting guard Tyreke Evans led the way with 20 points while senior forward Robert Dozier chipped in 14 points.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NCAAB Free Pick:

NCAAB Odds

Cincinnati +13½ -110

Memphis -13½ -110

Analysis: I know the Memphis Tigers are the nationally-ranked team in this contest, but I like the Cincinnati Bearcats to cover the spread here with room to spare. The Bearcats are a well-coached team that plays the game the right way and has enough athleticism and height to compete with some of the powerhouse teams in the nation.

NCAAB Free Picks: Cincinnati +13½ Points