The UMass Minutemen (2-1) and Murray State Racers (2-1) meet Friday afternoon in a semifinal game of the 8-team Myrtle Beach Invitational in Conway, S.C. Tip-off from HTC Center is at 2:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UMass vs. Murray State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
UMass prevailed as a 5.5-point underdog in a 66-63 opening-round win over Colorado Thursday. Massachusetts lost the turnover and rebounding tussles but won thanks mostly to a 47.2% to 34.2% advantage in shooting. G R.J. Luis stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks
Murray State is also a surprise team to be playing in this one. As a 13.5-point underdog, MSU outshot Texas A&M 50% to 38% in an 88-79 victory Thursday. The Racers had 4 players log double-figure scoring totals in a game that saw them drain 10 threes and get to the foul line 36 times.
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UMass vs. Murray State odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: UMass +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Murray State -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UMass +1.5 (-110) | Murray State -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 148.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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UMass vs. Murray State picks and predictions
Prediction
UMass 76, Murray State 74
Moneyline
Murray State plays at a fast pace and it dragged mid-pace Texas A&M up to its tempo Thursday. In the later game — after UMass had already been resting — the Racers won with a 7-man rotation. A decent dose of fatigue seems likely.
MSU does well to get free-throw looks, but give the Minutemen an edge in offensive glass work and turnover creation.
Consider a split play on the Minutemen in this one — call it 30 seconds each way. BACK UMASS (+100) for a half unit, and…
Against the spread
TAKE THE MINUTEMEN +1.5 (-110) for the other half unit. It’s a bit of insurance in what figures as a close game.
Over/Under
PASS. Both sides do play at a faster pace, but this total seems to be fairly adjusted upward.
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