Published Mar 17, 1:22am ET by
Keith McCarthy - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 17, 1:22am ET
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Miami-Ohio and SMU face off in a very intriguing First Four matchup on Wednesday. SMU will benefit from the return of star defender BJ Edwards who will play a crucial role in slowing Miami's offense.
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| SMU Mustangs | -310 |
| Miami-Ohio Redhawks | +250 |
Miami-Ohio had an unprecedented season. They went 31-0 during the regular season before immediately losing in the MAC quarterfinals. With the metrics of a 13-seed due to a terrible strength of schedule, the Redhawks earned a spot solely on their lack of overall losses. Many people have doubted their ability to succeed in the tourney, but Miami's offense is no joke. They'll look to prove the doubters wrong against SMU.
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SMU collapsed down the stretch of the regular season, winding up in the First Four. However, they are in better shape than the other three 11-seeds in Dayton. The Mustangs' recent losing skid was mostly due to the absence of star defender BJ Edwards. Expecting to return for this game, Edwards will play a crucial role in slowing down the Redhawks dynamic offense. Now back at full strength, SMU could be a dangerous team.
As much as a Cinderella story for Miami-Ohio would be fun to watch, it doesn't seem particularly likely to happen. Statistically, the Redhawks are more of 13-seed. Meanwhile, SMU is closer to an 8 or 9-seed when at full strength with BJ Edwards available. The line reflects this, with the Mustangs entering as a wide favorite. It's a tough draw for Miami who are likely to bow out in the First Four while SMU earns a bout with Tennessee.
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Pick
SMU Mustangs (-310)
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