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Memphis vs Tulsa Picks and Predictions – Wednesday January 21, 2026
Memphis hits the road to face Tulsa on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, with an 8:00 PM ET tip at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa. ESPN+ has the stream. This is an AAC matchup where the market is pricing in a real home-court gap, and the numbers back it up.
Tulsa is laying -6.5 with a 15-3 overall record and a dominant 10-1 mark at home. Memphis comes in 9-8 and just 1-4 on the road, but the Tigers have shown they can score in bunches and they’ve been live in the dog role.
Memphis vs Tulsa Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep monitoring the latest college basketball odds leading up to tip in case the spread or total moves.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | +210 | +6.5 (-115) | 153.5 (-110) |
| Tulsa | -258 | -6.5 (-105) | 153.5 (-110) |
Memphis Betting Form
Memphis is coming off a statement win over UTSA, 95-69, and that kind of clean offensive game travels better than people want to admit. Dug McDaniel and Sincere Parker set the tone, and when Memphis is playing with pace and confidence, you get faster possessions, earlier shots, and more free-flowing scoring runs.
From a betting lens, Memphis is easier to back as a dog than as a favorite. They’ve been solid against the number in the underdog role, and the recent straight-up surge matters too because it tells you the floor is higher right now than the season record suggests. If the Tigers can avoid empty stretches and keep their live-ball turnovers down, +6.5 is very playable.
The road concerns are real, though. A 1-4 road record doesn’t disappear because of one hot week. Memphis has to prove it can survive the first 10 minutes in a loud building without chasing the game. For matchup trends and recent results, check Memphis stats and results.
Tulsa Betting Form
Tulsa’s offense is not subtle. They just hung 99 on UAB in a 99-77 win, and the shooting efficiency is what jumps off the page. David Green and Miles Barnstable were both cooking, and Tulsa’s ability to score without needing perfect tempo is why they’re priced like this at home.
The home profile is the handicap. Tulsa is 10-1 in the Reynolds Center, and that typically shows up in shot quality and free throws late. They’re also a dangerous team for spread bettors because they don’t need a perfect defensive game to cover. If they’re making threes at their season rate and getting to the line, they can separate quickly.
The only real caution is that high-scoring teams can get a little loose when they’re favored, especially if the opponent hangs around. That’s where Memphis +6.5 becomes live, because Tulsa can win and still not cover if the pace gets messy late. For schedule context and recent form, see Tulsa schedule and stats.
Memphis vs Tulsa Matchup Breakdown
This game comes down to whether Memphis can keep Tulsa out of its comfort zone. Tulsa is an efficient offense with real perimeter shooting and strong free-throw conversion. Memphis has to defend the arc with discipline and avoid the kind of foul trouble that turns a close spread into a parade to the stripe.
On the other side, Memphis has a path if it can score early and force Tulsa to defend multiple actions. If the Tigers are getting downhill and finishing possessions, they can keep the pressure on the favorite. The risk is that if Memphis goes cold, Tulsa is the type of team that can turn two empty trips into a quick 8-0 run.
A few angles I’m focused on:
- Tulsa’s three-point volume and accuracy versus Memphis’ perimeter containment
- How often Memphis is forced into late-clock possessions, which usually favors the home team
- End-game script: if Memphis is within two possessions late, the +6.5 becomes much stronger
If you want a quick framework for how pace, efficiency, and late fouling interact with spreads and totals, the Expert Betting Guide is a solid refresher.
Memphis vs Tulsa Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Memphis +6.5. Tulsa deserves to be favored at home, but this number is asking them to win by multiple possessions against a Memphis team that’s playing with momentum and has enough scoring to trade punches. If the Tigers show up sharp offensively, they can keep this within one to two possessions for most of the night.
I’m more cautious on the moneyline dog because the road profile is still a problem, and Tulsa’s home execution is the kind that wins close games. But spreads like this are where Memphis can cash without needing everything to break perfectly.
On the total, I lean under 153.5, even with Tulsa’s scoring reputation. The number is inflated, and if Memphis plays even slightly more measured on the road, the game can land in that mid-140s range unless both teams are scorching from three. The under also benefits if Tulsa’s defense forces Memphis into longer possessions and tougher late-clock shots.
Best Bet: Memphis +6.5 (-115)
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting the full college slate, the college basketball picks page is the fastest way to compare sides and totals across matchups without bouncing around. I also like cross-checking game context through the NCAAB previews hub before I lock anything in.
For broader team-level context, the NCAAB teams hub helps you scan profiles and trends, and the ScoresAndStats blog is useful when you want angle-based reads that go beyond one game.
If you’re following proven results, the best handicappers page and the leaderboard make it easy to see who’s actually beating the market, and you can access premium selections through buy picks. For additional context on where to wager and which services are worth your time, the sportsbook reviews and handicappers sites reviews pages are good tools to keep in rotation.
