Prediction: Radford Highlanders VS SMU Mustangs 2025-11-24
SMU vs. Radford: A Buffet of Baskets and a Side of Sadness
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for a basketball mismatch so stark, itâs like watching a Michelin-starred chef duel a guy who microwaves ramen. SMU (6-0) hosts Radford (2-5) on Monday night, and the odds reflect a confidence so absolute, DraftKings is offering 23.0 for Radford to winâbasically paying you to bet on a team thatâs lost five straight. SMU, meanwhile, is a 1.01 favorite, implying theyâll win 99% of the time. If this were a coin flip, SMUâs coin would be a gold-plated, triple-stacked DeLorean.
The Math: Why SMUâs Odds Are as Flimsy as Radfordâs Defense
Letâs crunch the numbers. SMU averages 93.3 PPG, while Radford allows 81.7. Thatâs a 11.6-point edge before tipoff, and the spread is set at 23.5âa number so high, itâs almost like the bookmakers are betting on SMU to score 150 and Radford to⌠nap. SMUâs turnover discipline (10.8 TOs/game) contrasts sharply with Radfordâs 5-0 road losing streak. Oh, and SMU is 6-0 when they outturnover opponents. Theyâre not just playing basketball; theyâre playing turnover chess.
Radfordâs lone bright spot? They rebound like a group of enthusiastic toddlers at a trampoline park (31.3 RPG). But against SMUâs balanced attackâwhere six players scored double-digits in their last gameâitâs like bringing a spoon to a barbecue. B.J. Edwardsâ triple-double (24-13-10) last week wasnât a fluke; it was a masterclass in âHow to Make Basketball Look Easy.â
The News: Radfordâs Road to Nowhere
Radfordâs recent loss to UNC Wilmington was soć¨, Del Jones and Dennis Parker Jr. combined for 54 points but couldnât outshoot a broken sprinkler. Their new coach, Zach Chu, was recently SMUâs âchief strategist,â which feels like hiring a former enemyâs general to defend your castle. âWelcome to the dark side, Zach,â SMUâs Andy Enfield must be cackling. âYouâre gonna love it here⌠until you donât.â
Radfordâs hope? Hitting 7.7 threes per game, matching SMUâs defensive weakness (7.8 allowed). But SMUâs defense is so cohesive, theyâd make a swarm of bees look disorganized. And letâs not forget: Radfordâs road losses include trips to then-No. 18 North Carolina and then-undefeated South Carolina. If they canât beat teams with actual swagger, what makes them think they can beat a SMU squad thatâs basically already in the NCAA tournament?
The Verdict: SMUâs a 10-Course Meal, Radfordâs a Cracker Jack Box
This isnât a gameâitâs a math problem. SMUâs depth, ball movement (29 assists in their last win), and home-court dominance (6-0 at home) make them a well-oiled machine. Radfordâs â14-player recruiting classâ sounds impressive until you realize itâs the same size as a Sudoku puzzle.
Prediction: SMU wins 85-62, covering the 23.5-point spread with ease. Unless Radfordâs Dennis Parker Jr. hits seven threes like a caffeinated wizard, this will be a clinic. Bet the Mustangs, or if youâre feeling very charitable, take the points and root for⌠something. Maybe the halftime entertainment.
Final Score Prediction: SMU 85, Radford 62
Over/Under: Under 165.5 (SMUâs defense will tighten up, and Radfordâs offense? Letâs just say theyâll miss more shots than a blindfolded jockey at a rodeo.)
Go forth and bet wiselyâor at least bet with a sense of humor.
Created: Nov. 25, 2025, 12:13 a.m. GMT