T.M. Selection: St. Joseph's.

I like St. Joseph's to cover the spread against USC in this game on Thursday. St. Joseph's have lost 2 games in a row but they have stayed competitive in those games they lost. They lost 1 game by 3 points and they lost their previous game by 12 points but they have not lost a game by 19+ points this year yet. Their previous game was the 1st time all year that they let an opposing team score 80+ points on them so I expect them to tighten up on defense in this game and try not to let in as many points, especially against a ranked team. USC has won all 4 games this year and they just beat Dixie State by 20+ points but Dixie State is not in Division I basketball. The last 2 Division I teams that they faced this year they won by 5 points and by 17. They also didn't play their best defense in their previous game and gave up 71 points to a team from a lower division. I think that St. Joseph's will be able to score points in this game and keep this game close enough to USC the entire time to cover the spread in the end. I like St. Joseph's to cover the spread here.

T.M. Prediction: 76-66 USC.