The set-up: Tulane is just 3-12 to open its season and while South Florida is 6-8, both teams are still looking for their first American Athletic Conference win of the season (Green Wave and the Bulls have each opened 0-3 in AAC play).

Tulane: The Green Wave took a five-point lead over Memphis late in the first half in their last game but ran out of gas in an 80-59 defeat that dropped them to 5-28 in their last 33 games against conference foes dating back to the 2014-15 season. Defense has been a major concern early in AAC play for Tulane, which has allowed all three opponents to reach the 80-point plateau (an average of 85.7 PPG) and enters this contest allowing 79.5 PPG on the season (320th) on 48.2% shooting (337th). Junior guard Cameron Reynolds leads the team in scoring (15.5 PPG), ranks second in rebounding (6.2) and is third in three-point shooting (40.4 percent) but finds himself in the midst of a cold spell (2-of-10 from long range over his last three games). Backcourt partner Kain Harris (11.1) provides nice scoring balance and is averaging 16.7 points over his previous three contests. Guard Melvin Frazier (10.6) is the other Tulane player averaging in double figures and ranks third in the AAC in steals per game (1.7). USF: Things aren't going much better for the Bulls, who dismissed head coach Orlando Antigua on Jan. 3 and promoted assistant Murry Bartow to the head role. South Florida is coming off an 84-65 loss to SMU and has just one win in its last eight games against AAC opponents. The Bulls also have three players in double digits, guards Thorpe (13.6-3.9-4.0) and Hol;sston (11.5) plus 6-7 freshman Tulio Da Silva i(10.7 & 8.2).

The pick: Neither team scores all that well and while USF is the better defensive etam (69.8 PPG), the bulls are also teh favorite and sport an 18-40-1 ATS record in their last 59 home games. Tulane is the 8* play.