NCAAB Odds, Pick for Georgia vs Miami

Miami and Georgia square off in the Baha Mar Hoops Tournament, a four-team event also featuring Kansas State and Providence.

The Bulldogs come in at 2-1, winning two straight after an ugly opening matchup against Oregon.

Miami is a perfect 3-0, but a recent scare against little brother FIU showed the Final Four Canes are far from a juggernaut.

Here's Georgia vs Miami odds and a pick, including a college basketball betting guide on Friday, Nov. 17.

Georgia discovered its offense against Wake Forest following a poor outing against Oregon. The Bulldogs buckled down on ball handling, reducing their turnovers from 16 to 7.

Miami is not exactly known for its defense — ranking 101st nationally in Adjusted Efficiency, per KenPom — so UGA shouldn’t have too much trouble getting shots up.

But getting shots up doesn’t guarantee scoring, and the Bulldogs have had difficulty hitting from deep this season, as only Jabri Abdur-Rahim and Justin Hill are shooting over 25%.

Without a true post threat, the Bulldogs are very much a perimeter-reliant squad; their guards and wings need to hit shots and get to the cup to put points on the board.

Miami can be beaten on the perimeter, and it’s likely a good thing UGA doesn’t rely on inside buckets with Norchad Omier roaming the paint.

Creation can be a problem for Georgia at times, though. Niagara transfer Noah Thomasson hasn’t looked comfortable in two of three games, Abdur-Rahim is more of a catch-and-shoot threat and Illinois import RJ Melendez has been a shell of himself in the early going. This offense can stagnate in the half-court.

Transition offense will be the key to UGA’s offensive success. The Bulldogs like to run off opponent scores, getting the ball quickly out of the hoop in an attempt to catch their foes napping. Miami, for all its struggles, has done well preventing transition opportunities thus far. But this will be its toughest test to date in that domain.

Defensively, Georgia is big and athletic, but even the best defensive squads will struggle to stop this Miami team.

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The Canes have simply outscored their last two opponents, and that’s been Jim Larranaga’s M.O. the past few seasons.

Miami’s backcourt is as talented as ever with Nijel Pack back and the rise of Wooga Poplar. All five starters can shoot the 3, and several can create their own shots. Georgia will have to pray for a cold night because getting consistent stops will be a tall task.

Like Georgia, Miami thrives in transition, ranking seventh nationally in plays finished via transition and 20th in points per possession in transition, per Synergy. Only four teams nationally play at a faster offensive pace than the Canes, meaning shots are coming early and often against back pedaling defenses.

The 6-foot-7 Omier gives the Canes another dimension to their offense, something Georgia simply does not have. In Omier, Miami has a bona fide low block threat, a guy it can run offense through if the unlikely cold streak occurs. This added dimension makes Miami one of the most versatile offensive teams in the country.

On the sidelines roams Larranaga, one of the best coaches in the country. With respect to Mike White at Georgia, the x’s and o’s advantage lies heavily with the Canes.

The only thing holding Miami back is its defense, which given the sheer talent, quickness and athleticism of the roster is a bit of a head scratcher. Perhaps Miami’s struggles over the past couple of years is simply due to its players knowing they can outscore opponents in the long run, thus valuing possessions a little less on a relative basis.

This game should be a track meet, with both teams looking to push the tempo and score in the open floor.

With Miami’s ability to score on anyone and its lack of willingness to stop anyone, the over will be worth a hard look.

From a side perspective, look for talent, coaching and shot making to win out. Miami for the win and cover.

Pick: Miami -6

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