NCAA Basketball
2026-03-18 - Miami (Ohio) Redhawks at SMU Mustangs
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NCAA Basketball Tournament First Four
Wednesday 18th March 2026 - Scheduled 9:15pm
1:15am (British Time)
Preview
Some have questioned the suitability of both of these teams to be involved in the First Four Round of the NCAA Tournament, but for very different reasons.
The Miami (Ohio) Redhawks (31-1) dominated the MAC in the regular season, but the first defeat in any setting came in the MAC Tournament and meant an automatic bid for a spot in the NCAA Bracket had passed them by. A record that cannot be ignored meant the Redhawks were still invited into the Tournament on Selection Sunday, but they would have perhaps been hoping for a higher Seeding and at least a spot in the First Round.
March Madness instead begins in the First Four against the SMU Mustangs (20-13) who have perhaps been fortunate to have been given any place in the NCAA Tournament.
For a while it looked like the team were capable of finishing with a really strong record, but the Mustangs have been hit hard by injury and that meant finished with an 8-10 record in ACC play. The Mustangs have also lost five of the last six games played and that is the kind of negative momentum that may have cost them a spot in the Bracket, which means the players can begin this First Four game feeling like an opportunity has presented itself to them.
Both teams will be confident in what they can do Offensively, although the layers are still not enamoured with the Miami (Ohio) team considering the record has been built upon beating bad teams. This is not going to be the case in the First Four and the Redhawks will have to find a way to slow down this Mustangs Offensive unit that has been amongst the upper level of the NCAA scene.
It has been more of a struggle in recent games, but those have also been against stronger teams than the Redhawks and that has to be factored into the equation. The SMU Mustangs are still very well regarded on the Offensive side of the court, but it has been a different story when it comes to Defensive performances and that is something the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks have to exploit.
They are capable of doing that and it makes the Redhawks dangerous, although we have not really learned enough about this team in the regular season considering level of opponents that have been beaten.
The key for the underdog is landing those big three pointers to just give the Mustangs something to think about, while an efficient two point shooting team has to make sure they are not asking players to battle on the boards for second chance opportunities.
If they can do that, they can pull the upset, but on current form it would be a surprise if the Mustangs are able to win this game as easily as the layers may be anticipating.
SMU do have the superior talent and the Redhawks are a little unknown as to the ceiling they have, but this could still be a game that Miami (Ohio) can battle to an end and keep the score competitive, even if falling short of an upset.
Prediction
This is an intriguing First Four game and the underdog looks worthy of support with the points being handed to them.
The Pick :
SMU Mustangs 74-71 Miami (Ohio) Redhawks
