Memphis Tigers vs South Florida Bulls Picks and Prediction for Thursday February 19 2026

The Memphis Tigers head to Tampa, Florida for a game against the South Florida Bulls, with both teams trying to keep building momentum as the season rolls on. Memphis comes in at 12-13 overall and 7-5 in American Athletic Conference play, while South Florida has been one of the league’s hottest teams at 18-8 overall and 10-3 in conference action. The Bulls will be looking to showcase their dominance at home and push their current winning streak to five straight. Get involved in the action with our free college basketball picks.

Memphis vs. South Florida Game Information

• February 19, 2026
• 7:00pm EST
• Yuengling Center
• ESPN2

South Florida Form & Recent Results

South Florida heads into this game playing some of their best basketball of the season, riding a four-game winning streak and winning four of their last five games overall. Their most recent win was a nail-biter on Sunday in Boca Raton, where they edged Florida Atlantic 83–81 in overtime. Wes Enis was the go-to scorer in that one, pouring in 27 points, while Izaiyah Nelson controlled the glass with 10 rebounds and CJ Brown helped keep the offense organized with three assists. As a team, the Bulls shot 42% from three, did a solid job taking care of the ball with only 10 turnovers, and battled on the boards with 43 rebounds. They didn’t dominate the lead the whole way, as South Florida was in front for about 30% of the game, but they hung around, made timely shots, and finished the job when it mattered most.

So far this year, the Bulls have a balanced group of key contributors, with Nelson leading the way as the top scorer at 16 points per game. Enis isn’t far behind as the second-leading scorer, averaging 15.9 points, giving South Florida a reliable one-two scoring punch. Nelson also sets the tone on the inside as the team’s top rebounder, grabbing 9.8 boards per game, while Brown is the main playmaker, leading the team with 5.1 assists per game. Offensively, South Florida has been consistently productive lately, averaging 83.2 points over their last five games. That scoring jumps even higher at home, where they’re 10–2 this season and putting up an impressive 92.8 points per game in Tampa. With Memphis coming to town on Thursday, the Bulls will be looking to keep that home-court rhythm going and continue making their building a tough place for opponents to win.

Memphis Form & Recent Results

Memphis comes into this game trying to shake off a rough one, as they’re currently riding a two-game losing streak and have dropped three of their last five games overall. Their most recent game ended up in a lopsided 99–75 loss to Utah State in Logan on Saturday, where Sincere Parker was one of the few bright spots, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Dug McDaniel helped facilitate the offense with three assists, but Memphis struggled to stay in control for long stretches. Even though the Tigers shot a solid 79% from the free-throw line and pulled down 39 rebounds, they only held the lead for about 17% of the game, which shows how much they were playing from behind.

McDaniel has been Memphis’ most consistent scoring option overall this season, leading the team at 12.8 points per game, with Parker close behind at 12.0 points per contest. Julius Thedford has been their top rebounder, averaging 5.1 boards a night, while McDaniel also sets the tone as the primary playmaker with 4.6 assists per game. Still, the main concern lately has been on the defensive end: over their last five games, Memphis has given up 77.4 points per game, and things have been even worse away from home. The Tigers are just 2–8 on the road this season, surrendering 82.4 points per game in those matchups, and that shaky road defense has played a major role in their struggles. They’ll need a big turnaround to change the narrative, but it won’t come easy with a strong USF team waiting in this one.

Key Stats

• Memphis’ Dug McDaniel this season: 12.8 points, 4.6 assists per game
• South Florida’s Izaiyah Nelson this season: 16 points, 9.8 rebounds per game

Betting Odds & Market Overview:

• USF -8.5; O/U 158.5

Memphis vs. South Florida Picks and Prediction

South Florida looks like it has a slight advantage heading into this game. Over the course of the season, the Bulls have been more productive on offense and have generally done a better job on the glass, while also moving the ball well and piling up more assists than Memphis. That said, they’re not going to take anything for granted. They know Memphis is capable of making this a tough night, especially with the Tigers trying to close the gap in the American Conference standings. Memphis can also hang its hat on defense, which has been a bit stronger overall, and that should give the Tigers some added confidence as they head to Tampa. Final Score Prediction, South Florida Bulls win but fail to cover the spread, 79-78.