All bets are off when two out of conference teams meet in the early part of a college basketball season. Scouting reports are limited, chemistry is not yet complete, and identities not fully formed. SMU will welcome in Eastern Michigan University on Sunday at Moody Coliseum, trying to prove they are closer to mid-season form than the Eagles.

SMU is the more highly touted team coming into tipoff, but EMU is no slouch on the early November slate. The team from Yipsilanti, MI is a Mid-American Conference title hopeful with a veteran lineup.

The Eagles only have one freshman on the roster and are looking to build off of an 18-15 mark a season ago, led by reigning MAC freshman of the year James Thompson IV. The Louisiana native is a 6-foot-10 forward who averaged 14.8 points-per-game last season along with 10.7 rebounds. He could pose a mismatch in the front court against a smaller tandem in Semi Ojeleye and Ben Moore.

SMU will have the edge in the backcourt with Shake Milton stepping into the limelight and Sterling Brown providing a veteran presence. If Ben Moore can find a rhythm against EMU then SMU should be able to establish dominance early on.

Defensively, EMU was one of the best units in the country just two seasons ago, but they allowed 10.8 more points per game last season than in 2014-15, 74.5 overall. But SMU has proven scorers on its roster and multiple deep threat options led by Milton who shot over 40% from three point range a year ago. If SMU can spread the Eagle’s out by dialing long distance, as head coach Tim Jankovich likes to do, SMU can more easily penetrate the rim.

SMU has garnered a reputation as a tremendous home team, and for good reason. The team is 50-4 at Moody over the last three years and the crowd will be ready to roar. On the other end of the spectrum, Eastern Michigan went just 4-11 last year on the road.

Prediction: SMU 71, EMU-56