FAU vs Western Kentucky Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 3/9/23
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (17-15) vs. Florida Atlantic Owls (28-3)
March 9, 2023 6:30 pm EDT
The Line: Florida Atlantic Owls -10.5 / Western Kentucky Hilltoppers +10.5; Over/Under: +143.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and FAU Owls meet Thursday in the college basketball C-USA Championship Quarterfinal at the Ford Center At The Star. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are averaging 72 points on 44.7 percent shooting and allowing 70.6 points on 41.7 percent shooting. Dayvion McKnight is averaging 16.5 points and 5 rebounds, while Emmanuel Akot is averaging 10.1 points and 3.7 rebounds. Luke Frampton is grabbing 2.6 rebounds and Jairus Hamilton is dishing 1.4 assists. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are shooting 36.5 percent from beyond the arc and 71.8 percent from the free throw line. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are allowing 36.2 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31 rebounds per game.
The FAU Owls are averaging 79.3 points on 47.2 percent shooting and allowing 65.7 points on 41.1 percent shooting. Johnell Davis is averaging 13.2 points and 1.5 assists, while Alijah Martin is averaging 12.6 points and 5.1 rebounds. Vladislav Goldin is the third double-digit scorer and Nicholas Boyd is grabbing 4 rebounds. The FAU Owls are shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc and 71.2 percent from the free throw line. The FAU Owls are allowing 33.3 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 35.2 rebounds per game.
The Hilltoppers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games. The Owls are 22-10-2 ATS in their last 34 Thursday games and 19-8-1 ATS in their last 28 games overall. The over is 10-4 in Hilltoppers last 14 overall. The over is 5-1-1 in Owls last 7 overall. The underdog is 19-7 ATS in the last 26 meetings.
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers aren’t a bad team, and that makes them worth a look in the big underdog role. However, WKU spent a lot of energy coming back last night, as they trailed 22-6 at one point in that game. How much are left in those legs to play one of the best teams in the country in FAU? Florida Atlantic wins as favorites by an average of 15.2 points. I’ll lay the buckets.
