Rice Owls vs. Florida Atlantic Owls: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/9/2023

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: FAU Arena, Boca Raton, FL

Where to watch: ESPN+

DraftKings: FAU -13.5

FanDuel: FAU -13.5

BetMGM: FAU -13.5

Caesars: NL

Rice: 15-8 (6-6 C-USA)

Florida Atlantic: 22-2 (12-1 C-USA)

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Following their loss to end a 20-game winning streak that went so far under the radar it was laughable, the Florida Atlantic Owls will try to win a second straight game and improve to 14-0 at home this year when they host the Rice Owls, who are coming in on a three-game losing streak.

 

FAU bounced back after their 86-77 loss at UAB with a 67-52 win over the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday. A defense that has normally been very stout this year got back to where it was during that winning streak, holding the 49ers to 39.1 percent shooting while the Owls were at a 55.3 percent clip.

 

Vladislav Goldin had 15 points in 25 minutes, shooting 6 of 7 from the floor, and grabbed six rebounds to help lead the FAU offense. Alijah Martin chipped in with 13 points on 4 of 7 shooting and making three 3-pointers.

 

Even though FAU is no longer in the top 25, which is the dumbest type of situation ever off one loss because weaker conferences are the devil, the Owls are still very much a good team and are in the driver’s seat to win the regular season conference title. Not to mention, they can absolutely still be an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed if they somehow don’t win the championship. They’re going to get there one way or another. It might just be a bit.

 

Rice is no slouch this season at a 15-8 mark, but they’re on a 3-game losing streak and are trying to find some sort of rhythm after two of those losses have come at home. The latest was a 74-64 loss to North Texas at home, the third straight game the Owls have given up at least 70 points in a loss.

 

There’s no shame in losing to North Texas, a team that’s now 19-5 and 10-3 in conference play. Rice played fairly well shooting 47 percent from the floor, led by 17 points from Mekhi Mason on 5 of 8 shooting. Travis Evee had just 12 points but shot 6 of 14 from the floor and missed all 3-point attempts.

 

The Owls went from 6-3 in conference play to 6-6 and are suddenly in the mosh-posh of a bunch of teams in the middle of the pack. This 3-game losing streak hasn’t proven that they’re out of things yet, but they can’t be trusted in this realm because it’s becoming a two, maybe three-team conference right now with the play of UAB.

 

FAU is laying 13.5 points in a game where they’ve been 16-5-1 against the spread this season. That’s a wide spread against a Rice team that hasn’t won in a week and a half, but I think FAU is determined to get back home and bounce back. FAU 75, Rice 60

Rice is 5-3 ATS on the road this season.

Rice is 0-7 ATS off a home conference loss the last 3 seasons.

Florida Atlantic is 29-16 ATS as a favorite the last 3 seasons.

Florida Atlantic is 29-52 ATS all-time after winning 3 of four games.

PG: Quincy Olivari

SG: Travis Evee

SF: Mehki Mason

PF: Cameron Sheffield

C: Max Fiedler

PG: B.J. Greenlee

SG: Jalen Gaffney

SF: Nicholas Boyd

PF: Brandon Weatherspoon

C: Vladislav Goldi

Points: Quincy Olivari -- 18.9

Rebounds: Max Fiedler -- 8.3

Assists: Max Fiedler -- 5.1

Points: Johnell Davis -- 13.1

Rebounds: Vladislav Goldin -- 6.2

Assists: Nicholas Boyd -- 2.6