Florida Atlantic Owls vs Rice Owls Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Rice vs Florida Atlantic NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Boca Raton.

Rice vs Florida Atlantic Prediction

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Owls versus the Owls? Tip off is at at 1:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, FL. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 147.5 points, and Florida Atlantic is favored by -9.5 to win at home against Rice.

Rice vs. Florida Atlantic Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Rice Owls at Florida Atlantic Owls
Where: Boca Raton at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
Date: Sunday, January 19th
Betting Odds FLATL -9.5, RICE +355 | FLATL -468 O/U 147.5

Owls Preview: Is an Upset Waiting to Happen on the Road?

Rice Owls Recent Game/Games

The Owls dropped to 11-6 on the season after a 90-84 home loss to UTSA on Tuesday. Rice entered the game as -4.5 point favorites but failed to cover the spread.

Rice trailed 51-41 at halftime but tightened up defensively in the 2nd half, outscoring UTSA 43-39. The game’s total points of 174 exceeded the O/U line of 145.5.

Owls Offense Breakdown

Rice put up 84 points in their last game, shooting 52% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 62%. They hit 66.7% of their two-point attempts and connected on 38.5% from beyond the arc, making 10 threes. At the free-throw line, they shot 73.3%, converting 22 of 30 attempts.

Marcus Millender was a standout, hitting 5 of 6 threes and finishing with 25 points on 69.2% shooting. Primo Spears led the team with 26 points and 5 assists, despite shooting just 40% overall and 28.6% from deep. Raekwon Horton added 20 points and 8 rebounds, hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range.

Owls Team Defense

Rice's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 90 points while allowing the opposing team to shoot 52% from the field. They were particularly vulnerable inside, where they allowed 66% shooting on two-point attempts.

From beyond the arc, Rice's opponents hit 10 threes on 26 attempts, shooting 38%. The Owls also sent them to the free-throw line 30 times, where they converted 22 shots, or 73%. Rice gave up 9 offensive rebounds.

Owls Preview: Is a Home Win Possible for the Owls?

Florida Atlantic Owls Recent Game/Games

Florida Atlantic’s season record dropped to 8-9 after an 80-65 road loss to Tulane on Wednesday. The Owls, who were favored by 2 points, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 145, falling short of the 153.5 O/U line.

FAU trailed 31-23 at halftime and couldn’t close the gap in the 2nd half, where they scored 42 points but allowed 49.

Owls Offense Breakdown

In their latest game, the Owls managed just 65 points, shooting 40.7% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 45.8%, hindered by a 23.1% performance from beyond the arc, hitting only 6 of 26 attempts. They also struggled at the free-throw line, converting just 57.9% of their shots.

Kaleb Banks led the way with 25 points, shooting 57.1% overall, though he was just 1 for 5 from three. Rowan Brumbaugh added 20 points, connecting on 3 of 5 from deep. The Owls grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and dished out 16 assists in the game.

Owls Team Defense

Florida Atlantic's defense gave up 80 points in their last game, with the opposing team shooting 46% from the field. They allowed 18 two-point field goals on 28 attempts, a 64% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the opposing team hit 7 of 26 threes, shooting 26%. Florida Atlantic also sent them to the free-throw line 27 times, where they converted 23 free throws, an 85% rate. The Owls gave up 8 offensive rebounds.

Owls vs Owls Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past ten road matchups, Rice has an ATS record of 5-5 while averaging 71 per game. The team went 5-5 overall in these games.
Across the Owls last ten home games, the team averaged 80 points per game while allowing 81. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 4-5-1, while going 5-5 straight-up.
The last three games that Rice was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 1-2 straight up.
The last three games that Florida Atlantic was favored, they have an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 1-2 straight up.