Subscribe
Follow Us
Wichita State visits last season's Cinderella FAU in American Athletic Conference play on Thursday night. It is time to continue our men's college basketball odds series with a Wichita State-FAU prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.
Wichita State is sitting at .500 on the season with an 8-8 record, but their AAC record is an abysmal 0-3. They had no answer for No.13 Memphis on Sunday, losing 112-86 in their poorest defensive effort of the season. They allowed Memphis to shoot 64.7% from the field, including 19 of 30 from beyond the arc. Defense is the biggest concern for the Shockers. There's time to turn it around, but it may not happen against FAU on Thursday night. If the Shockers want to end their five-game losing streak, they will need a complete overhaul of their defense.
FAU is the 22nd-ranked team in the nation, showing that their trip to the Final Four last season was no fluke. FAU took care of UAB on Sunday, beating the visiting Blazers 86-73. They are still trying to get back on track after disappointing losses to Charlotte and Florida Gulf Coast. FAU were 8.5 and 17.5-point favorites in those games, which is concerning for fans and bettors alike. Johnell Davis led the way for the 13-4 FAU Owls, tallying 30 points. FAU's depth will now be tested, as Giancarlo Rosado is sidelined until mid-February. Sophomore Tre Carroll filled in admirably for the Owls on Sunday, scoring nine points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.
Here are the college basketball odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
College Basketball Odds: Wichita State-FAU Odds
Wichita State: +14.5 (-102)
Moneyline: (+860)
FAU: -14.5 (-120)
Moneyline: (-1600)
Over: 152.5 (-110)
Under: 152.5 (-110)
How to Watch Wichita State vs. FAU
Time: 7 PM ET/4 PM PT
Article Continues Below
TV: ESPN2
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why Wichita State Will Cover The Spread
Wichita State may have looked bad against Memphis, but FAU has its own struggles. They are 7-3 over their last ten games but are just 4-6 against the spread. They failed to cover the number in five straight, and this margin is big enough that you have to consider backing the Shockers. FAU has been close to covering substantial spreads against UAB and ECU, but losses to Charlotte and Florida Gulf Coast as favorites are what will help Wichita State's case.
Why FAU Will Cover The Spread
Wichita State's defense was terrible on Sunday, allowing Memphis to score 112 points and shoot 64.7% from the field. The loss to Memphis marked their fifth in a row and seven of the last eight. These numbers are bad enough, but they've also failed to cover the spread in eight straight games. Defense is their biggest concern, and FAU won't do anything to help that issue.
FAU ranks 29th in the nation with 82.4 points per game. They are also a highly efficient team, ranking 19th in field goal and 71st in three-point percentage. If FAU can get hot from beyond the arc, they will run away with this game, as Wichita State's three-point defense was historically atrocious on Sunday. They allowed Memphis to hit 19 of 30 from deep, which helped the Shockers allow the fifth-most points in program history.
Final Wichita State-FAU Prediction & Pick
FAU's recent struggles make this a scary bet. However, it's even more difficult to rely on Wichita State after seeing their defensive issues against Memphis. FAU ranks higher than Memphis in most offensive categories, so if Wichita State hasn't figured it out in practice this week, it could be another messy night for the Shockers. FAU needs to get it back on track and pull out a convincing win if they want to stay in the top 25, and there's no better opportunity than facing Wichita State at home.
Final Wichita State-FAU Prediction & Pick: FAU -14.5 (-120)
