The UAB Blazers (12-2, 3-0 C-USA) meet the FAU Owls (12-1, 2-0) Thursday at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Fla. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the UAB vs. FAU odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Blazers sit atop the Conference USA standings with a 3-0 record, a half-game better than the Owls. That includes a convincing 90-67 win over UTSA as a 23-point favorite as the Under (157.5) cashed. That ended a 4-0 Over streak for UAB.
The Owls scratched out a 50-46 win at North Texas in Denton last Thursday, covering for the 10th consecutive outing. The Under has hit in 4 in a row for FAU, too.
FAU received votes in The AP Top 25 rankings for the first time in school history this week, and it received 3 votes in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
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UAB at FAU odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:09 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): UAB -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | FAU -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): UAB +2.5 (-115) | FAU -2.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 149.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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UAB at FAU picks and predictions
Prediction
UAB 76, FAU 74
Moneyline
PASS.
UAB has the offense to hang with anyone, and the Blazers won’t be fazed hitting the road to face FAU at “The Burrow.”
The Blazers have ripped off 5 consecutive wins, while posting 11 victories in the past 12 outings, with their only loss during the span at West Virginia Dec. 10.
FAU lost at Ole Miss Nov. 11, and it has recorded solid wins over Bryant and FGCU at home while topping Florida and North Texas on the road.
It won’t be easy for the Blazers, but they’ll get the narrow road win to stay atop the C-USA standings.
I’m going to PASS on the UAB (+105) moneyline and take the 2.5 points with the spread below. But backing the plus-money underdog here wouldn’t be terrible.
Against the spread
UAB +2.5 (-115) comes with a little risk, as it is just 1-5-1 ATS in the past 7 games overall while going a dismal 0-10-1 ATS in the past 11 road games.
FAU has posted 10 consecutive covers while going 6-0 ATS in the past 6 against winning teams. However, the Blazers are kryptonite to the Owls, winning 9 of the past 10 meetings in this series, while going 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Over/Under
OVER 149.5 (-110) has connected in 5 of the past 6 games on the road while going 8-3 in the previous 11 on the road against teams with a winning home record.
While it’s all about the Under for FAU, going 4-0 in the past 4 games overall and 6-1 in the past 7 at home, the Over is 2-1-1 in the previous 4 head-to-head matchups.
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