FAU vs Arizona Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Wildcats Overwhelm the Owls in Vegas?

Arizona’s non-conference schedule has seen them take on a number of the best and biggest names in college basketball. One final test remains on the gauntlet, as the #4 Wildcats are set to take on #14 FAU this afternoon at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (3:00 pm ET, FOX).

Being undefeated certainly would have been the ideal outcome, but to get through a schedule featuring games against Duke, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Alabama with only one loss is an indication that the Wildcats (9-1) are one of the elite teams this season.

After falling against Purdue last Saturday in Indianapolis, Arizona bounced back with an impressive 87-74 win over Alabama at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. In the victory, they held the Crimson Tide, who went into the game averaging 92.1 points per game, to their fewest points of the season and allowed only two points in the final 3:25.

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The Wildcats will open their final Pac-12 slate with at Cal next Friday, but before they visit the Bears, they have to deal with a parliament of very talented Owls.

FAU (9-2) had an ugly home loss to Bryant in the third game of the season, but they have won seven of eight since, losing only to Illinois, who’s one spot ahead of them in this week’s AP poll, in the Jimmy V Classic almost three weeks ago.

The Owls have shown thus far this season that they can put some points on the board, but can they match the Wildcats blow for blow, basket for basket?

FAU vs Arizona Odds

Spread

• FAU +7 (-115)
• Arizona -7 (-105)

Over/Under

• Over 163.5 (-110)
• Under 163.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• FAU +245
• Arizona -290

Last Five Games for FAU

• (Springfield, MA – Basketball Hall of Fame Classic) vs St. Bonaventure (12/16): won 64-54
• vs FIU (12/13): won 94-60
• (New York, NY – Jimmy V Classic) vs Illinois (12/5): lost 98-89
• vs College of Charleston (12/2): won 90-74
• vs Liberty (11/30): won 83-58

Last Five Games for Arizona

• (Phoenix – Hall of Fame Series) vs Alabama (12/20): won 87-74
• (Indianapolis – Indy Classic) vs Purdue (12/16): lost 92-84
• vs Wisconsin (12/9): won 98-73
• vs Colgate (12/2): won 82-55
• (Palm Springs, CA – Acrisure Classic) vs Michigan State (11/23): won 74-68

Top Players for FAU

• Vladislav Goldin: 15.1 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 75.9% FG
• Johnell Davis: 14.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 48.8% 3PT
• Alijah Martin: 12.8 PPG, 4.5 APG, 1.7 SPG
• Nicholas Boyd: 9.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 SPG
• Bryan Greenlee: 8.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.5 APG

Top Players for Arizona

• Caleb Love: 15.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 SPG
• Keshad Johnson: 13.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.4 SPG
• Oumar Ballo: 12.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 65.1% FG
• Pelle Larsson: 12.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 60.0% FG, 55.6% 3PT
• Kylan Boswell: 12.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.5 APG

FAU vs Arizona Prediction and Picks

Prediction: Arizona to win

As impressive as the Wildcats (92.3 PPG) have been offensively this season, they are also pretty adept on the defensive end. In fact, they rank higher in adjusted defensive efficiency (second at KenPom) than they do in adjusted offensive efficiency (sixth).

Alabama can be a team of extremes offensively, and the Crimson Tide were not at the top of their game on Wednesday, making only 33.8% of their shots, missing 32 of their 40 three-point attempts, and committing 18 turnovers.

Much of that must be attributed to the opposition, who really tightened the screws in the second half after a free-throw fest in the first half saw Alabama take a lead into the break.

FAU is 35th in the country in scoring (83.5 PPG), the Owls rank 12th in both adjusted offensive efficiency and two-point field goal percentage (58.6%), as well as 25th (22nd in Division I games only) in three-point field goal percentage (38.4%).

The Owls have scored 90+ points five times this season and 80+ eight times, including 96 in a win over Texas A&M at the ESPN Events Invitational last month.

So, they can certainly do some scoring if need be. However, I don’t see them being able to do enough to keep the Wildcats from recording yet another quality win.

Ballo led the way against Alabama with 16 points and 12 rebounds, but all five Arizona starters scored in double figures. That shows just what kind of weapons the Wildcats have in their arsenal.

Purdue was able to overcome those weapons in large part because they have the best player in the country in Zach Edey, but FAU will join the list of teams who have been unable to.

Picks: Arizona -7 & FAU/Arizona Over 163.5 (Both at BetOnline – Bet These Lines & Get a 100% Bonus on Your First Cryptocurrency Deposit)

Bonus Pick: Caleb Love Over 2.5 Made Three-Pointers (+125 at Bovada – Bet These Plays & Get a 75% Welcome Bonus If Your First Deposit Is Via Crypto)

Against Alabama, Love was 0 of 4 from three, marking only the fifth time in his last 88 games (it occurred seven times in his first 23 games as a freshman at North Carolina) that he failed to connect at least once from outside.

Love is shooting only 30.2% from three this season, which is only slightly better than the 29.9% he shot in his last season as a Tar Heel. But he made four threes (in nine attempts) against Purdue and three (in eight attempts) against Wisconsin, and I expect him to get his share of looks against the Owls. We’ll see if he makes a high percentage of them, but I really like the value here given what he is capable of.

Where to Bet on College Basketball

If you are looking for college basketball odds, you will always be spoiled for choice.

Sports betting sites all over the internet offer a vast array of NCAA basketball odds throughout the season, from the opening tip in November to the conclusion of the season in early April.

Along with being able to bet on games like Nevada vs Hawaii, many online sportsbooks offer men’s college basketball national championship odds, women’s college basketball national championship odds, men’s Wooden Award odds, women’s Wooden Award odds, and odds on who will win early season and conference tournaments.

Below are some of the books that we highly recommend for college basketball betting:

• BetDSI
• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Bovada
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Other College Basketball Content

• College Basketball Betting Guide
• Men’s Wooden Award Winner Odds
• Women’s Wooden Award Winner Odds