The Golden Panthers and Bearkats are set to face off at 6:30 ET on ESPN+. The Bearkats will host the game at Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL. The odds for this Conference USA conference game currently have Sam Houston State as the -8 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 145.5 points.

FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS VS SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARKATS BETTING PICK

The Pick: FIU Golden Panthers +8

This game will be played at Von Braun Center at 6:30 ET on Wednesday, March 13th.

WHY BET THE FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 73-72 in favor of the Bearkats.
  • Even though we have Sam Houston State winning straight-up, we like FIU at +8.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 145.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.

Will FIU Be The Talk of Von Braun Center?

FIU will look to snap its two-game losing streak when it takes on Sam Houston State. The Golden Panthers have an overall record of 10-21 this season, including a 5-11 mark in Conference USA.

As the underdog, FIU is 3-16 this season. On the road, the Golden Panthers have yet to win a game, going 0-13 with an average scoring margin of -11.6 points per game.

As the underdog, FIU has gone 9-10 vs. the spread this season and 14-16 overall. On the road, the Golden Panthers are 5-8 ATS and 2-1 in their last three road games.

So far this season, the over/under record in FIU games is 17-12-1. Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 149 points, which is in line with their season average of 147.3. Their OU record over their last three games is 3-0 and over their last five games, it’s 5-0. Today’s over/under line of 145.5 is lower than the average over/under line in their games this season (147.3) and there have been 16 games with a lower over/under line than today’s OU line. So far, 11 of their games have finished with fewer points than today’s OU line of 145.5.

In their most recent game, the Golden Panthers’ offense tallied 70 points, consistent with their ongoing season average of 74.1 points per game. Javaunte Hawkins is the current leading scorer for the team, with an average of 13.1 as they approach today’s matchup. In addition, Arturo Dean brings a PPG average of 13.3 into the game.

FIU’s defense is currently in line with the NCAA average for points allowed, allowing an average of 72.6 points per game. On average, opposing teams are hitting 6.4 threes per game vs. Sam Houston State. This has come on three-point shooting percentage of 37.1%.

Can Sam Houston State Live Up to the Hype at Home?

Sam Houston State will look to continue their strong play at home, where they have won nine straight games, as they get set to take on FIU. The Bearkats have gone 11-2 at home this season, compared to 8-9 on the road.

Overall, Sam Houston State has gone 20-11 this season, and they have won their last seven games. They are 14-3 when favored this season, and they have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games at home.

As the favorite this season, Sam Houston State has an ATS record of 11-6. At home, the Bearkats have an ATS mark of 8-5. Over their last 10 games as the favorite, Sam Houston State has gone 7-3 vs. the spread.

Sam Houston State’s over/under record this season is 18-12 and the average scoring total in their games is 142 points. Today’s over/under line of 145.5 is higher than the average OU line in their games (140.5). In their last three games, the over/under record is 3-0 and the average scoring total is 145 points.

In their latest game, Sam Houston State offense put up 81 points against Jacksonville State. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 54% and made 9 threes. The team’s top scorer is Davon Barnes, who enters today’s matchup with an average of 13.6, while Lamar Wilkerson also carries a PPG average of 13.9 into the game.

The Bearkats’ defense is presently ranked 102nd nationally, allowing an average of 69.6 points per contest. The Sam Houston State defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 73 points and allowed Jacksonville State to connect on 9 threes.