Northwestern Wildcats vs Florida Atlantic Owls Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 03/22/2024

Game Time: 12:15 pm ET, Friday, March 22, 2024

Venue:  Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

Where to Watch:  CBS

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Northwestern +2.5, FAU -2.5; Over/Under:  142 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Northwestern +2.5, FAU -2.5; Over/Under:  142 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Northwestern +2.5, FAU -2.5; Over/Under:  142 points

Northwestern Wildcats:  21-11 (12-8) (4th place, Big Ten)

Florida Atlantic Owls:  25-8 (14-4) (2nd place, AAC)

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Northwestern Wildcats:  2-3  last 5

Florida Atlantic Owls:  4-1  last 5

Northwestern is entering this game with a 21-11 record overall, a 12-8 record in conference games, and they are 2-2 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Wisconsin Badgers in their last game. Boo Buie led the team in points per game in that game with 29 while Brooks Barnhizer was next on the team with 13. Brooks Barnhizer and Boo Buie each led the team in assists with 3 in that game while Brooks Barnhizer led the team in rebounds with 14. They were 37.7% from the field, 34.8% from 3-point range, and 76.5% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 73.7 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 69 PPG against them. Northwestern has an ATS record of 17-13-2 this season and their O/U record is 18-13-1.

FAU is entering this game with a 25-8 record overall, a 14-4 conference record, and they are 7-2 in their neutral site games this season where they will be in this game. They are coming off a loss against the Temple Owls in their last game. Vladislav Goldin led the team in points in that game with 23 while Johnell Davis was next on the team with 18. Jalen Gaffney, Brandon Weatherspoon, and Nicholas Boyd each led the team in assists with 2 in that game while Alijah Martin and Johnell Davis each led the team in rebounds with 7. They were 54.2% from the field, 17.6% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free throw line with their shooting in that game. Their offense is averaging 82.5 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 73.3 PPG against them. FAU has an ATS record of 16-17 this season and their O/U record is 17-15-1.

The current betting odds have FAU listed as a 2.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. FAU has looked good in their games this season with their 25-8 record overall and their 14-4 conference record in the AC which had them right near the top. They weren't the best team in their conference during the regular season but they have looked great in their neutral site games with their 7-2 record in those. Meanwhile, Northwestern has also looked good in their games this season with their 21-11 record overall and their 12-8 conference record in the Big Ten which had them near the top of the conference. They didn't look as good in their neutral site games though, going 2-2 in those games this season, and they haven't looked that great lately either with their 2-3 record in their last 5 games, losing early in their conference tournament too. FAU has been the much hotter team coming into this one with their 4-1 record in their last 5 games but they also went to the Final Four last season and have a lot of those players back on this team again so they have some experience to lean on here too. The best way to place a bet here is on FAU to cover the spread in this game. 

Northwestern Florida Atlantic Prediction:  Our NCAAB Pick for Friday, March 22, 2024 (12:15 pm ET start time) is FAU 72 Northwestern 66.

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Northwestern Wildcats: 10-18 ATS in first round tournament games. 1-3 ATS as a neutral court underdog or pick. 21-34 ATS when playing with 5 or 6 days rest. 11-1 OVER after playing a game as an underdog. 10-4 OVER after 5 straight games committing 14 or less turnovers. 8-4 OVER in a postseason tournament game.

Florida Atlantic Owls: 13-7 ATS in all neutral court games. 5-1 ATS in a NCAA tournament games. 20-13 ATS after playing 5 consecutive games as favorite. 10-1 OVER in a neutral court game where the total is 140 to 144.5. 5-1 OVER after a close loss by 3 points or less. 16-8 OVER after 5 straight games forcing the opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers.

Northwestern Wildcats:  M. Nicholson (C) Late March - Leg. T. Berry (G) out for season - Knee. P. Strauss (G) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed.

Florida Atlantic Owls:  T. Carroll (F) Out indefinitely - Arm.

"We went the first time and then we didn't do as well the next year, that was a fluke, and then we did it last year and everything was going to be like it was the time before. And these guys just refused to believe that narrative. We're writing our own story. So happy for these players. All they've done all year is just show up every day and work their butts off." - Chris Collins on his team playing against FAU in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament.

"We knew that we were going to have a number of challenges this season after last year, and a lot of times, teams aren't able to knock the wall down and keep going. It just shows the character, the substance, the work ethic of our guys to stay together, despite every loss feeling like we were letting people down and we were falling short of expectations. It's more of just a credit to their resolve and the determination and who they are as people." - Dusty May on his team playing NW in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament.

B. Barnhizer 

T. Berry 

B. Buie 

R. Langborg 

M. Nicholson

J. Davis 

J. Gaffney 

V. Goldin 

A. Martin 

B. Weatherspoon

PPG: B. Buie (18.9)

APG: B. Buie (5.2)

Reb/G: B. Barnhizer (7.3)

PPG: J. Davis (18.2)

APG: J. Davis (3.1)

Reb/G: V. Goldin (6.8)

Coaches:

Northwestern Wildcats: Chris Collins (11th season)

Florida Atlantic Owls: Dusty May (6th season)