FAU vs. Butler odds, picks and predictions
The FAU Owls (2-1) and Butler Bulldogs (3-1) meet Thursday in a quarterfinal battle at the ESPN Events Invitational at State Farm Field House in Kissimmee, Fla. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the FAU vs. Butler odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Owls are coming off a stunning 61-52 loss against Bryant at home, failing to win as a 23.5-point favorite as the Under (156.5) cashed.
FAU shot just 26% (17 of 65) from the field in the loss to Bryant, and a dismal 17% (5 of 30) from behind the 3-point line, while struggling at the free-throw line, too, at 65% (13 of 20). To make matters worse, the NEC opponent outrebounded the rank Owls 44-40.
Butler won and covered the 1st 3 games against Easter Michigan, SE Missouri State and East Tennessee State, before getting boat-raced by 20 points at Michigan State 74-54 last time out on Friday. The Under has hit in the past 2 games for the Bulldogs.
FAU is No. 20 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
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FAU vs. Butler odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:35 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): FAU -280 (bet $280 to win $100) | Butler +225 (bet $100 to win $225)
- Against the spread (ATS): FAU -6.5 (-110) | Butler +6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 140.5 (O: -102 | U: -120)
FAU vs. Butler picks and predictions
Prediction
FAU 72, Butler 68
Moneyline
FAU (-280) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return, that's just too much risk backing a team which struggled badly at home against an unranked team.
However, you can't back Butler (+225), either, as it lost its only game against any kind of a notable opponent.
PASS.
Against the spread
BUTLER +6.5 (-110) is worth backing.
Butler is 3-1 ATS in the past 4 games overall, while FAU has managed 2 covers in the past 3 games, and it covered in its only neutral-site battle against Loyola Chicago.
The FAU offense has failed to get going during the early portion of the season, and it has looked far from a Final Four team to this point.
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Over/Under
UNDER 140.5 (-120) is worth playing ever so slightly.
The Owls have struggled with just 75.7 PPG, while posting mediocre percentages at 44.9% from the field, and 33.3% from behind the 3-point line. It leaves a lot of points on the court, too, hitting just 66.0% from the free-throw line, too.
The total has gone low in the past 2 games for the Bulldogs, while locking it down on defense with 58.0 PPG allowed, 34.7% defensive field-goal percentage and 27.0% defensive 3-point percentage.
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