Wichita State at FAU odds, picks and predictions

The Wichita State Shockers (8-8, 0-3 AAC) and FAU Owls (13-4, 3-1) meet Thursday at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Fla. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Wichita State vs. FAU odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.

The Shockers head to South Florida with 5 consecutive losses, while failing to cover the past 8 games. Wichita State was on the short end of a 112-86 score to the Memphis Tigers on Sunday as the Over (156.5) easily cashed. Wichita State has lost by 7 or more points in each of the 5 games in the skid, and all of the losses in a 1-7 slide dating back to Dec. 3.

The Owls have struggled against the number lately, too, going 0-5 against the spread (ATS) in the past 5 outings. However, FAU has picked up back-to-back wins at Tulane and against UAB after a shocking 70-68 loss at Charlotte on Jan. 6. The Owls have won 5 in a row in "The Burrow" since a stunning 61-52 Q4 loss to Bryant back on Nov. 18.

This is just the 2nd-ever meeting in the series. According to Robbie Lastella, FAU's student radio play-by-play announcer, Wichita State topped FAU 88-85 in 1988, spoiling a 28-point, 12-rebound night by Damon Arnette Sr., the father of former Ohio State and Las Vegas Raiders CB Damon Arnette Jr.

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Wichita State at FAU odds

Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:44 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): Wichita State +860 (bet $100 to win $860) | FAU -1600 (bet $1,600 to win $100)
• Against the spread (ATS): Wichita State +14.5 (-102) | FAU -14.5 (-120)
• Over/Under (O/U): 152.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Wichita State at FAU picks and predictions

Prediction

FAU 86, Wichita State 69

Moneyline

FAU (-1600) will cost you 16 times your potential return, and there is never a reason to bet such a heavy favorite. The Owls have won 5 in a row at home, but overall it has been a struggle lately.

While the Owls should win this 2nd-ever matchup between the schools, especially with Wichita State (+860) skidding hard lately, look to the spread instead.

PASS.

Against the spread

FAU -14.5 (-120) will cost you a little extra lettuce, but it's worth it. While the Owls are a dismal 0-5 ATS in the past 5 games, Wichita State +14.5 (-102) is even worse at 0-8 ATS in the previous 8 contests.

The Shockers were roughed up by 26 points at home against Memphis, and it has dropped the past 5 outings by an average margin of 14.6 points per game, which is exactly what the books are thinking.

While the Owls haven't given bettors a ton of reason to like them lately, FAU has the opportunity to be a lot more explosive on offense.

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Over/Under

OVER 152.5 (-110) is the lean in this AAC battle in Boca.

The Over has cashed in the past 2 games for FAU, as it has slowly started to re-discover its offensive swagger with 85.5 PPG in the stretch. The Owls are averaging a healthy 82.4 PPG, while hitting 49.1% from the field. FAU has been trash at the free-throw line, hitting just 69.6%, which ranks 248th in the nation. That gives Over bettors major fits in games where every point matters.

Wichita State has seen the total go high in 3 of the past 4 games overall, and this team allows 74.2 PPG, which ranks 255th in the country. The Shockers are just so-so in perimeter D, too, as the opposition drops in 32.4% of their 3-pointers against Wichita State.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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