FAU vs Rice Preview, Odds, Predictions (Feb. 11)
- FAU hopes to end a four-game losing streak on the road.
- Rice looks to ignite a win streak to improve its standing in league play.
- This marks the 13th all-time meeting between the American programs.
There is a Battle of the Owls taking place in the Lone Star State when Rice hosts FAU. The latter stand out as the firm favorite, but it will be easier said than done to find out who prevails as the superior Owl.
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How to Watch
- When: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 8 pm ET
- Where: Tudor Fieldhouse, Houston, Texas
- How to Watch: ESPN+
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAU | -110 | -4 | O151.5 |
| Rice | -110 | +4 | U151.5 |
Game Preview
FAU (14-10, 6-5 ACC) have suffered a significant dip in form after starting conference play on fire, going 6-1 that included a five-game win streak. However, injuries and inconsistent play have brought them back down to earth after four consecutive losses. They are coming off tough home losses to East Carolina and Tulsa, as both were decided by two points or less.
With Kanaan Carlyle’s health currently questionable due to a calf injury, FAU has to rely on Devin Vanterpool and Niccolo Moretti to handle more responsibilities in the backcourt. Vanterpool leads the team in points per game (15.5) and rebounds per game (6.4), as well as steals (35) and three-pointers (48). On the other hand, Moretti enjoyed his best game of the entire season, playing all 48 minutes as he scored 25 points against Tulsa. His production moving forward will be crucial for what is usually a scrappy FAU squad.
Rice finds itself in a tough spot throughout league play, being close to the bottom of the standings as they are only above East Carolina and UTSA. Despite this, their 6-6 record at home could give them a chance to improve its outlook as the regular season winds down.
Trae Broadnax stands out as Rice’s best scorer with 15.6 points per game to go with 5.5 boards per game, and 3.2 assists per game. On another note, Nick Anderson looks to play a big role in helping Rice come out winners in this matchup, knocking down a team-high 64 3-pointers on an elite 40.8% clip. Also keep an eye on their activity on the offensive glass, ranking ninth in the country with 14.3 offensive rebounds per game.
FAU vs Rice Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 12 meetings in their history, and the result is 8-4 for FAU. The last matchup was in January 2025 when FAU secured a 75-73 win at home, as the squad is rolling with six consecutive wins over Rice since 2019.
FAU vs Rice Predictions
FAU was recently in NCAA Tournament projections before the four-game losing streak knocked them out of it. This shows that the team’s quality can’t be taken lightly as Rice will need to play at its best to end its losing streak against their rival Owl counterpart. Our betting pick here is for FAU to defend a 4-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick:Â FAU Owls -4
