The FIU Panthers travel to Houston for a non-conference game against the Rice Owls. Both teams are attempting to recoup from poor seasons, with FIU ending 11-22 and Rice going 11-21, neither qualifying for the tournament. FIU has a 7-5 series advantage, with the most recent win being in March 2023 at 90-83.
FIU struggled defensively this past season, finishing 307th in scoring defence and allowing 76.5 points per game. They lost important players, including leading scorer Arturo Dean, making it difficult to replace their offensive production. With Dashon Gittens as the highest returning scorer at 9.4 points per game, the Panthers must strengthen their defence to compete successfully.
Rice likewise struggled last season and has made big adjustments under new coach Rob Lanier. They lost their top three scorers and are counting on a combination of returning players and transfers to resurrect their offence. Despite averaging 72 points per game the previous season, their defence was terrible, allowing 75.7 points.
Given both teams’ defensive woes and the possibility of high-scoring plays, betting on the total to exceed 144.5 points is reasonable.