Florida Atlantic Owls vs Rice Owls

This NCAAB matchup features Florida Atlantic Owls (14-11 (9-3)) traveling to take on Rice Owls (11-14 (7-6)) at Tudor Fieldhouse, Houston, TX. The FAU hold a clear statistical edge this season, outperforming the Rice by 4.2 points per game in scoring margin. That differential will be a key factor in this matchup. On offense, Rice averages 73.8 points per game, which exceeds what the FAU defense typically allows (71.6 PPG). That mismatch could give the home side opportunities to exploit. The FAU offense puts up 76.2 PPG and faces a Rice defense allowing 73.4 PPG. The visitors have the offensive firepower to stay in this one. Home court advantage is worth approximately 3.5 points in NCAAB, and Rice will look to leverage their home crowd. Our model sees this as essentially a coin-flip game, projecting just a 0.7-point margin. Expect a tight finish. The 68% confidence interval ranges from Rice winning by 13 to losing by 12. Our model aligns closely with the market on this one, suggesting the oddsmakers have priced this game efficiently. Look for small edges in the total and moneyline markets to capitalize on any remaining value.

Rice has struggled this season at 11-14 (7-6). The wins have been hard to come by, and the team is looking for answers on both ends of the floor. Home court advantage will be critical for any chance at pulling off an upset. FAU sits at 14-11 (9-3) on the season. They've been competitive in most outings but have had their share of inconsistent performances. On the road, they'll need to bring their best effort to come away with a win. When these teams meet, the home team typically has the edge given the crowd advantage and familiarity factor. The team that controls tempo and limits turnovers will likely dictate the outcome of this matchup.