Florida Atlantic vs South Florida Odds, Picks and Predictions: Can Owls Keep It Moving?

All season long, the unranked South Florida Bulls have been a big deal in the American Conference. On Sunday, we’ll get a chance to see if they’re the real deal as they host the 24th-ranked Florida Atlantic Owls, last year’s Final Four darling.

The Bulls have ripped off 10 straight wins and sit first in the conference with an 11-1 mark. Oddsmakers are wary, however, pegging South Florida as 5.5-point home dogs in the college basketball odds.

FAU is just a game back of South Florida at 10-2 in the American, and they enter this biggie with just a single loss in their last 10.

Who takes this battle for the top of the conference? Check out my free Florida Atlantic vs. South Florida college basketball picks below.

Florida Atlantic vs South Florida best odds

Florida Atlantic vs South Florida picks and predictions

Yet again, the South Florida Bulls leaned on their defense in a crushing 69-50 win over Tulsa last time out. Not all shutdown wins are equal, as Tulane, who ranks as the top-scoring team in the American —and 12th overall in the nation — was held 25 points below its season average.

South Florida ranks inside KenPom’s Top 100 in defensive efficiency and the 68 points per game it allows ranks 85th in the country. They limit opponents to 42.1% shooting (92nd) and 31.1% from 3-point range (57th). Throughout this 10-game win streak, South Florida has upped the D, allowing only three opponents to crack the 70-point plateau, and holding teams to 65.4 points.

They’ll be tested by the Florida Atlantic Owls, who are second in the conference in scoring at 83.3 points per game, which ranks inside the Top 20 in college basketball.

Since dropping a 76-73 OT decision to UAB to snap their seven-game win streak, Florida Atlantic has won back-to-back games, knocking off Wichita State 95-82 in OT. Most recently, they clubbed Temple 80-68, the first team in the conference to crack the 20-win plateau this season.

FAU shot a sparkling 49.1% from the field, including a sparkling 12-for-29 from downtown, a 41.4% clip. The 12-point difference would have been a blowout if the Owls had not had an off night from the stripe, missing 10 free throws in their 24 attempts.

I don’t know if South Florida is legit, but they are good. Its only other game against a ranked opponent this year was a win over 10th-ranked Memphis in a 1-point nailbiter.

The Owls are battle-tested, and the stage shouldn’t be too big for them. Look for the Owls to find their way to the top of the American when the dust clears Sunday.

My best bet: Florida Atlantic -5.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

Florida Atlantic vs South Florida same-game parlay

Florida Atlantic -5.5

Johnell Davis Under 17.5 points

Chris Youngblood Over 1.5 made threes

+625 at DraftKings

Johnell Davis is the fourth-leading scorer in the American and has a scoring total set at 17.5 points despite averaging 18.5 on the season. That’s because he's finished Under this line in three straight games. Against Temple, he finished with 17 points on 12 shots. That’s a game after potting 14 against Wichita in a game where the Owls scored 95.

His scoring mini-slump started when he scored 17 on a dismal 5-for-21 shooting in an OT loss against UAB. This is the longest sub-18 scoring streak he’s had since the first four games of the FAU season. Against a tough defense, I think he finishes near that number but falls short.

I’m making it a three-legged SGP with South Florida’s leading scorer Chris Youngblood, who’s been on a nice three-point shooting run — which is a prime time to target his 1.5-make total.

He's coming off a 2-for-3 effort from distance against Tulsa, and he’s hit at least two in six of seven games, hitting at least four in four of those games. FAU is just middle of the pack defending the three, with teams hitting 33.1% on 22 attempts per contest, allowing Youngblood to knock at least a couple down.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Florida Atlantic vs South Florida spread and Over/Under analysis

The spread opened at a low of 3.5 points but has bumped up to -5.5 as of Sunday morning. South Florida is one of the top cover teams in the nation, going 15-5-3 ATS, while the Owls are hovering around .500 at 12-13-1 ATS.

As for the total, the highest figure reached is 148.5 points. The low is 146.5, with the majority of sites settling in at 147.5.

FAU is split down the middle with its Over/Under record at 12-12-1. USF has seen the Over cross in just seven of its 23 games this year.

Florida Atlantic vs South Florida betting trend to know

Eight of South Florida's last nine games have produced a total of 147 points or less. Find more college basketball betting trends for Florida Atlantic vs. South Florida.

Florida Atlantic vs South Florida game info

Florida Atlantic vs South Florida key injuries

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