No 9. Northwestern (21-11) goes up against No. 8 Florida Atlantic (25-8) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats had some positive results against tough teams throughout the year, including a close loss to Michigan State on March 6. The Owls had a highly impressive upset win over Arizona back on December 23.
On this page, we’ll break down the Northwestern vs Florida Atlantic matchup in the first round of March Madness, including odds, bets, and the best sportsbook promos for this game.
No. 9 Northwestern vs No. 8 Florida Atlantic At A Glance
- Date: Friday, March 22, 2024
- Time: 12:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
- Spread: Florida Atlantic -2.5 (-110, bet365), Northwestern +2.5 (-110, Caesars)
- Moneyline: Florida Atlantic (-146, FanDuel), Northwestern (+125, bet365)
- Total: Over/Under 141.5 (-110, BetMGM)
Northwestern vs Florida Atlantic Betting Preview
Let’s dive into the Northwestern vs Florida Atlantic betting preview by comparing the two teams with Ken Pomeroy’s ranks:
- Northwestern (46th overall): 30th in adjusted offensive efficiency / 72nd in adjusted defensive efficiency
- Florida Atlantic (40th overall): 16th in adjusted offensive efficiency / 108th in adjusted defensive efficiency
When you analyze these two teams, you can see that Northwestern is more balanced, but Florida Atlantic has an impressive offense. I’d give a slight edge to the Wildcats because they’re the more well-rounded side.
One edge for Northwestern here is that they’re much better protecting the basketball, ranking 4th in turnovers, while FAU comes in at 131st.
The Wildcats could capitalize on points off turnovers, which could end up being the difference in this game.
The Owls will look to rely on junior guard Johnell Davis, who led the team with 18.2 points per game this season.
Northwestern is led by senior guard Boo Buie, who put up 19.2 points per game while shooting over 44% from beyond the arc.
We should see an entertaining and close game here, but I’m riding with Northwestern in this NCAA Tournament matchup.
PREDICTION: Northwestern wins 73-70 (+125)
BET: Northwestern +2.5 (-110)
BET: Over 141.5 (-110)
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