FIU Panthers vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Prediction, 2/28/2021 College Basketball Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: FIU Panthers vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Date: Sunday, February 28, 2021

Location: E.A. Diddie Arena in Bowling Green, KY

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: FIU (+17)

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (15-5) play the FIU Panthers (9-15) at E.A. Diddie Arena on Sunday. FIU opens this contest as 17-point dogs. The over/under is set at 147.

FIU enters this matchup with a mark of 9-15 so far this season. The Panthers are shooting 33.8% on 3-pointers (254 of 752) and 66.8% from the charity stripe. They are averaging 74.9 points per game (95th in the country) while shooting 43.6% from the field. They are turning it over 14.6 times per contest and as a team they are committing 18.0 fouls every game. As a unit, FIU is collecting 32.9 boards per contest and has totaled 363 assists this season, which ranks 24th in the country in terms of passing the ball. Defensively, the Panthers are forcing their opponents into 16.6 turnovers on a nightly basis and they draw 15.8 fouls. They relinquish 36.1% on shots from distance while they are 295th in college basketball in points per game from their opponents (76.0). The Panthers defense is allowing an opponent shooting percentage of 46.9% (661 of 1,408) and they concede 37.5 boards per game as a group. They are currently ranked 277th in the nation in giving up assists with 307 conceded on the season.

The FIU Panthers faced the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and went home with a loss by a final score of 85-72 in their last game. FIU finished the contest with a 41.0% FG percentage (25 of 61) and knocked down 12 of 38 shots from beyond the perimeter. At the charity stripe, the Panthers knocked down 10 of 19 shots for a percentage of 52.6%. When discussing hauling in rebounds, they collected a total of 22 with 5 of them being on the offensive end. They also dished out 19 assists for this game in addition to creating 15 turnovers and earning 8 steals. Concerning the defense, FIU allowed the other team to go 61.0% from the field on 36 out of 59 shooting. Southern Miss recorded 20 assists and had 5 steals in the matchup. On top of that, Southern Miss snagged 39 rebounds (5 offensive, 34 defensive) and added 2 rejections. Southern Miss went 66.7% at the free throw line by making 10 of their 15 shots. They also converted 3 out of their 0 shots from beyond the arc.

Tevin Brewer is one player who played a role in this game. He ended up scoring 15 points on 5 of 11 shooting. He played 33 minutes but didn't pull down any rebounds. Brewer went 45.5% from the field and also dished out 6 dimes. One more player that was a major contributor in this game for the Panthers was Dimon Carrigan. He snagged 8 rebounds in his 30 minutes on the court. He ended up shooting 71.4% from the floor for the game by connecting on 5-of-7 (11 points). When the final whistle was blown, Carrigan had accumulated 1 assist.

Western Kentucky has a record of 15-5 so far this season. Western Kentucky has totaled 1,482 points on the year (74.1 per game) and they grab 37.6 boards per game. The Hilltoppers commit 15.1 personal fouls every game and they go 79.4% from the charity stripe. On the offensive side of the ball, the Hilltoppers are hitting on 45.8% from the floor, which ranks 92nd in the country. They are dishing out assists 13.4 times per game (158th in the country) and they are turning it over 14.8 times per contest. The Hilltoppers on the defensive end are ranked 181st in college basketball in PPG given up with 70.0. The Western Kentucky defense allows 36.7% on shots from distance (173 of 471) and their opposition knocks down 74.7% of their shots from the free throw line. They give up 12.5 dimes and 30.9 boards on a nightly basis, which is ranked 132nd and 28th in those categories. They are forcing their opponents into 13.7 TO's per game and have let teams shoot 42.9% from the floor (164th in college hoops).

When they last stepped on the court, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers went home defeated by a final of 81-57 when they played the Houston Cougars. The Hilltoppers corralled 21 defensive rebounds and 3 offensive boards for a total of 24 for this game. They also gave up possession of the ball 17 times, while getting 5 steals for the contest. The Cougars committed 13 fouls for the game which took the Hilltoppers to the free throw line for 14 shots. They were able to convert 13 of the free throws for a percentage of 92.9%. When it comes to 3-point attempts, Western Kentucky converted 4 of 17 tries (23.5%). When the game finished, the Hilltoppers finished 20 for 48 from the field which gave them a percentage of 41.7%. The Hilltoppers permitted the Cougars to make 29 of 63 tries from the floor which left them with a rate of 46.0% in the game. They shot 41.9% from beyond the perimeter by going 13 out of 31 and ended up shooting 10 of 11 at the charity stripe (90.9%). In regard to rebounding, Western Kentucky allowed Houston to grab 29 in total (11 on the offensive glass).

Taveion Hollingsworth ended up being a major contributor for the Hilltoppers in the game. He made 5 out of 12 in the game giving him a rate of 41.7%, and earned 1 rebound. Hollingsworth earned 17 points in his 35 minutes on the hardwood and earned 2 dimes in the matchup. An additional guy who was a determining factor for Western Kentucky was Charles Bassey. He finished this one with no assists in 35 minutes on the court, and he knocked down 3 of 7 from the floor. Bassey finished going 42.9% from the floor and also contributing 9 points and 7 total rebounds.

Who will win tonight's college basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take FIU (+17)

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