Southern Utah vs Rice Pick – Basketball Predictions & Odds 3/20/23

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds and Rice Owls meet Monday in the college basketball CBI Quarterfinal at the Ocean Center. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds are averaging 83 points on 47 percent shooting and allowing 73.5 points on 43.7 percent shooting. Tevian Jones is averaging 17.5 points and 4.4 rebounds, while Maizen Fausett is averaging 12.1 points and 1.1 assists. Harrison Butler is the third double-digit scorer and Drake Allen is dishing 3.6 assists. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds are shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc and 73.2 percent from the free throw line. The Southern Utah Thunderbirds are allowing 33.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 35.7 rebounds per game.

The Rice Owls are averaging 77.4 points on 46.7 percent shooting and allowing 76.2 points on 46.5 percent shooting. Quincy Qlivari is averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, while Travis Evee is averaging 15.3 points and 1.9 rebounds. Max Fiedler is the third double-digit scorer and Mekhi Mason is dishing 1.8 assists. The Rice Owls are shooting 35.9 percent from beyond the arc and 73.8 percent from the free throw line. The Rice Owls are allowing 35.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.7 rebounds per game.

The Thunderbirds are 6-20-1 ATS in their last 27 Monday games and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS win. The Owls are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The over is 17-7-1 in Thunderbirds last 25 neutral site games. The over is 18-7 in Owls last 25 overall.

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have not only been the better team this season, but they have the rest advantage of not having to play yesterday. The Rice Owls played a competitive game yesterday and 3 of their starters played heavy minutes. Rice loses as underdogs by an average of 10.6 points. The line is reasonable. I’ll lay the chalk with Southern Utah.