The Florida International Panthers and the Florida Atlantic Owls meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Elanor R. Baldwin Arena. FIU is currently 3-7 on the year following a win over Long Island University on Saturday. As for FAU, they’re coming off a loss to Illinois that dropped the Owls to 7-2 overall. Let’s get into our Florida International vs. Florida Atlantic prediction. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place. 

FIU Panthers 

The Panthers managed just two wins in their first nine games this year. Those came versus Houston Christian and Kennesaw State. Florida International otherwise fell to UCF, Tarleton State, Miami, Akron, Marshall, Loyola Marymount and Florida Gulf Coast in that stretch. 

Back on December 2 in their latest matchup versus Long Island University, the Panthers managed a 31-24 lead by halftime. FIU posted a 43-35 run from there and won it 74-59. Arturo Dean did most of the offensive work with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and six steals in a nice performance. 

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FAU Owls 

Over on the Owls’ side, they lost just one of their first eight matchups—a 61-52 result versus Bryant. Florida Atlantic beat Loyola Chicago, Eastern Michigan, Butler, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Liberty and Charleston in that time otherwise. In the win over the Cougars, the Owls shot a nice 55 percent from the field with a 46-34 rebounding advantage. 

Florida Atlantic matched up against a tough Illinois team in their last game and took their second loss of the season. The Owls had a 42-39 edge at the break but then gave up 59 second-half points in a 98-89 result. Vladislav Goldin topped the team in the losing effort with 23 points and four rebounds. 

ANDREW’S FREE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL VS FLORIDA ATLANTIC PREDICTION 

I’ll stick with Florida Atlantic. The Owls had a tough second half against Illinois in their last outing and ended up surrendering a whopping 63.2 percent from the field. The good news is that FAU played pretty well otherwise, with 48.4 percent shooting and 28 rebounds alongside 23 assists. The Owls have scored 83 or more points in six straight games. 

As for FIU, they didn’t have a ton of issues versus a struggling Long Island team in their last game but needless to say this one will be much tougher. I don’t see the Panthers hanging around for long here.