The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Florida Atlantic Owls meet Saturday in college basketball action from FAU Arena. Western Kentucky is fresh off a Thursday matchup versus FIU. In that one the Hilltoppers fell by nine points. As for Florida Atlantic, they played Middle Tennessee in their Thursday game. The Owls ended up winning by 18 points. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky opened the year on a 10-6 run with losses to Akron, Louisville, South Carolina, Rice, Middle Tennessee and North Texas. The Hilltoppers hit a 1-3 run in the next four with a lone win over FIU on January 14.
In the Thursday rematch versus FIU, Western Kentucky had a slim 36-34 lead at the break. The Hilltoppers couldn’t hold it though, and lost 78-69 after a 44-33 deficit in the second. Dayton McKnight led the team on 23 points.
Florida Atlantic Owls
Over on the Florida Atlantic side, they lost to Ole Miss in their second outing of the year on November 11. The Owls hit a win streak after that, beating UAB, Charlotte, FIU, North Texas, Western Kentucky, UTSA and UTEP to start out January.
In the Thursday game versus Middle Tennessee, the Owls managed an eight-point lead going into the second half. Florida Atlantic kept it up with 47 more points in an 85-67 win. Johnell Davis was tops in scoring on 25 points and six rebounds.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with FAU. These teams met up back on January 16 at Diddle Arena in a 76-62 Owls win. Florida Atlantic didn’t have a great first half in that one, but they ended up shooting 43.4 percent from the field with a 43-25 rebounding advantage (12-4 offensive). The Owls are rolling right now, and they’ve hit 66 or more points in eight straight games. I like Western Kentucky to hang around in the first half but I don’t think the Hilltoppers will cover.