Western Kentucky vs Florida International 1/14/23 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The FIU Panthers and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers meet in college basketball action from the E.A. Diddle Arena on Saturday.

The FIU Panthers will try to bounce back from a 77-73 OT loss to FAU last time out. Denver Jones leads the Panthers in scoring with 19.6 PPG and 4 RPG while Arturo Dean has 12.2 PPG with a team-high 2.8 APG to lead the Panthers in assists as the only other double-digit scorer for FIU up to this point in the year. Nick Guadarrama also has a team-high 4.4 RPG for FIU this season. As a team, FIU is averaging 73.7 PPG on 47.2% shooting form the field, 30.7% from three and 66.9% from the foul line this season.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will look to build on back-to-back wins after an 80-78 win over UAB last time out. Dayvion McKnight leads the Hilltoppers in scoring and assists with 17.6 PPG and 4.2 APG while Emmanuel Akot has 11.3 PPG with 2.8 APG and Jairus Hamilton has 10.3 PPG and 5.8 RPG to cap off the group of double-digit scorers for WKU up to this point in the season. Jamarion Sharp also has a team-high 6.9 RPG to lead the Hilltoppers in rebounding this season. As a team, Western Kentucky is averaging 74.4 PPG on 45.7% shooting from the field, 38.4% from three and 69.9% from the foul line this season.

FIU is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games against a team with a winning record and 4-0 aTS in their last 4 games overall while the under is 5-1 in their last 6 games following a win. Western Kentucky is 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 games overall and 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games while the under is 8-1 in their last 9 Saturday games.

I get the case to be made either way here, but I’m leaning towards FIU and the points here. Two teams that have been struggling coming into this game, I want to be on the side getting double-digits. Won’t be often I side with FIU this season I have a feeling, but I’ll still side with the Panthers from a value standpoint here.