Fairleigh Dickinson vs. FAU Bracket Prediction: March Madness Odds
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Nik Kowalski
Fairleigh Dickinson became just the second 16 seed to win a March Madness game when they stunned No. 1 Purdue with 63-58 win. Florida Atlantic’s odds at survival were looking extremely slim too until a game-winning basketball with 2.5 seconds left made the difference in a 66-65 victory over No. 8 Memphis.
Tip-off between these two higher-ranked seeds goes at 7:45 p.m. EDT, and despite their improbable win on Friday the Knights enter as a 15-point underdog with the total at 149 on the NCAAB odds.
Fairleigh Dickinson vs. FAU NCAA Tournament Point Spread and Betting
Both underdogs covered, and went under the total in their Round 64 outings. The under has now hit in both of these teams’ last five games. FAU has won eight straight games, and covered in six of those eight. Fairleigh Dickinson is 5-1 ATS in their last six, but 0-5 ATS in their last five Sunday games.
The underdog role hasn’t been too big for the Knights though as they are 7-1 ATS in their last eight as an underdog and 7-8 outright this season as a dog. FAU is 26-1 as a favourite this year. The under is 4-0 in Florida Atlantic’s four neutral site outings this season.
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (16)
The story surrounding Fairleigh Dickinson was they were the shortest of 363 Division I teams. But the Knights will tell you that heart can’t be measured after they eliminated 7’4 All-American Zach Edey and No. 1 Purdue. Fairleigh Dickinson held Purdue to 35.8 per cent from the field and forced 16 turnovers.
Junior forward Sean Moore led the team with 19 points but got there on 17 field goal attempts. Cameron Tweedy came through off the bench, scoring 10 points and adding six rebounds on five of shooting from the field. Head coach Tobin Anderson has his team believing they can go through anyone, and that’s the mindset the Knights need again as a double-digit dog Sunday.
Florida Atlantic Owls (9)
Of the 32 teams to win their first tournament game, only one began with zero previous Division I tourney wins – Florida Atlantic. This year is only Florida Atlantic’s second career tournament appearance, so the bright lights haven’t been too much for the Owls. Sophomore forward Giancarlo Rosado came off the bench and led all Owls players Friday with 15 points and was a perfect six for six on his shot attempts.
Overall the Owls didn’t have their best night from the floor though. They shot 25 for 65 overall and then eight for 28 from three. Both percentages will have to raise if the Owls are to survive the weekend, but FAU averaged over 75 points a game which indicates they’ll get back to form.
FDU
FAU