Liberty Flames vs FIU Panthers Prediction, 2/22/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Liberty Flames vs FIU Panthers

Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024

Location: Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, FL

TV: ESPN+

The FIU Panthers (8-18) will try to defeat the Liberty Flames (16-10) at Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Thursday.

The Liberty Flames took the court against Sam Houston State and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 83-73 in their last contest. Liberty walked away from the game with a 41.1% field goal percentage (23 out of 56) and made 10 of 29 shots from downtown. From the free throw line, the Flames made 17 of their 23 tries for a percentage of 73.9%. When it comes to grabbing rebounds, they earned 27 with 6 of them being offensive. They also recorded 12 assists for the game in addition to forcing the opposition into 11 turnovers and earning 4 steals. Pertaining to the defense, Liberty let their opponent shoot 54.9% from the field on 28 of 51 shooting. Sam Houston State earned 13 assists and had 4 steals for the contest. Moreover, Sam Houston State collected 29 boards (2 offensive, 27 defensive), but wrapped up the game with no rejections. Sam Houston State finished the contest at 75.0% when shooting free throws by making 18 of 24 attempts. They also buried 9 of 22 tries from distance. When discussing personal fouls, the Flames ended up finishing with 23 and Sam Houston State recorded 22 personal fouls.

Kaden Metheny is someone who was a factor for the contest. He shot 50.0% from the field and also dished out 4 dimes. He played 36 minutes and totaled 5 boards. He scored 19 points on 6 out of 12 shooting.

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Liberty heads into this matchup with a mark of 16-10 on the season. They are turning it over 9.8 times per game and as a unit they are committing 15.2 personal fouls per contest. As a team, Liberty is pulling down 34.8 rebounds per contest and is sitting with 424 assists so far this season, which ranks 36th in the country in terms of passing the rock. The Flames are connecting on 36.5% on shots from 3-point land (268 of 735) and 66.4% from the free throw line. They are averaging 75.3 pts per game (139th in college basketball) while hitting 46.5% from the floor.

On defense, the Flames are forcing 12.1 turnovers every game and they draw 16.0 fouls. They are ranked 4th in college basketball in giving up assists to their opponents with 246 relinquished so far this year. The Flames defense is giving up a field goal percentage of 43.2% (616 of 1,425) and they surrender 32.9 rebounds per contest as a basketball team. They are surrendering 31.3% from beyond the arc and they are 21st in college hoops in PPG from their opponents (64.7).

When they last stepped on the court, the FIU Panthers went home defeated by a final of 75-68 when they played Louisiana Tech. When talking about cleaning up the glass, FIU permitted Louisiana Tech to snag 35 in total (11 on the offensive glass). They wrapped up this game 60.0% from behind the 3-point line by going 6 out of 10 and finished the game at 23 of 29 at the free throw line (79.3%). The Panthers permitted Louisiana Tech to bury 23 out of their 48 attempts from the field which had them sitting at 47.9% in the matchup. At the conclusion of this game, the Panthers went 22 for 60 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 36.7%. In regard to shooting from downtown, FIU converted 9 of 26 attempts (34.6%). They were able to convert 15 of them for a rate of 71.4%. Louisiana Tech committed 16 fouls in this contest which got the Panthers to the charity stripe for a total of 21 tries. They also turned it over 12 times, while getting 11 steals in the matchup. The Panthers recorded 12 defensive boards and 11 offensive rebounds totaling 23 in the game.

Arturo Dean was important for the Panthers for the matchup. He made 7 of 18 in this game giving him a field goal percentage of 38.9%, and had 12 rebounds. He tallied 19 points in his 35 mins on the hardwood and had 3 assists for the matchup.

FIU has a record of 8-18 for the season. On the offensive side of the ball, the Panthers are connecting on 43.0% from the field, which is 277th in college basketball. FIU has accounted for 1,912 points for the season (73.5 per game) and they snag 32.2 rebounds per game. They are earning an assist 14.5 times per game (105th in D-1) and they turn the ball over 14.1 times per contest. The Panthers commit 18.5 fouls per game and they go 67.1% from the charity stripe.

The FIU defense allows 39.4% on shots from behind the 3-point line (217 of 551) and their opposition makes 71.9% of their shots from the charity stripe. They give up 15.0 dimes and 38.6 boards every game, which is ranked 325th and 337th in those defensive categories. The Panthers on defense are ranked 306th in D-1 in points allowed per game with 76.5. They have forced 18.3 TO's per game and allow teams to shoot 47.6% from the floor (351st in D-1).

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take FIU

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