This is a 10* CONFERENCE USA TOM on the UNDER FIU/Rice.

Both teams have been playing to several higher-scoring games of late, but I expect more of a defensive affair here in their final regular-season game of the year.

FIU is just 13-17, including only 2-10 on the road. It's coming in off five straight losses. It'll be still mentally hung up on the last one, falling 77-76 in OT to Louisiana Tech. The Panthers have seen the total go OVER in three straight, but that's significant for us to take note of, as FIU has in fact seen the total go UNDER in eight of its last 11 after playing to three or more straight OVERs in a row.

FIU plays with revenge as well after an 85-78 home loss to Rice as a three-point favorite on February 11th, which is also important to take note of, as the Panthers have seen the total go UNDER the number in four of their last five in trying to avenge a SU/ATS conference home loss as a favorite vs. an opponent.

Look for the rematch to be a tight, lower-scoring UNDER once the final buzzer sounds.

Good luck, NP