FIU Golden Panthers vs Utah Tech Trailblazers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/30/23

The Golden Panthers and Trailblazers are set to face off at 5:00 ET on ESPN+. The Trailblazers will host the game at Burns Arena in St. George, UT. This non-conference matchup has an over/under of 147 points, and the Trailblazers are favored to win at home vs. the Golden Panthers.

FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS VS UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS BETTING PICK

The Pick: FIU Golden Panthers +2.5

This game will be played at Burns Arena at 5:00 ET on Saturday, December 30th.

WHY BET THE FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-68 in favor of the Golden Panthers.
• Not only will FIU pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +2.5.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 147 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.

Will the Golden Panthers Win in St. George?

After their most recent game, in which they defeated Maine 82-74, FIU currently has a 5-9 record. In their previous five games on the road, which includes games from last year, FIU has a record of 1-4. As of today’s game, FIU has a 6-7 ATS record. In their previous five games, the team is 2-2 vs. the spread.

In 14 games, FIU comes in with an over/under mark of 7-6-0, with their games averaging 148.8 points per game. The Golden Panthers have an over/under record of 1-1 in their last three games, with their games averaging 167 points per game.

FIU’s offense is coming off a good game, putting up 82 points vs. Maine. Overall, they hit 50.8% of their shots from the field and went 14/21 from the free-throw line. The top scorer for the Golden Panthers was Javaunte Hawkins with 20 points, while Arturo Dean also chipped in with 14 points.

So far, the Golden Panthers’ defense is ranked 219th in the country at 75.6 points per contest. The FIU defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 74 points and allowed Maine to connect on 8 threes.

Can the Trailblazers Live Up to the Hype at Home?

Utah Tech currently has a record of 5-7 after 12 games. In their previous ten home games, which includes games from last year, Utah Tech has a home record of 5-5. As Utah Tech enters today’s game, their ATS record stands at 5-6. Over their last five matchups, the team has gone 1-4 vs. the spread.

Utah Tech’s games have, on average, featured 143.9 points per game leading to an over/under record of 5-6-0. Their average over/under line is currently 143.8 points so far. In the Trailblazers’ last five games, the combined scoring average stands at 145 points per game, accompanied by an over/under record of 3-2.

The Trailblazers’ offense wrapped up their last game with 71 points, aligning closely with their current season average of 69.3 points per contest. Currently leading the team in scoring is Tanner Christensen who comes into today’s matchup averaging 11.7. Noa Gonsalves also heads into the game with a PPG average of 10.8.

The Trailblazers’ defense is presently ranked 208th nationally, allowing an average of 75.1 points per contest. In their most recent game, the Utah Tech defense struggled to defend the three-point line, as Colorado knocked down 9 three-pointers on their way to 98 points.