New Mexico State Aggies vs FIU Golden Panthers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/16/25
Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Aggies versus the Golden Panthers? Tip off is at at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, FL. New Mexico State is favored by -2.5 in this Conference USA conference matchup the against FIU. The over/under for the game is set at 143.5 points.
NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES VS FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: FIU Golden Panthers +2.5
This game will be played at Ocean Bank Convocation Center at 7:00 ET on Thursday, January 16th.
WHY BET THE FIU GOLDEN PANTHERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-67 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 143.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 146 points.
Can the Aggies Pull Off a Win at Miami?
New Mexico State Aggies Recent Game/Games
The Aggies improved to 7-6 on the season after a dominant 85-57 win over UTEP on Saturday. New Mexico State entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs but not only pulled off the upset, they also covered the spread. The total points for the game ended at 142, surpassing the O/U line of 138.5.
New Mexico State took control early, leading 38-25 at halftime. They kept up the pressure in the second half, scoring 47 points while allowing 32.
New Mexico State’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 85 points with a 56.7% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage was even more impressive at 61.7%, thanks to their 68.3% shooting from two-point range. They also hit 84.6% of their free throws, going 11-for-13 from the line.
Zawdie Jackson was perfect from the field, hitting all 7 of his shots and finishing with 18 points and 5 assists in just 23 minutes. David Terrell Jr. and Robert Carpenter each added 17 points, with Carpenter shooting 66.7% from the field. Otis Frazier III knocked down 3 of his 5 three-point attempts, finishing with 13 points and 5 rebounds.
New Mexico State’s defense was strong, holding their opponent to just 57 points on 36% shooting from the field. They limited two-point opportunities, with the other team making only 11 of 29 shots, a 37% success rate.
From beyond the arc, New Mexico State allowed 7 three-pointers on 21 attempts, a 33% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 14 for a 73% rate. The Aggies gave up 8 offensive rebounds.
Can FIU Pull Off a Home Win?
FIU dropped to 5-10 on the season after an 81-74 road loss to Sam Houston on Saturday. The Golden Panthers were +8.5 point underdogs but managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game hit 155, going over the pre-game O/U line of 152.5.
FIU fell behind 36-27 at halftime but put up a fight in the second half, scoring 47 points while allowing 45. Despite the loss, the Golden Panthers showed some resilience in the latter part of the game.
FIU’s offense put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 43.3% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.3%, with a strong 53.2% shooting inside the arc, but they struggled from three, hitting just 4 of 20 attempts (20%). At the free-throw line, they connected on 66.7%, making 12 of 18 shots.
Lamar Wilkerson led the way with 29 points, shooting 66.7% overall and 5 of 7 from deep (71.4%). Jayden Brewer added 20 points, while Marcus Boykin contributed 17 points, hitting 3 of 4 from three. FIU grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and dished out 11 assists in the game.
Despite FIU’s efforts, they allowed 81 points on 41% shooting from the field. The Golden Panthers’ defense held their opponent to 37% shooting inside the arc, with just 11 made two-point field goals.
However, FIU struggled to contain the three-point line, where their opponent shot 45%, hitting 10 threes. The Golden Panthers also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 34 times, where they converted 29 attempts, an 85% success rate.