Yahoo Sports Northwestern vs. FAU: Predictions, picks and odds for March Madness first-round game
March Madness rolls into its second day of first-round competition, and there is still plenty to look forward to.
Among the games projected to be the closest on Friday is that of No. 9 Northwestern vs. No. 8 Florida Atlantic. Both teams finished their seasons with over 20 wins but fell short of their conference finals in their respective tournaments. The Wildcats lost to Big Ten runners-up Wisconsin in their quarterfinal, while the Owls fell to AAC runners-up Temple in the semifinal.
The winner of Friday's first scheduled game will likely face No. 1 overall seed UConn in the men's bracket round of 32.
Florida Atlantic is 1-1 in NCAA tournament first-round games and made it to the Final Four as a No. 9 seed last season. Northwestern is 2-0 in first-round games but 0-2 in the second round.
Here's everything to know about Friday's round of 64 clash.
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Northwestern vs. FAU predictions
The Palm Beach Post: Florida Atlantic 74, Northwestern 66
Nick Wilson writes, "The Owl's have proven all year that they can regroup well after a tough loss. Combine that with their postseason pedigree, and the Wildcats have a tall task ahead of them in the first round."
DraftKings Network: FAU to win
Teddy Ricketson writes, "The Owls are the better team on offense, and guard Johnell Davis will be a problem for the Northwestern defense. The Wildcats tend to play at a slower pace, so if the Owls can speed up the game, they should come out on top."
VSiN: FAU to cover
Adam Burke writes, "If the Owls can speed this one up in transition on missed shots, I like their chances to cover against the Wildcats."
Action Network: FAU to win and cover
D.J. James writes, "With Nicholson’s status in question, the Wildcats will not have much down low. FAU can score more inside the perimeter. If Northwestern is going to win, Nicholson needs to be healthy, or Langborg and Buie need to hit more 3s than the FAU backcourt."
The Sporting News: FAU's explosive offensive leads them to win
David Suggs writes, "But with neither side being particularly known for its stout defense, it's hard to pick anyone other than the explosive offense of Florida Atlantic."
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Northwestern vs. FAU: Odds, spread and lines for March Madness
Florida Atlantic are favorites to defeat Northwestern in Friday's March Madness matchup according to the BetMGM college basketball odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering sports betting promos in 2024.
Odds as of Monday.
Spread: FAU (-2.5)
Moneyline: FAU (-150); Northwestern (+125)
Over/under: 141.5
How to watch Northwestern vs. FAU: TV, streaming and schedule
When: Friday, March 22 at 12:15 p.m.
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Cable TV: CBS
Streaming: Watch March Madness on any device
How to watch March Madness: Catch all of the Madness with a subscription to fuboTV
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Northwestern vs. FAU: Predictions, odds, how to watch March Madness
