The 2023 Final Four arrives on Saturday with a pair of appetizing matchups in Houston. NRG Stadium hosts the doubleheader, with the first game of the evening featuring the Florida Atlantic Owls and the San Diego State Aztecs. Each team is making its first appearance in the Final Four, and it is the first matchup between FAU and San Diego State since 2002. The Owls are 35-3 overall and on an 11-game winning streak, while the Aztecs are 31-6 overall and 14-1 in the last 15 games.
Tipoff is at 6:09 p.m. ET in Houston on CBS. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Aztecs as 2-point favorites, while the over/under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 131.5 in the latest Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State odds. Before locking in any Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions and best bets from SportsLine expert Bob Konarski.
A high-volume, highly-profitable bettor, Konarski’s relentless research has helped him be profitable in many sports. In the 2021-22 CBB season, he went 849-587-17 (58%), netting over 200 units for his followers. In the 2021-22 NBA season, he went 209-153-3 (+49.6 units). And in the 2022 MLB season, he finished 463-355-5 (plus 93.09 units). Konarski’s college basketball expertise has been on full display lately. He is on an amazing 25-12 run in college basketball picks, returning over $1,100 to $100 players. Anyone who followed him saw some huge returns.
Now, Konarski has set his sights on FAU vs. San Diego State and just locked in his picks and Final Four 2023 predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Now, here are several college basketball betting lines and trends for FAU vs. San Diego State:
- San Diego State vs. FAU spread: SDSU -2
- San Diego State vs. FAU over/under: 131.5 points
- San Diego State vs. FAU money line: SDSU -130, FAU +110
- FAU: The Owls are 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games
- SDSU: The Aztecs are 8-2 against the spread in the last 10 games
- San Diego State vs. FAU picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Florida Atlantic can cover
Florida Atlantic’s offense is tremendous this season, headlined by sophomore guard Johnell Davis. He is averaging 17.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament 2023, and Davis leads the team with 13.9 points and 1.5 steals per game for the full season. Davis has scored at least 12 points in 10 straight games, and he is the linchpin of a top-15 national offense that scores more than 1.12 points per possession.
FAU is an excellent shooting team, making 53.9% of 2-point attempts and 36.5% of 3-point attempts, and the Owls are in the top 15 nationally in 3-pointers per game (9.6). Florida Atlantic also takes care of the ball with a 16.9% turnover rate and an 8.4% live-ball turnover rate, and the Owls also average 14.6 assists per contest. Extra possessions also boost efficiency, and FAU is grabbing 31.5% of available rebounds on the offensive glass this season.
Why San Diego State can cover
Brian Dutcher’s team is elite on the defensive end of the floor. The Aztecs showed that high level of defensive resistance against Alabama and Creighton in the South Regional. In those two games, San Diego State allowed 60 points per game with two high-powered offenses combining to shoot 35.7% from the field and 11.4% from 3-point range with 11.5 turnovers and only 9.5 assists per game. For the season, San Diego State is allowing 94.1 points per 100 possessions, and the Aztecs are in the top five of the country in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Opponents struggle mightily to make shots against a mature, attentive defense, with San Diego State allowing 27.8% shooting from 3-point range and 49.4% from inside the arc. The Aztecs also close possessions with a stellar 74.1% defensive rebound rate while forcing a turnover on more than 19% of defensive possessions.
How to make Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State picks
Konarski has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under on the point total, he has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
Who wins Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State? And which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Konarski’s Florida Atlantic vs. San Diego State picks, all from the expert who is crushing college basketball, and find out.
