The 9th-seeded FAU Owls (35-3) and 5-seed San Diego State Aztecs (31-6) meet Saturday in a Final Four game at NRG Stadium in Houston. Tip is scheduled for 6:09 p.m. ET (CBS). Below, we look at FAU vs. San Diego Stateodds from Tipico Sportsbook. Plus, check out our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
The improbable run of the Owls continued at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Owls had never won an NCAA Tournament game prior to March 17, and now they have won 4 straight to get to Houston.
FAU won a couple of nailbiters in NYC, topping 4th-seeded Tennessee 62-55 as 4.5-point underdogs, while edging 3rd-seeded Kansas State 79-76 as a 1-point ‘dog. The Over and Under has alternated in the last 4 games for the Owls.
Florida Atlantic’s Johnell Davis has been a star in this tourney, racking up 17.3 points per game (PPG), 7.8 rebounds per game (RPG) and 3.3 assists per game (APG).
FAU was able to win despite 22 turnovers against K-State, something it will need to clean up before facing another defensive-minded team in San Diego State.
The Aztecs nipped 6th-seeded Creighton 57-56 as a 2.5-point underdog at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville on Sunday, a game which had a controversial finish. There was a late foul call which sent the Aztecs to the free-throw line with 1.2 seconds left that a lot of fans didn’t like, then there was an inbounds pass by Creighton which went out of bounds at the other end, but time appeared to still be left. After review, and a stopwatch timer check, the game was declared final. Rough finish for the Bluejays, exultation for the Aztecs.
San Diego State has won and covered each of its 4 games in the NCAA Tournament, and it is on an 8-game win streak overall, while covering each of the last 6 outings. The Under is on an even more amazing 7-0 run in the postseason, and 12-game streak overall dating back to Feb. 15.
The Aztecs are allowing just 57.3 PPG through 4 games in the tournament. San Diego State topped Creighton despite shooting just 38% (25 of 66) from the field, and 23% (3 of 13) from behind the arc.
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