The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles will look to pick up a win while covering the spread when they take on the Spartans in USC Upstate at G. B. Hodge Center on Thursday in college basketball action.

Supporters of the Eagles have watched them go 11-6 and 1-0 ATS on the year, while the Spartans are at 8-7 and 0-0 ATS. In totals betting, the Spartans are 0-0, while the Eagles have a 1-0 mark.



View Florida Gulf Coast vs USC Upstate Odds and Stats.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Spartans at No. 129 and the Eagles at No. 80 heading into this contest. Handicapping models at Odds Shark project a 75-73 result in favor of the Spartans.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and USC Upstate has the nation's No. 106-rated offensive output, at 70.9 PPG. The visiting Eagles defense ranks No. 194 allowing on average 67.2 PPG. The Spartans FG% has averaged 45.5% so far, less than the Eagles marksmen have achieved on the year, 46% per game.

Defensively, Florida Gulf Coast features the nation's No. 288-rated defense on the road, allowing 76.5 points per game. USC Upstate, meanwhile, comes in at No. 34 nationally in scoring at home.

In their last action, Florida Gulf Coast was a 75-73 Sportsbook at home against North Florida. The Eagles grabbed a 75-73 win over the Ospreys on Monday, behind a 14-point effort from Chase Fieler at Alico Arena.

USC Upstate was a 98-61 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against Lipscomb. USC Upstate cruised to victory on Monday, running Lipscomb out of the gym and running up a 98-61 score at Allen Arena.

Next up:
Florida Gulf Coast at East Tennessee State, Saturday, January 12
USC Upstate home to Stetson, Saturday, January 12