The Hilltoppers will try to cover the spread at EA Diddle Arena on Saturday when they get a visit from the Florida International Golden Panthers in college basketball action.

The Hilltoppers bring a 5-9 record (5-8 ATS) to this tilt against the 3-10 Golden Panthers, who are 5-4 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have witnessed Western Kentucky go 4-8-1 so far and the Golden Panthers go 3-6.



View Florida International vs Western Kentucky Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Western Kentucky opened as 5-point favorites in this College Basketball tilt.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Hilltoppers - Golden Panthers odds would favor the Hilltoppers if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Western Kentucky is rated No. 194 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Florida International is at No. 299. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 59-57 win for the Hilltoppers.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Western Kentucky's No. 303-ranked offense, averaging 61.1 PPG, against a Golden Panthers defense that ranks No. 170 at 66.6 PPG. The Hilltoppers field goal percentage has averaged 38.5% so far, less than the Golden Panthers marksmen have achieved on the year, 42.3% per game.

Defensively, Florida International features the nation's No. 133-rated defense on the road, allowing 69.1 points per game. Western Kentucky, meanwhile, comes in at No. 333 nationally in scoring at home.

Florida International lost its last outing, a 71-66 result against Middle Tennessee on December 29. They covered in that game as a 18-point underdog. Phil Taylor scored 22 points in a futile effort to lead the Golden Panthers to a win (they lost 71-66 to Middle Tennessee at Murphy Center on Thursday).

Western Kentucky was a 76-71 Sportsbook in its last match on the road against Louisiana-Monroe. They covered the 2–point spread as favorites. The Hilltoppers grabbed a 76-71 win over the Warhawks on Thursday, behind a 17-point effort from George Fant at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.


Florida International Golden Panthers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 0-10
Before playing Louisiana-Monroe are 1-4
After playing Middle Tennessee are 5-5
After a loss are 3-7

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 10-0
Before playing Louisiana-Lafayette are 10-0
After playing Louisiana-Monroe are 5-2
After a win are 4-6

A few Golden Panthers at Hilltoppers trends to consider:
Florida International is 5-11 ATS in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Western Kentucky
Florida International is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Florida International is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Florida International
Western Kentucky is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Florida International
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Western Kentucky's last 7 games when playing Florida International
Western Kentucky is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games


Next up:
Florida International home to Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, January 7
Western Kentucky home to Louisiana-Lafayette, Thursday, January 5