Northwestern vs FAU Prediction, Picks, Odds | NCAA Tournament First Round Bets

Kevin Rogers Sports Betting Expert

1 minute read

The First Round of NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament continues on Friday, March 22 -- and the first matchup of the day scheduled to tip off is Northwestern vs Florida Atlantic, which is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS.

The Owls are short 2.5-point favorites on the spread in Friday's contest; with the game total stationed at over/under 142 at most sportsbooks.

Here's everything you need to know about Northwestern vs FAU -- our expert prediction and betting picks for this First Round NCAA Tournament matchup.

Northwestern vs FAU Odds

NWU @ FAU Odds

• Full Game
• 1H

• Spread
• Total
• Moneyline

Time	Open	Bet365	BetMGM	DraftKings	FanDuel	HardRock	RiversCasino	Consensus
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	+1.5 -115	+4 -110	+4.5 -115	+4.5 -112	+3.5 -102	+4.5 -115	+4.5 -114	+3.5 -102
764 Florida Atlantic	-1.5 -105	-4 -110	-4.5 -105	-4.5 -108	-3.5 -120	-4.5 -105	-4.5 -106	-3.5 -120
Matchup
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	o141.5 -110	o142.5 -110	o142.5 -110	o142.5 -112	o142.5 -110	o142.5 -115	o142.5 -113	o142.5 -110
764 Florida Atlantic	u141.5 -110	u142.5 -110	u142.5 -110	u142.5 -108	u142.5 -110	u142.5 -105	u142.5 -107	u142.5 -110
Matchup
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	+112	+165	+160	+164	+150	+160	+155	+150
764 Florida Atlantic	-134	-200	-190	-198	-182	-200	-195	-182
Matchup

Time	Open	Bet365	BetMGM	DraftKings	FanDuel	HardRock	RiversCasino	Consensus
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	+1.5 -115	+2.5 -110	+2.5 -120	+2.5 -115	N/A	+2.5 -120	+2 -108	+3.5 -102
764 Florida Atlantic	-1.5 -105	-2.5 -110	-2.5 -110	-2.5 -115	N/A	-2.5 -110	-2 -118	-3.5 -120
Matchup
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	o141.5 -110	o65 -115	N/A	o65.5 -110	o65.5 -106	o65.5 -120	o65.5 -114	o142.5 -110
764 Florida Atlantic	u141.5 -110	u65 -105	N/A	u65.5 -120	u65.5 -118	u65.5 -110	u65.5 -114	u142.5 -110
Matchup
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	+112	N/A	+140	+140	N/A	N/A	+138	+150
764 Florida Atlantic	-134	N/A	-185	-180	N/A	N/A	-175	-182
Matchup

Time	Open	Bet365	BetMGM	DraftKings	FanDuel	HardRock	RiversCasino	Consensus
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	+1.5 -115	+2.5 -110	N/A	N/A	+1.5 -106	N/A	+1.5 -114	+3.5 -102
764 Florida Atlantic	-1.5 -105	-2.5 -110	N/A	N/A	-1.5 -118	N/A	-1.5 -114	-3.5 -120
Matchup
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	o141.5 -110	o72.5 -105	N/A	N/A	o76.5 -118	N/A	N/A	o142.5 -110
764 Florida Atlantic	u141.5 -110	u72.5 -115	N/A	N/A	u76.5 -106	N/A	N/A	u142.5 -110
Matchup
Final	Open	›	›	›	›	›	›
763 Northwestern	+112	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	+150
764 Florida Atlantic	-134	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	-182
Matchup

Northwestern vs FAU Prediction

FAU made plenty of headlines last season with its run to the Final Four. The Owls will look for an encore performance in the 2024 Big Dance as they are in the 8/9 game for a second straight season by facing Northwestern.

The Wildcats are back in the tournament for a second straight season as they won their first-round game last season against Boise State.

FAU put together a terrific season in its first year in the AAC at 25-8, but stubbed its toe in the conference tournament against Temple.

The Wildcats have covered six of their last seven games in the underdog role, while knocking off Purdue and Illinois in Big 10 play.

The Owls posted a 4-1 ATS mark in the tournament last season with all four covers coming as an underdog.

FAU won't catch anyone off-guard this time as Northwestern has a great shot of winning this game.

Pick: Northwestern +2.5 (-110)

Northwestern vs FAU Game Time & TV Channel

Date: Friday, March 22
Matchup: Big Ten vs AAC
Venue: Barclays Center
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Time-TV: CBS, 12:15 p.m. ET

Northwestern vs FAU Betting Stats

8) Florida Atlantic Owls
(American, At-Large)

• Futures: +17000
• Region: +3000
• SU: 25-8
• ATS: 16-17
• O/U: 17-15-1
• PPG: 83.0
• OPPG: 73.3

9) Northwestern Wildcats
(Big Ten, At-Large)

• Futures: +17000
• Region: +3000
• SU: 21-11
• ATS: 17-14-1
• O/U: 19-13
• PPG: 74.1
• OPPG: 69.0

March Madness Betting Resources

• NCAA Tourney Picks
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March Madness First Round Odds

The NCAA Men's Tournament First Round will take place on Thursday March 21, 2024 and Friday March 22, 2024.

Check out the Teams, Odds, Betting Stats and much more on each of the four regions below:

• East Region
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• West Region

Kevin Rogers

Kevin has been handicapping professionally since 2007 at VegasInsider before shifting to ScoresAndOdds. He focuses on MLB, NFL, college football, NBA, college basketball, and NHL and mainly uses trends, systems, and situations as his top handicapping angles. More from Kevin Rogers