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#675 Florida International +2.5 over Utah Tech 4:00 PM CT

Utah Tech won 14 games last season with impressive 3-point shooting, connecting at well over 37 percent on the season for a top 25 rate nationally. As a result, 43 percent 3-point shooter Isaiah Pope transferred to Fresno State. This year’s Trailblazers have less experience and have had much less success, with a two percent decline beyond the arc in a 5-7 start to the season. Two of those five wins aren’t worth mentioning while the meaningful results were close games, beating Jacksonville State in overtime and holding off Cal Baptist by three points. Utah Tech has now dropped four in a row including two home games with the past two losses by 17 and 27 points. This is certainly a long trip and an awkward non-conference test for Florida International just ahead of the conference opener next weekend, but the Panthers needed a game to avoid a two-week layoff. FIU will push the pace in this matchup and the Panthers have been a solid inside scoring team. FIU also creates turnovers at one of the highest rates in the nation and those extra opportunities can offset the marginal overall profile for Jeremy Ballard’s team. This squad returns a lot of last season’s production, and the current 5-9 record has come through a difficult path with three top 100 losses and six top 150 losses. FIU is 5-2 S/U vs. teams outside the nation’s top 200 where Utah Tech is firmly planted, and the Panthers played Miami to six points in November and gave Akron and Loyola Marymount close games as well for solid results against decent competition. Utah Tech doesn’t have the great size which could give FIU’s small lineup problems and turnovers figure to be a factor in this contest in favor of the road team. Utah Tech is also a miserable below 65 percent free throw shooting team for an unappealing favorite in what could be a close game.