The Rice Owls will take on the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Monday in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Invitational. Southern Utah (23-12) is the #4 seed in this tournament, and they just obliterated Northern Alabama 72-50 in the first round. Rice (19-15) is the #12 seed, and they knocked off Duquesne 84-76, pulling off the upset. Both schools have taken part in some high-scoring games recently, so we’ll see if that trend continues today.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Rice Owls Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | ML |
| Southern Utah | -6.5 (-105) | Over 159.5 (-110) | -260 |
| Rice | +6.5 (-115) | Under 159.5 (-110) | +220 |
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Rice Owls Match Details
Fixture: Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Rice Owls
Date & Time: Monday, March 20, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, FL
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Rice Owls Key Stats
Southern Utah has been above average offensively this year, but recently they’ve shot poorly, which could be an issue today. The Thunderbirds play at a really fast pace, and as a result, they put up 83 points per game, the sixth-most in the nation. At times, their pace can hurt them defensively, as prior to their last game, opponents shot well over 50% for a three-game stretch.
The Thunderbirds look to senior Tevian Jones mostly, as the guard averages 17.5 points and converts 2.4 threes per game. In addition to Jones, all four of the Thunderbirds’ other starters average over ten points per game, which is helpful for when the team gets into slumps. Overall, Southern Utah’s offensive performance typically dictates their fate, so they’ll need to rely on outscoring and outshooting teams more often than just relying on strong defense.
Rice is coming off a game where they shot 57% from the field, and while they can’t expect shooting performances like this always, it’s a good sign entering today’s contest. Juniors Quincy Olivari (18.8 PPG) and Travis Evee (15.3 PPG) lead the way offensively, and they should again have the ball in their hands quite often today. Against Duquesne, they combined for 36 points, and while Southern Utah is a tough opponent, too, the Owls can catch fire from time to time. As a team, Rice has had their inconsistencies, but with their season on the line, we’ll see if they can notch another upset victory.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds vs. Rice Owls Betting Prediction
Despite their last win, Rice has only covered one of their last seven, and they’re under .500 against the spread this season. Southern Utah held Northern Alabama to under 30% shooting last game, and while both of these teams are high-scoring, the Thunderbirds could make life difficult for Rice on defense. Back the favorites here to win and cover, as Rice has not been able to string together consecutive wins lately.
