Two AAC rivals will face off in what should be a tight contest when the Florida Atlantic Owls host the Wichita State Shockers on Thursday night.
These teams match up evenly on most metrics, which is why I’m taking the Shockers to cover in my Wichita State vs. Florida Atlantic predictions.
Read on for a deeper dive into tonight’s matchup with my free college basketball picks for January 15.
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic prediction
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic best bet: Wichita State +4.5 (-115)
It’s rare to see a game where two teams match up as evenly as we’re getting in this conference showdown tonight. The two schools are literally next to each other in the KenPom.com rankings — Wichita State is No. 101, followed by Florida Atlantic at 102 — and they grade out similarly on both ends of the court.
The Shockers have the player to watch in this matchup, as senior guard Kenyon Giles is averaging 18.6 ppg on the year and is coming off a 33-point performance against the North Texas Mean Green in a game on Sunday. He represents an outsized portion of the Wichita State offense, as the Shockers tend to play a slower brand of basketball than the Owls.
Florida Atlantic, on the other hand, is a more balanced offensive squad, with both Devin Vanterpool (16.3 ppg) and Kanaan Carlyle (15.2 ppg) serving as primary offensive weapons. My one concern for the Owls comes defensively, as they rank among the worst teams in the country at defending the three-point line, while Wichita State shoots 36.6% from deep.
It’s hard to separate these two teams, which pushes me in the direction of taking the points — especially when we’re getting more than a full possession on the underdog.
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic same-game parlay
Wichita State’s slower brand of basketball has led the Shockers to play below tonight’s total in six of their last eight games, so I’m going to pair my spread bet with the Under tonight.
However, I’m still taking Giles to hit his scoring Over, as he’s gone for 26+ points in three of his last four outings and should be the offensive focus again tonight.
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic SGP
- Wichita State +4.5
- Under 155
- Kenyon Giles Over 18.5 points
Our beyond the arc SGP: Kanaan leads bettors to promised land
While the Owls have three players who have been contributing significantly to the offense as of late, Carlyle has been the most consistent, scoring 16+ points in three of his last four games.
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic SGP
- Wichita State +4.5
- Under 155
- Kenyon Giles Over 18.5 points
- Kanaan Carlyle Over 15.5 points
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic odds
- Spread: Wichita State +4.5 | Florida Atlantic -4.5
- Moneyline: Wichita State +170 | Florida Atlantic -210
- Over/Under: Over 155 | Under 155
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic betting trend to know
Wichita State has hit the 1H Under in 22 of its last 33 games (+10.60 Units / 28% ROI). Find more college basketball betting trends for Wichita State vs. Florida Atlantic.
How to watch Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic
| Location | Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, Boca Raton, FL |
| Date | Thursday, January 15, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN2 |
Wichita State vs Florida Atlantic key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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