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Jacksonville State heads to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami to face Florida International on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET, with ESPN+ streaming this Conference USA matchup. Jacksonville State is 10-9 and has been a very different team away from home at 2-5. FIU is 10-10 and has leaned heavily on its home court, going 9-3 in Miami while struggling badly on the road. That home split is a big reason FIU is laying 5 points here.
This game sets up as a tempo tug-of-war. FIU wants possessions and free throws. Jacksonville State is more comfortable slowing things down, getting into half-court actions, and leaning on shot-making. If the game gets chaotic, it favors the home side. If it stays controlled, the dog becomes live.
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Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Florida International Golden Panthers Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State Gamecocks | +165 | +5.0 (-110) | O 149.5 (-110) |
| Florida International Golden Panthers | -200 | -5.0 (-110) | U 149.5 (-110) |
Santa Clara Broncos
vs
San Francisco Dons
Open
vs
Jan 28, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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-9.50 -110
Spread
+9.50 -110
o+150.50-115
Total
u+150.50-105
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Moneyline
–
Oregon Ducks
vs
UCLA Bruins
Open
vs
Jan 28, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
–
–
Spread
–
o+139.00-105
Total
u+139.00-115
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Moneyline
–
San Diego St Aztecs
vs
Colorado St Rams
Open
vs
Jan 28, 2026 22:30 EST
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Score
–
-9.00 -110
Spread
+9.00 -110
o+139.50-110
Total
u+139.50-110
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Moneyline
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Jacksonville State Gamecocks Betting Form
Jacksonville State’s 75-58 win over Middle Tennessee is the kind of result that makes you pause before blindly backing the home favorite. When they’re defending and their guards are scoring, they can look sharp. Bryant and El Moutaouakkil combining for 42 points tells you the ceiling is there, and it’s important because Jacksonville State isn’t built to win if they’re stuck in the high 60s.
The three-point profile is what keeps them interesting as a road underdog. A 36.0% three-point rate is legit, and it’s a style that can travel if the looks are there. If Jacksonville State hits early threes, it forces FIU to defend longer possessions instead of running off makes and misses. That’s the script Jacksonville State wants.
The concern is still the road record. At 2-5 away, they’ve shown they can get rattled when the other team strings together stops and the game speeds up. If Jacksonville State starts turning it over or taking quick, low-quality shots, FIU’s athleticism and rebounding can turn that into a points swing quickly.
For a broader snapshot of team profiles across the season, the NCAAB teams hub is a useful reference point.
Florida International Golden Panthers Betting Form
FIU at home has been reliable, and the New Mexico State win (81-78) is a good example of how they survive even when it’s not clean. Stephenson’s 25 and 12 is exactly the kind of interior production that keeps them steady, and their offense has a clear identity. They pressure you with pace, they get downhill, and they generate free throws at a high rate.
That free-throw attempt rate is the biggest handicap point for a -5 spread. If FIU is living at the line, it’s hard for an underdog to hang around because you’re scoring with the clock stopped and you’re putting the opponent into foul trouble. It also matters late. A team that can make free throws and keep getting to the stripe is much more likely to cover a mid-single-digit number.
The flip side is that a free-throw driven team can look a bit ordinary if the whistle isn’t there. If Jacksonville State can defend without fouling and force FIU into jumpers, the game is more likely to stay within one or two possessions.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Florida International Golden Panthers Matchup Breakdown
This comes down to pace and the foul line. Jacksonville State’s 60.8 possessions per game is a clear signal they want a controlled game. FIU is happiest when the game has more possessions and more transition chances, and they’re also built to punish teams that get into the bonus early.
Jacksonville State’s path is clean execution and timely threes. If they’re making shots from outside, they can neutralize some of FIU’s rebounding and pace advantages. FIU’s path is forcing Jacksonville State into uncomfortable tempo, winning the glass, and getting to the stripe. If FIU is up 8 to 12 at the eight-minute mark because Jacksonville State has been forced into quick shots, covering -5 becomes straightforward.
The total is where the pace fight shows up. If FIU dictates tempo, 149.5 is very reachable. If Jacksonville State controls the game and limits free throws, you can have a game that feels competitive but lands in the low 140s.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs Florida International Golden Panthers Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is FIU -5.0. The home profile is strong, and the free-throw edge is the cleanest repeatable advantage in this matchup. Jacksonville State can absolutely keep this close if they hit threes, but FIU’s ability to generate points at the line is the kind of thing that covers spreads even when the shooting isn’t great.
On the total, I lean under 149.5. Jacksonville State’s pace is the biggest driver, and I think their best chance to win is to slow this game down and keep it in the half court. Even if FIU wins, that script can still land under if Jacksonville State isn’t giving up transition points and easy free throws.
Best Bet: Florida International Golden Panthers -5.0 (-110).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Conference USA games can be volatile, but home-court splits and foul-line profiles tend to be two of the most dependable signals. If a team consistently gets to the stripe and plays its best basketball at home, it’s often worth paying attention even if the overall record looks average.
For more plays across the slate, check today’s college basketball picks and compare sides and totals across the board. The best results usually come from matching your bet to the most likely game script, not just the most talented roster.
