The FAU Owls and Memphis Tigers face off in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament on Friday night in what should be quite a battle in Columbus, Ohio. The 24th-ranked and eighth-seeded Tigers (26-8) stunned top-ranked Houston 75-65 in the AAC Tournament final on Sunday. The Owls (31-3) are ranked 25th and seeded ninth, and they have won seven in a row and defeated UAB 78-56 in the C-USA title game Saturday.

Tip-off is set for 9:20 p.m. ET in Columbus, Ohio. The latest FAU vs. Memphis odds from Caesars Sportsbook list the Tigers as 2-point favorites, and the over/under for total points scored is set at 153. (See up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page.)

Before you make any Memphis vs. FAU picks or NCAA Tournament predictions, you need to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2023 NCAA Tournament 79-53 on all-top rated college basketball picks this season, returning nearly $1,300 for $100 players. Anybody who has followed the model has seen HUGE returns!

The model knows the Tigers are peaking at the right time, and the victory against the Cougars gives them massive confidence. They faced Houston three times in the final month, so they will be plenty prepared for a team of FAU's caliber. Memphis scores 79.5 points per game and shoots just over 48% from the field, and both marks rank in the top 25 in the nation. Kendric Davis is 12th in the nation in scoring at 22.1 points per game.

The model also has considered that the Owls blitzed Conference USA behind a solid defense and an offense that averages 79.3 points per game. FAU allows almost five points fewer per game than Memphis (65-7-72.6). Opponents shoot just 41.1% against the Owls (40th in the nation), while FAU makes 47.2% of its shots (41st) and 37.2% from 3-point range (22nd). Johnell Davis (13.5 points) and Alijah Martin (13.2) lead the way.

Now, the model has taken a close look at the FAU vs. Memphis matchup from every angle, and we can tell you the model is leaning Under on the point total. It also says one side of the spread is hitting in well over 60% of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see the model before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins Memphis vs. FAU in Friday's NCAA Tournament matchup? And which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the FAU vs. Memphis spread you should be all over Friday, all from the model up almost $1,300 on college basketball picks this season!