Florida International Panthers vs UTEP Miners Picks and Predictions for Thursday January 22 2026
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The Florida International Panthers head west to take on the UTEP Miners at the Don Haskins Center on Thursday, January 22, 2026, with tipoff scheduled for 9:00 PM EST. This Conference USA matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+. The moneyline is currently off the board, while Florida International is listed as a slight 1.5-point road favorite. The total for the game is set at 147.5 points with both the Over and Under priced at -110. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily NCAA basketball betting insights.
Panthers Looking to Snap a Road Slide
The Florida International Panthers enter this matchup with a 9-9 overall record and have struggled to string together results away from home. Over their last five games, Florida International has recently lost to Sam Houston State, Kennesaw State, Missouri State, and Jacksonville State, but did pick up a win over UTEP, showing they can still execute against familiar opponents.
From a statistical standpoint, FIU is averaging 83.7 points per game while allowing 78.3 points per contest. They shoot 46% from the field and average nearly 17 assists per game, reflecting an offense that thrives on ball movement and attacking the paint.
One area where Florida International stands out is defensive activity. The Panthers average 10.1 steals and 5.1 blocks per game, using pressure and athleticism to disrupt opposing offenses and create transition scoring opportunities.
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Miners Hoping to Defend Home Court
The UTEP Miners come into Thursday night with a 6-12 overall record and will look to turn things around at home. In their last five games, the Miners have recently won over Delaware and Middle Tennessee State, while suffering losses to Liberty, Western Kentucky, and Florida International.
Statistically, UTEP is averaging 69.8 points per game while allowing 72.8 points per contest. They shoot 43% from the field and average just 32.7 rebounds per game, which often puts them at a disadvantage against more physical opponents.
Defense and effort remain the Miners’ path to staying competitive. UTEP averages 7.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game, but their struggles to score consistently make it difficult to keep pace in higher-tempo games.
Florida International Panthers vs UTEP Miners Pick
Florida International Panthers vs UTEP Miners Pick
- Pick: Florida International -1.5
Florida International gets the edge here due to their superior offensive production and defensive pressure. Even with recent road struggles, FIU’s ability to force turnovers and score efficiently gives them the advantage against a UTEP team that has had difficulty generating consistent offense.
Florida International Panthers vs UTEP Miners Total Pick
- Pick: Over 147.5
I’m leaning toward the Over in this matchup because Florida International plays at a fast pace and looks to turn defense into offense. UTEP has been vulnerable defensively, and if FIU controls tempo as expected, this game has a good chance to push past the posted total.
Final Score Prediction: Florida International 78, UTEP 72
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