On the heels of their Final Four run last season, the Florida Atlantic Owls are gearing up for another successful year in college basketball. Their upcoming match against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Sunday holds significant importance for their season aspirations.

Thanks to a well-balanced approach, the Owls achieved great success in the previous season, ranking among the top 28 teams nationwide in terms of both points scored and points allowed per possession. With the majority of their Final Four lineup returning, Florida Atlantic boasts a team that can adapt to any pace of play. They have showcased their ability to grind out low-scoring games and engage in high-scoring shootouts, making them a formidable opponent.

In the previous season, the Owls displayed a preference for a mid-tempo playing style, as evidenced by their ranking of 178th out of 363 Division I teams in possessions per game. This year, they currently sit at 244th in that category. Their goal in the upcoming game against the Hokies will be to stifle Virginia Tech's controlled pace of play, as the Hokies rank 258th in possessions per game.

Both teams have proven to be efficient on the offensive end. Virginia Tech enters the weekend as the 17th highest-scoring team per possession, while Florida Atlantic ranks 14th. However, this game could feature more defense than expected, as both teams possess traits that can lead to a lower-scoring affair.

Virginia Tech has struggled to secure offensive rebounds, ranking 219th in the nation in the percentage of missed shots that result in an offensive rebound. On the other hand, Florida Atlantic might be prone to more turnovers than usual. The Hokies have excelled at forcing turnovers, sitting at 40th in the country in turnovers forced per offensive play. They will need to convert those turnovers into immediate offense considering the Owls' ability to cut off passing lanes.

Florida Atlantic's defensive prowess is evident by their current fifth-place ranking in the nation for the lowest percentage of opponents' made field goals involving an assist. This statistic suggests that their upcoming game against Virginia Tech could be a choppy affair with limited flow and fewer points than expected.

All eyes will be on the clash between Florida Atlantic and Virginia Tech as both teams look to assert their dominance early in the season. Will the Owls' balanced approach and defensive strength be enough to secure a victory? Or will the Hokies find a way to disrupt their tempo and grab a crucial win? Basketball fans will eagerly await the outcome of this highly anticipated match.

In terms of betting, the recommendation is to take the under on the total points at 151.5, based on the potential defensive battle that could unfold between these two teams.