Butler Bulldogs Host Fairleigh Dickinson in Non-Conference Opener

Butler University enters its second game of the 2026-27 college basketball season with an opportunity to improve its record to 2-0. The Bulldogs will host the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in a non-conference matchup at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 4.

Both teams are coming off contrasting performances from the previous night. Butler secured a decisive 96-60 victory over Lafayette, demonstrating strong offensive output. In contrast, Fairleigh Dickinson suffered a heavy 120-45 defeat at the hands of Illinois on Monday. The Knights are looking to bounce back from that loss as they begin their new campaign.

Looking back at the 2025-26 season, the two programs finished with similar overall records but in different conference standings. Butler tied for seventh place in the Big East with a 7-13 mark, finishing the year at 16-16 overall. The Knights tied for sixth in the Northeast Conference with an 8-10 record, concluding their season with an 11-21 overall record.

Betting markets have heavily favored the home team for this contest. Butler is listed as a 26.5-point favorite, while the over/under total for the game is set at 156.5 points. SportsLine projection models have analyzed these lines to provide insights for fans and bettors. The model has maintained a strong recent track record, posting an 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under picks dating back to 2025. Additionally, it has gone 28-22 on its top-rated side picks during this period.

The SportsLine model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times to generate its predictions. For this specific matchup, the model recommends the Under on the total. This recommendation is supported by the fact that the Under has hit in three of the last four games involving Fairleigh Dickinson. The Knights were ranked 341st in the nation in scoring last season, averaging 67.2 points per game. Butler ranked 92nd in scoring, averaging 79.4 points per game.

Player projections from the model suggest a significant disparity in individual scoring potential. No Fairleigh Dickinson player is projected to score more than seven points. Only David Jevtic and Vophcy Prophete are expected to reach the six-point mark. On the Butler side, two players are projected to score 15 or more points: Jalen Jackson and Jordan Ellerbee.

The model projects a total of 160 points for the game, which aligns with its Under recommendation. According to the simulation data, the Under hits 63% of the time in similar scenarios. The model also indicates that one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of the simulations, though the specific side is detailed in the full SportsLine report.

Fans and analysts can review these projections to inform their expectations for the game. The model’s recent success on over/under picks has attracted attention from those following college basketball betting sites. The combination of Butler’s strong recent performance and FDU’s previous loss sets the stage for a potentially one-sided affair, though the exact point total remains a key metric for prediction models.

The matchup serves as an early test for both programs as they adjust to the new season. Butler aims to maintain its momentum from the Lafayette win, while Fairleigh Dickinson seeks to avoid a second consecutive loss. The 26.5-point spread reflects the current perception of the talent gap between the Big East contender and the Northeast Conference squad.

As the season progresses, these early non-conference games will help establish the baseline for both teams. The projected low scoring output for FDU and the high expectations for Butler’s star players suggest a game where Butler’s offense will likely dominate. The 156.5-point total line will be a critical number to watch as the game unfolds at Hinkle Fieldhouse.