A couple of schools that prefer to deploy their running games, Head Coach Butch Davis and the FIU Golden Panthers (-4) are gearing up to take on their CUSA rival Florida Atlantic Owls at Riccardo Silva Stadium. The matchup is scheduled to get going at 7:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to STAD.
Florida Atlantic Owls at FIU Golden Panthers Betting Preview
In this Saturday Conference USA game, FIU has been projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 4 points. The Owls are also receiving +155 moneyline odds while the Golden Panthers are -175. There might be some good live betting opportunities while the contest is underway, and oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 60 points.
The opening line was originally placed at 1 and the over/under was initially 61, so the early action appears to be slanted toward both the Golden Panthers and the under.
The hapless Owls are 1-7 against the spread (ATS) and are down 4.7 units this season. The team has posted an O/U record of 4-3. The Golden Panthers have been a nice surprise for moneyline bettors in 2018, gaining 3.0 units. The team is 6-2 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-5.
The Owls are a paltry 3-5 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against conference opponents. The Golden Panthers are 6-2 SU overall and 4-0 SU in conference play.
FIU enters this one on a two-game losing streak while Florida Atlantic has won its last four in a row. The Owls dropped one to Louisiana Tech 21-13 in a matchup where Rafe Peavey completed 15-of-26 passes for just 115 yards and one interception. Devin Singletary (171 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) and Kerrith Whyte, Jr. (64 yards on 11 carries) led the ground attack in the loss while Willie Wright (six receptions, 68 yards) and Harrison Bryant (four catches, 15 yards) handled the receiving duties.
FIU is coming off of a 38-17 win over Western Kentucky. The team’s defense allowed the Hilltoppers to rush for 168 yards on 38 attempts, including two rush TDs. Joshua Samuel had a productive outing in the loss for Western Kentucky, accounting for 83 rushing yards on 14 attempts. For FIU, James Morgan completed 19-of-28 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Napoleon Maxwell (80 yards on 16 rush attempts) and D’Vonte Price (119 yards on 14 carries, two TDs) mounted the ground game in the win while Maurice Alexander (six receptions, 48 yards, one TD) and Austin Maloney (four catches, 70 yards, one TD) led the receiving attack.
Looking at offensive play-calling, each of these squads sports a similar (58-42) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Owls have produced 221 rush yards/game (including 221 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 22 scores via handoffs this year. The Golden Panthers haven’t been quite as productive, as they’re logging 176 rush yards per game (168 in conference) and have 16 total rushing TDs.
The Owls offensive scheme has tallied 228 yards per game in the air overall (214 per game against conference opposition) and has eight passing TDs so far. The Golden Panthers have recorded 242 pass yards per game (252.8 against CUSA foes) and have 19 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Florida Atlantic has allowed 186 rush yards and 248 pass yards per game. The FIU defense has given up 191.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 175.6 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.71 to opposing QBs, while the Owls have given up a 7.58 ANY/A.
Offensively, Robison is up to 1,422 passing yards this year. He’s completed 117-of-181 attempts with seven passing scores and six interceptions. He’s got a 6.80 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 1.51 over the last two games.
For the home team, James Morgan has managed to complete 111-of-172 passes for 1,539 yards, 17 TDs and four INTs. Morgan’s ANY/A stands at 9.24 for the year and 8.48 over his past two outings.
When these two programs faced one another last year, Florida Atlantic knocked FIU off by four touchdowns 52-24.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Florida Atlantic Owls at FIU Golden Panthers
SU Winner – Florida Atlantic, ATS Winner – Florida Atlantic, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The FIU defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 14 times this year. Florida Atlantic has recorded 13 sacks.
FIU has lost three fumbles in 2018 while Florida Atlantic has lost four.
The Owls offense has tallied six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Golden Panthers have accounted for eight such plays.
The Florida Atlantic defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while FIU has given up four such plays.
The Florida Atlantic offense has created 18 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while FIU has created 11 such runs.
The Owls defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Golden Panthers have given up 12 such runs.
The O/U for FIU’s previous outing was set at 54. The over cashed in that 38-17 victory over Western Kentucky.
Over its last three contests, FIU is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matches, Florida Atlantic is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Florida Atlantic has lost five of its last six games SU, with a 19-point win over Old Dominion on October 6th accounting for the only victory over that stretch.
FIU has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a -14-point defeat to Miami (FL) on September 22nd representing the one loss over that span.
The Over/Under for Florida Atlantic’s previous game going into it was 58.5. The under cashed in the team’s 21-13 loss to Louisiana Tech.
As a team, Florida Atlantic has averaged 5.3 yards per rush attempt over its last three games and 4.6 over its last two.
FIU has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.4 over its past two.
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