Two teams that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Butch Davis and the FIU Panthers (-16) are set to take the field against the Old Dominion Monarchs at Riccardo Silva Stadium. Kickoff for this CUSA showdown is set for 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to ESPN+.
Betting Preview: FIU Panthers vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
In this Saturday Conference USA game, FIU has been projected as the big favorite and is currently giving up 16 points. The Monarchs are also receiving +600 moneyline odds while the Panthers are -945. If one squad can create a bunch of points early on it will result in a reasonable in-game betting scenario. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 49 points.
The sharp action has been siding with the Panthers, as the opening line was -15. The O/U hasn’t changed after it was set initially at 49.
The Monarchs are down 5.5 units so far and 3-5 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 2-6.
The Panthers have lost 4.7 units this season. The team is 2-6 ATS and owns an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Monarchs have gone 1-7 straight up (SU), including 0-4 SU against CUSA opponents. The Panthers are 4-4 SU overall and 2-3 SU in conference play.
When these two teams faced each other a year ago, FIU emerged victorious by a score of 28-20.
The Monarchs lost to Florida Atlantic 41-3 in a blowout where the passing attack wasn’t where it needed to be as Messiah deWeaver completed just 15-of-29 passes for 134 yards and one interception. Eric Kumah (10 receptions, 99 yards) and Blake Watson (one catch, zero yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
FIU just lost an ugly 50-17 game to Middle Tennessee. The defensive unit allowed the Blue Raiders to rush for 471 yards on 55 attempts, including six rush TDs. Asher O’Hara torched the defense, recording 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 attempts for Middle Tennessee. For FIU, James Morgan completed 16-of-32 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Anthony Jones (87 yards on 21 rush attempts) mounted the running game while Maurice Alexander (five receptions, 87 yards, one TD) and Shemar Thornton (five catches, 67 yards) led the receiving attack in the loss.
In terms of offensive play-calling, each of these teams sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Old Dominion has run the ball on 59.6 percent of its offensive possessions while FIU has a rush percentage of 60.6. The Monarchs have produced 92.1 rush yards/game (including 61.8 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 10 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Panthers are averaging 194.3 rush yards per game (181.4 in conference) and have 16 total rushing TDs.
The Monarchs offensive scheme has logged 145.6 yards per game in the air overall (119 per game versus conference opposition) and has two passing TDs so far. The Panthers have recorded 202.9 pass yards per outing (200 against CUSA competition) and have 10 total pass scores.
Old Dominion has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 134.1 yards and throw for 222.5 yards per game. The FIU D has allowed 164.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 215.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Panthers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.21 to opposing QBs, while the Monarchs have allowed a 6.84 ANY/A.
Offensively, deWeaver has put up 234 passing yards this year. He’s completed 23-of-43 attempts with one passing scores and one interception. He has a 2.74 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 1.06 over the last two outings.
James Morgan has connected on 99-of-165 passes for 1,283 yards, nine TDs and two INTs for FIU. His ANY/A sits at 7.73 for the year and 8.53 over his last two games.
Old Dominion Monarchs at FIU Panthers Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: FIU, ATS Winner: FIU, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Monarchs have made five pass plays of 30+ yards while the Panthers have produced nine such plays.
- The Old Dominion defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while FIU has given up five such plays.
- The Old Dominion offense has created six rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while FIU has created 11 such runs.
- The Monarchs defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Panthers have given up 13 such runs.
- The Old Dominion defensive unit has 10 sacks on the year while FIU has nine.
- As a team, Old Dominion has rushed for 1.8 yards per attempt over its last three games and 1.5 over its last two.
- FIU has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.2 over its past two.
- In its last three matchups, FIU is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Old Dominion’s last game was set at 51.5. The under cashed in the team’s 41-3 defeat to Florida Atlantic.
- In its last three matchups, Old Dominion is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for FIU’s last matchup was set at 57.5. The over cashed in the team’s 50-17 defeat to Middle Tennessee.
