The FIU Golden Panthers (-10.5) are heading west to face their conference foe UTSA Roadrunners at the Alamodome. The matchup starts at 7:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
Betting Preview: FIU Golden Panthers at UTSA Roadrunners
UTSA is projected as the underdog and is currently getting 10.5 points in this Saturday CUSA matchup. The Golden Panthers are also receiving -425 moneyline odds while the Roadrunners are +315. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 49.5 points, and there should be multiple decent live betting opportunities for this game.
The line opened at 10. The game’s total hasn’t moved after it was initially established at 49.5.
The Golden Panthers have gained 1.8 units so far and are 6-3 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 4-5.
The Roadrunners are down 2.0 units this season. The team is 2-7 ATS and owns an O/U record of 6-3.
The Golden Panthers are 6-3 straight up (SU), including 4-1 SU against conference opponents. The Roadrunners are 3-6 SU overall and 2-3 SU in conference play.
The Golden Panthers came up short to Florida Atlantic 49-14 in a thumping where James Morgan completed just 18-of-32 passes for 223 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Anthony Jones (31 rushing yards on eight attempts) led the running attack while Bryce Singleton (five receptions, 97 yards, one TD) and CJ Worton (three catches, 19 yards) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
A week ago, UAB knocked off this UTSA crew by a score of 52-3. The Roadrunners defense allowed the Blazers to run for 419 yards on 53 rush attempts, including four rush TDs. Spencer Brown had a productive outing, recording 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts for UAB. As a group, the Roadrunners collectively completed 15-of-35 passes for 136 yards and one interception. Jordan Weeks went 11-for-26 for 109 yards while D.J. Gillins was three-of-five for 28 yards and one interception. Brenden Brady (42 rushing yards on eight attempts) mounted the running game while Greg Campbell Jr. (six receptions, 62 yards) and Gavin Sharp (two catches, 42 yards) led the receiving attack in the loss.
FIU has run the ball on 57.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while UTSA has an overall rush percentage of 47.6 percent. The Golden Panthers have produced 167.2 rush yards/game (including 153.8 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 16 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Roadrunners are totaling 93.9 rushing yards per game (91.4 in conference) and have five total rush TDs.
It appears that the Golden Panthers ought to own an advantage along both the offensive and defensive fronts, since their offensive line has given up just 29 sacks while the D-line registered 22 sacks. The Roadrunners, on the other hand, have allowed 26 sacks and their defense has logged only 23 sacks.
The Golden Panthers offensive scheme has tallied 241.3 yards/game in the air overall (249.0 per game against conference opposition) and has 21 passing scores so far. The Roadrunners have put up 149.2 pass yards per contest (137 in the CUSA) and have seven total pass TDs.
Defensively, FIU appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 204.9 yards and pass for 187.4 yards per game. The UTSA defense has given up 254.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 162.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Golden Panthers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.17 to opponents, while the Roadrunners have allowed an 8.12 ANY/A.
Offensively, Morgan is up to 1,820 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 63 percent of his 205 attempts with 18 passing scores and only five interceptions. Morgan has a 9.02 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 7.03 over the past two games.
We’re looking for Golden Panthers to maintain tempo by putting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Austin Maloney (273 yards, four TDs) has contributed in the passing game lately, but the RB tandem of D’Vonte Price (317 rush yards, three rush TDs) and Napoleon Maxwell (377 rush yards, three rush TDs) have really been focal points in the offensive game scripts for FIU.
Jordan Weeks has managed to complete 13-of-28 passes for 119 yards, zero TDs and zero INTs for UTSA. His ANY/A sits at a less-than-ideal 4.25 for the year and 3.59 over his last two outings.
The Roadrunners also like to utilize their backfield. In addition to Greg Campbell Jr. (331 receiving yards, one receiving TD), Brenden Brady (50 rush yards) and Marquez McNair (74 receiving yards) have gotten a lot of touches recently.
When these two programs met a year ago, FIU won by a touchdown 14-7.
FIU Golden Panthers at UTSA Roadrunners Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: FIU, ATS Winner: FIU, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The UTSA defensive unit has tallied 20 sacks on the year while FIU has just 14.
- The UTSA offense has lost seven fumbles in 2018 while FIU has lost four.
- The Golden Panthers offense has recorded eight pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Roadrunners have accounted for one such play.
- The FIU defense has allowed four pass plays of 40+ yards, while UTSA has given up six such plays.
- The FIU offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while UTSA has created seven such runs.
- The Golden Panthers defense has allowed 16 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Roadrunners have given up 12 such runs.
- The O/U for UTSA’s last outing was set at 42.5. The over cashed in the 52-3 loss to UAB.
- In its last three matchups, UTSA is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three matches, FIU is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for FIU’s last game was set at 59.5. The over cashed in the team’s 49-14 defeat to Florida Atlantic.
- FIU, as a team, has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.1 over its last two.
- UTSA has averaged 3.1 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.8 over its past two.
