The FIU Panthers (-2.5) are heading north to face their in-conference rival Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Johnny (Red) Floyd Stadium. Interested parties are able to catch the action live on NFL Network and this afternoon game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: FIU Panthers at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
In this Saturday Conference USA game, FIU is getting picked as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Panthers are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Blue Raiders are +120. This CUSA matchup should provide several decent live betting opportunities, and oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 57.5 points.
Sharp bettors have been siding with the over, as the game’s O/U initially opened at 56.5.
The Panthers have lost 3.5 units so far in 2019 and are 2-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an Over-Under mark of 3-4.
The Blue Raiders have lost 1.3 units this season. The team is 3-4 ATS and the over has hit in five of its games.
The Panthers have gone 4-3 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against CUSA opponents. The Blue Raiders are 2-5 SU overall and are also 1-2 SU in conference play.
FIU enters this matchup on a zero-game winless streak while Middle Tennessee has won each of its last zero. The Panthers are looking to maintain momentum after a solid 32-17 win over UTEP last week. James Morgan completed only nine-of-17 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown. Anthony Jones (102 yards on 15 rushes, one TD) led the ground attack while Shemar Thornton (four receptions, 50 yards, one TD) and Austin Maloney (one catch, 11 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Middle Tennessee most-recently suffered a 33-30 loss to North Texas. As a group, the Blue Raiders collectively completed 25-of-48 passes for 255 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Asher O’Hara went 16-for-32 for 136 yards while Chase Cunningham was nine-of-16 for 119 yards, one touchdown and one interception. O’Hara (82 yards on 14 rush attempts, one TD) mounted the running game while Dobson (six receptions, 56 yards, one TD) and Jarrin Pierce (six catches, 55 yards) led the Middle Tennessee pass-catchers in the loss.
FIU’s run the ball on 62 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Middle Tennessee has a rush percentage of 45.9 percent. The Panthers have produced 209.3 rush yards per game (including 204.5 per game versus Conference USA opponents) and have 16 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Blue Raiders are totaling 138.1 rush yards per game (148.3 in conference) and have eight total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Panthers might hold an advantage when it comes to effectiveness in the ground game. Their running backs has generated 5.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 4.7 to opponents. The Blue Raiders have recorded 4.6 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 5.3 to opponents.
The Panthers offensive scheme has averaged 199 yards in the air overall (192.5 per game against conference opposition) and has eight passing TDs so far. The Blue Raiders have put up 255.6 pass yards per contest (284 against CUSA competition) and have 11 total pass scores.
FIU appears to have an advantage in both defensive phases. The team’s allowed opponents to rush for an average of 179.4 yards and throw for 184.4 yards per game. The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed 275 yards per game to opposing passers and 222.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.30 to opposing QBs, while the Blue Raiders have given up a 7.46 ANY/A.
O’Hara has connected on 111-of-173 passes for 1,292 yards, nine TDs and two INTs for Middle Tennessee. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 6.99 for the season and 4.35 over his last two games. In the other huddle, Morgan has put up 1,065 passing yards this year, and has completed 79-of-134 attempts with six passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Morgan’s got a 7.56 ANY/A for the year, although that number is 10.65 over the past two games.
When these two schools faced one another last year, FIU knocked off Middle Tennessee by a field goal 24-21.
FIU Panthers vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Betting Pick
SU Winner: Middle Tennessee, ATS Winner: Middle Tennessee, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The FIU D has sacked opposing quarterbacks nine times this season. Middle Tennessee has recorded six sacks.
- Middle Tennessee has lost two fumbles in 2019 while the FIU offense has lost three.
- Each team has produced four pass plays of 40+ yards. The Panthers have have made eight pass plays of 30+ yards while the Blue Raiders have accounted for 13 such plays.
- The FIU defense has allowed five pass plays of 40+ yards, while Middle Tennessee has given up four such plays.
- The FIU offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Middle Tennessee has created nine such runs.
- The Panthers defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Blue Raiders have given up 11 such runs.
- The Over/Under for Middle Tennessee’s last match was 59.5. The over cashed in the 33-30 defeat to North Texas.
- In its last three matchups, Middle Tennessee is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three contests, FIU is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Middle Tennessee has dropped five of its last six games SU, with an 11-point triumph over Marshall on October 5th accounting for the one win over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for FIU’s last game was 51. The under cashed in the team’s 32-17 win over UTEP.
- As a team, FIU has averaged 5.8 yards per rush attempt over its past three outings and 6.3 over its last two.
- Middle Tennessee has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.1 over its last two.
