Charlotte 49ers vs. FIU Golden Panthers Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Oct. 8, 2021

Thom Cunningham
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Conference-USA action for Week 6 games begins on Friday night as the Charlotte 49ers travel to Miami, Florida to take on the Florida International Golden Panthers. Kick off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Riccardo Silva Stadium and will air on CBSSN.

Score Prediction: Charlotte 31, FIU 28

Best Bet: Charlotte ML

Best Bet: Under 60.5

Charlotte 49ers vs. FIU Golden Panthers Predictions

This is a difficult game to handicap when looking at some trends, crossing paths in both markets. Recent trends show that FIU is 4-1 on the point total this season, while Charlotte has gone UNDER in four of five games. Charlotte has also gone UNDER the point total in four of its last six road games, but the point total has gone OVER in four of five meetings. Quite mind-numbing.

Moving to the spread market, as Charlotte is 2-1-2 this season ATS while FIU is 2-3. The Golden Panthers have failed to cover seven of nine games overall, while Charlotte has actually lost five straight to FIU while also losing 21 of its last 25 away from Jerry Richardson Stadium. The 49ers are road favorites, so the fact that the SU trends don't favor Charlotte doesn't bode well for 49er spread market bettors - especially at the given -3.5 just above a field goal.

Two trends actually merit a slight edge for Charlotte winning this game, as the Golden Panthers have lost 11 of their last 12 games SU while failing to cover the spread in four of five in Miami. The safest play on the board is Charlotte's ML, which is above -150 but below -190 with most books. This very much feels like a game in which a field goal will win, but when push comes to shove the better team is Charlotte.

The numbers from both schools' offense and defense do indicate a point total going UNDER, but both teams have the ability to post 30 points or more. There's a lot of uncertainty with the markets here, so playing it safe with the better team while still not paying a very expensive ML is the smartest play entering this game.

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Charlotte 49ers vs. FIU Golden Panthers Betting Odds

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Charlotte 49ers vs. FIU Golden Panthers Betting Resources

• Matchup: C-USA
• Date: Friday, October 8, 2021
• Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium
• Location: Miami, Florida
• TV-Time: CBSSN - 7:00 p.m. ET

• Weather Report
• College Football Playoff Betting

Charlotte 49ers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 3-2
• ATS: 2-1-2
• O/U: 1-4
• ATS - Home: 2-0-1
• ATS - Away: 0-1-1

The 49ers average the same amount of points per game as the Golden Panthers do, but they allow over 10 points less. The defense for Charlotte is the advantage the 49ers have entering Friday night's game, although most of the numbers aren't too impressive. They only have one interception on the season, although the secondary does have 12 total pass deflections. The Niners also only have one fumble recovery, as the pass rush isn't terrific.

Charlotte only has 4.5 total sacks, four of which are divided between Markees Watts and Jalar Holley. These two will need to stand out and slow down an offense that will probably be throwing to their dangerous receivers most of the game. So although Charlotte seemingly has a better defense than FIU, the Niners don't force a lot of takeaways.

Quarterback Chris Reynolds takes care of the football however, with a solid 11:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also has 169 rushing yards with three rushing scores, so he will be difficult to take the ball away from for FIU's defense as well. Sticking with the offense for Charlotte, Calvin Camp is the most productive back with 5.9 yards per carry but its Shadrick Boyd who leads the team in carries and also has two touchdowns through the air.

Grant DuBose is the big name that stands out at the receiver position, clearly Reynolds favorite target with four touchdowns, although Elijah Spencer has three touchdowns on just eight total catches this season. Victor Tucker has over 300 yards already, and should see a busy night along with DuBose and possibly Spencer.

FIU Golden Panthers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 1-4
• ATS: 2-3
• O/U: 4-1
• ATS - Home: 2-0
• ATS - Away: 1-2

The defense is the ultimate setback for this team, allowing 35.2 points per game which ranks a dreadful 118th in the nation. The glimmer of hope for FIU lies with the offense playing at home, against a school that traditionally struggles on the road and against their program. Quarterback Max Bortenschlager is going to have to play a great game for FIU to win SU in this one.

His completion percentage isn't the best at 53.1%, but he only has four interception to 10 touchdowns this season and now faces a defense that struggles to take the ball away. His top target is Tyrese Chambers who has four touchdowns this season and averages an eye-opening 27.7 yards per catch.

Bryce Singleton has over 400 yards this season as well, as there are actually six different players with a receiving touchdown this season. The running game isn't bad either, as D'Vonte Price has six touchdowns on 76 carries while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. All of these offensive numbers are good to have in a home game, but the defense is still the weak link.

FIU's best chance to win is to keep scoring points (cliche, yes) because it doesn't appear that the defense will slow down Charlotte outside of self-inflicting damage. The Golden Panthers only have two takeaways on the season, Rishard Dames the top player with a sack, interception and four pass deflections.

The Charlotte 49ers have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games when facing the FIU Golden Panthers. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Charlotte 49ers

• Record: 3-2
• VI Ranking: 104
• Points Scored: 134
• Points Allowed: 121
• PS/G: 26.8 (81st)
• PA/G: 24.2 (69th)

Inside the Stats - FIU Golden Panthers

• Record: 4-1
• VI Ranking: 127
• Points Scored: 134
• Points Allowed: 176
• PS/G: 26.8 (82nd)
• PA/G: 35.2 (118th)

Key Players to Watch

• CLT: Chris Reynolds - QB (84/134, 1,115 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT)
• CLT: Grant DuBose - WR (24 catches, 393 yards, 4 TD)
• FIU: Max Bortenschlager - QB (75/144, 1,368 yards, 10 TD, 4 INT)
• FIU: Tyrese Chambers - WR (17 catches, 471 yards, 4 TD)

Injuries

• CLT: Davondre Robinson - DB (Biceps-Questionable)
• CLT: Geovonte' Howard - CB (Ankle-Questionable)
• FIU: Shemar Thornton - WR (Illness-Questionable)

Charlotte 49ers vs. FIU Golden Panthers Betting Conclusion

The trends are too inconsistent to play a certain market, so go with the better team which is Charlotte. I do expect the Golden Panthers to play well in this one, but it will take a lot to go right for FIU in order to pull out the home upset. The offense will need to score 30 points, which it can. Limiting Charlotte to 28 will be difficult however.

It's unlikely Charlotte allows 34 points or more to FIU, but a 34-31 game or even my predicted 31-28 score are all just too foreseeable and close to the given odds. With neither market having trends that jump out to take, play it as safe as safe can get with Charlotte winning SU and breaking the current losing streak it has against an under-performing defense in FIU.

Charlotte 49ers vs. FIU Golden Panthers Betting Trends

• Charlotte has gone UNDER the point total in four of its last five games.
• Charlotte has lost 21 of its last 25 road games.
• Charlotte has gone UNDER the point total in four of its last six road games.
• FIU has won five straight games when facing Charlotte.
• FIU has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last nine games.

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