Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. FIU Panthers Picks, Predictions, Odds
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs travel to meet the FIU Panthers in a Conference USA battle Friday at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on CBSSN.
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS vs. FIU PANTHERS BETTING PREDICTION
The Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech head down south for a C-USA showdown against the Panthers of FIU under the Friday Night Lights. Louisiana Tech is reeling, coming off a heartbreaking 42-41 loss in overtime against Rice Saturday, dipping to 2-5 SU. It was a costly loss in terms of potential bowl eligibility, which is now on life support. As it stands, La. Tech has won just once against an FBS team this season, topping UTEP 41-31 at home on Oct. 8. While the Bulldogs are 4-2 ATS, and OVER bettors love them, the Bulldogs are not the same team we've seen in years past.
FIU did what Louisiana Tech needed to do last week - win. Instead of going to 2-5 SU, it won on the road at Charlotte, costing 49ers head coach Will Healy his job, subsequently. Now, the Panthers are sitting pretty with five games left on the schedule, needing three victories to get to a bowl. The 34 points scored in Charlotte last week marked a season high against an FBS team for the Panthers, and FIU had scored just 55 total points in the previous five outings, or 11.0 PPG. FIU rolls in 3-1 ATS across the past four, and 4-0 to the UNDER, or basically the complete opposite of Louisiana Tech.
These teams have met four times previously, all meetings since 2013, and Louisiana Tech has come away with the W every time. The most recent meeting with Sept. 20, 2019 in Ruston, with the Bulldogs winning 43-31. All four of La. Tech's wins in the series have been by 10 or more points.
While the trends, and series history, appear to point squarely to Louisiana Tech for the win and cover, they're god-awful against the number. The better play to shy away from the side, and simply play the total. We'll have A LOT of points in this one.
FIU would've been a great play on the open at +9.5, but the money has poured in on the Panthers, pushing the number under a flat seven, taking away any and all value.
Score Prediction: FIU 27, Louisiana Tech 23
Best Bet: FIU +7 (-118)
Best Bet: UNDER 57.5 (-110)
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS vs. FIU PANTHERS BETTING ODDS
More Odds | Futures Odds | CFP Central
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS vs. FIU PANTHERS BETTING RESOURCES
Date: Friday, Oct. 28, 2022
Matchup: Conference USA
Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium
Location: Miami, Florida
Time-TV: FS1, 10:00 p.m. ET
Expert Picks
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS BETTING ANALYSIS
The Bulldogs were getting tremendous play from QB Parker McNeil, the transfer from Texas Tech. He was forced out of the game on a hit late in the first quarter in the Rice game. QB Matthew Downing replaced him, but he lasted just over three quarters, as he was knocked out with just under a minute remaining in regulation. The Bulldogs called upon freshman QB Landry Lyddy, and he did a good job to keep the Bulldogs alive into OT before falling 42-41.
The news from head coach Sonny Cumbie is that Downing is done for the season due to a knee injury. The former TCU recruit is out of the mix, and McNeil is still on the mend and a question mark. That means either Lyddy will be called upon, or QB Jack Turner will get reps. That's quite the advantage for the home side.
Louisiana Tech ranks 23rd in the nation with 290.4 passing yards per game, but those numbers will take a hit if the third- or fourth-string QB is under center. The run game is 118th in the nation with 103.6 yards per game on the ground, so going low here might be the way to be.
However, despite the fact the Bulldogs offense might struggle, the defense is absolutely atrocious. Louisiana Tech ranks 129th with 490.3 total yards allowed, while checking in 130th with 39.3 PPG allowed and 131st with 265.3 rushing yards per contest allowed.
The Bulldogs are 1-6-1 ATS in the past eight road games, while going 3-7-1 ATS in the past 11 C-USA outings. The OVER has hit at a 19-7 clip across the past 26 games overall, while going 5-1 in the past six road games and 7-0 in the past seven league outings.
FIU PANTHERS BETTING ANALYSIS
FIU's defense might catch a break here if the Bulldogs are down to their third-string signal caller. FIU has allowed 268.4 passing yards per game to rank 109th, but it might produce better than that here with the injury concerns. FIU is at least serviceable against the run, allowing just 132.0 yards to rank 51st.
FIU heads into this one just 3-9 ATS in the past 12 games overall, while cashing in just one of the previous five home games. It is also 5-17 ATS in the past 22 outings against Conference USA opponents, while going 1-4 ATS in the past five Friday appearances.
For totals, the UNDER has hit in the previous four outings, while cashing in four straight against teams with a losing record, and six in a row in the month of October. The OVER, however, has hit in five of the previous seven Friday appearances.
FIU is healthier, and it is at home. That should make the difference in a tight game in Miami between two teams under .500.
LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS vs. FIU PANTHERS BETTING TRENDS
- Louisiana Tech is 1-6-1 ATS in the past eight road games
- Louisiana Tech is 3-7-1 ATS in the past 11 C-USA games
- FIU is 3-9 ATS in the past 12 games overall
- FIU is 1-4 ATS in the past five home games
- FIU is 5-17 ATS in the past 22 C-USA games
- OVER is 19-7 in the past 26 games overall for Louisiana Tech
- OVER is 5-1 in the past six road games for Louisiana Tech
- OVER is 7-0 in the past seven C-USA games for Louisiana Tech
- UNDER is 4-0 in the past four games overall for FIU
- UNDER is 6-0 in the past six October games for FIU
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