Mid-week Conference USA action returns on Tuesday when the Owls take on Panthers at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2. SBR's Matt Jacob takes a look at the matchup in his Kennesaw State vs FIU picks:
Game prediction: Kennesaw State -2.5 (-122 via FanDuel)
"Kennesaw State’s offensive production in season-opening road losses to Wake Forest and Indiana: one touchdown, four field goals, 18 total points. Since then? The Owls have won four in a row by an average of 14.3 points and scored at least 24 points in every game. Meanwhile, the defense gave up 56 points and 593 yards at Indiana; otherwise, it is yielding just 13.4 points and 345 yards per contest.
Kennesaw State’s most impressive victory was its most recent: On Oct. 9, the Owls hosted Louisiana Tech as a 4.5-point underdog and rolled to a 35-7 win. And they did it behind backup quarterback Dexter Williams II, who had 290 yards and four touchdowns in relief of injured starter Amari Odom.
Williams and Odom have combined for 1,280 passing yards, with each tossing four touchdowns and one interception. Whoever starts Tuesday - likely Williams - will face FIU’s 126th-ranked pass defense (266.2 yards per game).
Yes, FIU stunned Western Kentucky 25-6 as a 10-point underdog a week ago. But the Panthers haven’t won consecutive games in more than two calendar years. So lay the 2.5 points with Kennesaw State at FanDuel."
Over/Under pick: Under 49.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
"Only one of Kennesaw State’s six games has cleared 49 points. That was the 56-9 loss at now No. 2-ranked Indiana. In fact, it’s the only Owls game that hurdled the closing total. Final scores in Kennesaw’s other five contests: 10-9, 27-13, 28-21, 24-16 and 35-7.
As for FIU, its offense has erupted just twice in five FBS games: 38-28 win at FAU (Week 3) and last week’s 25-6 upset of Western Kentucky. Otherwise, the Panthers were shutout at Penn State and tallied 16 and 10 points against Delaware and UConn, respectively.
The biggest concern with this play? Definitely FIU’s defense. In four games prior to last week, the Panthers got lit up for 34, 28, 38 and 51 points. Still, the Under is the safest bet."
Game prediction: Kennesaw State -2.5 (-122 via FanDuel)
"Kennesaw State’s offensive production in season-opening road losses to Wake Forest and Indiana: one touchdown, four field goals, 18 total points. Since then? The Owls have won four in a row by an average of 14.3 points and scored at least 24 points in every game. Meanwhile, the defense gave up 56 points and 593 yards at Indiana; otherwise, it is yielding just 13.4 points and 345 yards per contest.
Kennesaw State’s most impressive victory was its most recent: On Oct. 9, the Owls hosted Louisiana Tech as a 4.5-point underdog and rolled to a 35-7 win. And they did it behind backup quarterback Dexter Williams II, who had 290 yards and four touchdowns in relief of injured starter Amari Odom.
Williams and Odom have combined for 1,280 passing yards, with each tossing four touchdowns and one interception. Whoever starts Tuesday - likely Williams - will face FIU’s 126th-ranked pass defense (266.2 yards per game).
Yes, FIU stunned Western Kentucky 25-6 as a 10-point underdog a week ago. But the Panthers haven’t won consecutive games in more than two calendar years. So lay the 2.5 points with Kennesaw State at FanDuel."
Over/Under pick: Under 49.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
"Only one of Kennesaw State’s six games has cleared 49 points. That was the 56-9 loss at now No. 2-ranked Indiana. In fact, it’s the only Owls game that hurdled the closing total. Final scores in Kennesaw’s other five contests: 10-9, 27-13, 28-21, 24-16 and 35-7.
As for FIU, its offense has erupted just twice in five FBS games: 38-28 win at FAU (Week 3) and last week’s 25-6 upset of Western Kentucky. Otherwise, the Panthers were shutout at Penn State and tallied 16 and 10 points against Delaware and UConn, respectively.
The biggest concern with this play? Definitely FIU’s defense. In four games prior to last week, the Panthers got lit up for 34, 28, 38 and 51 points. Still, the Under is the safest bet."