Sonny Cumbie and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs host a Week 0 matchup on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs open the 2023 season with a battle against a Conference USA rival in the Florida International Panthers. Louisiana Tech looks to avenge a 2022 loss to FIU and improve on a 3-9 record. Florida International also looks to build on a 4-8 showing in 2022 that represented progress from previous campaigns, and the two teams meet in the final FBS game of Saturday's slate.
SportsLine consensus lists Louisiana Tech as a 12-point favorite for this 9 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS Sports Network. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 57.5 in the latest Louisiana Tech vs. FIU odds. Before locking in any FIU vs. Louisiana Tech picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on FIU vs. Louisiana Tech and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several college football odds and betting lines for Louisiana Tech vs. FIU:
- FIU vs. Louisiana Tech spread: Louisiana Tech -12
- FIU vs. Louisiana Tech over/under: 57.5 points
- FIU vs. Louisiana Tech money line: Louisiana Tech -467, FIU +350
- FIU: The Panthers were 5-7 against the spread in 2022
- LT: The Bulldogs were 6-6 against the spread in 2022
- FIU vs. Louisiana Tech picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Florida International can cover
The Panthers looked like a different team under MacIntyre last season, winning four games and clearly taking a step forward when compared to the three previous campaigns. FIU enters 2023 with raised expectations as a result, and the Panthers have a relatively friendly matchup on offense against Louisiana Tech. FIU's passing game should be strong with the return of quarterback Grayson James, who made 10 starts last season. He threw just one interception in FIU's four victories, generating 11 touchdown passes over the same period.
FIU also added a prolific transfer in running back Shomari Lawrence from South Dakota, and he averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 107 attempts in 2022. From there, Louisiana Tech's shaky defense might open the door for Florida International. The Panthers scored 42 points in this matchup last season, and Louisiana Tech gave up 37.9 points per game, fourth-most in FBS last season. Louisiana Tech also generated only 16 sacks, fourth-fewest in FBS in 2022, and the Bulldogs ranked dead-last in rushing defense (243.2 yards allowed per game), yards per carry allowed (6.1), and rushing touchdowns allowed (2.8 per game) among Conference USA teams last season. See which team to pick here.
Why Louisiana Tech can cover
Louisiana Tech is 4-1 all-time against Florida International and aiming to avenge last year's loss. While the Bulldogs have plenty of strengths, particularly on offense, Cumbie's team should also take advantage of FIU's weaknesses on both sides of the ball. The Panthers did improve last season in the win column, but FIU was last in Conference USA in scoring offense, producing only 18.7 points per game. The Panthers were also last in the conference in first downs (17.8 per game) and rushing yards (105.0 per game), with only 3.5 yards per carry and the third-worst mark in Conference USA in passing yards.
On defense, FIU struggled mightily, giving up almost 38 points per game last season. Over the last three years, the Panthers gave up 37.4 points per game, 127th in FBS in that sample, and the supporting metrics were also ugly for Florida International. FIU gave up 260.3 passing yards per game, 191.8 rushing yards per game, and 24.3 first downs per game last season, with Louisiana Tech's high-powered offense geared up to generate fireworks. See which team to pick here.
How to make FIU vs. Louisiana Tech picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, with both teams projected to comfortably exceed their 2022 per game scoring averages. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins FIU vs. Louisiana Tech, and which side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the FIU vs. Louisiana Tech spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that's up nearly $2,500 on its college football picks since its inception, and find out.
