FIU vs Louisiana Tech: College football final odds and prediction for Week 0
College football Week 0 is here for the 2023 season, and one of the games to whet the appetite of fans is a Conference USA clash between the Florida International Panthers and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
In 2022 the Panthers and Bulldogs went to double overtime, with FIU coming out of the game with a 42-34 win. With the game in Ruston this year the Bulldogs will be looking to exact a little revenge for last year’s tough loss.
The Panthers are returning quarterback Grayson James, who started 10 games last season. FIU finished 2022 losing its last four games, and six of its final eight. Second-year head coach Mike MacIntyre has his work cut out for him, and a road game to open the season against a conference foe is a tough way to come out of the gate.
ALSO READ: How to watch FIU vs Lousiana Tech
On the other side, Louisiana Tech is looking to avoid a third straight losing season and head coach Sonny Cumbie will try to bring the Bulldogs back into relevance in the conference.
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
FIU vs Lousiana Tech odds as of game day
Per FanDuel Sportsbook, the Bulldogs are 12.5-point favorites in their home opener. Given the defensive struggles both teams showed during the 2022 season this feels like a very generous line.
As of kickoff, the over/under line sits at 57.5 which feels like a fairly safe bet for a season-opener featuring two teams that can score but probably will have trouble stopping the opponent.
The moneyline sits at +365 for FIU and -490 on Louisiana Tech.
As season-opening games and odds go, this one might be particularly tough to handicap.
FIU vs Louisiana Tech final predictions
This may well end up being a replay of the 2022 contest in a different stadium. Both teams are returning some big-play weapons on offense, and neither team has done a lot to make vast improvements to the defense. Look for the Panthers to run the ball practically at will against Lousiana Tech, and for the Bulldogs’ speedy and talented receivers to shred the FIU secondary.
If you want points to open the season, this will be a game for you. Home-field advantage and a slight edge in quarterback goes to the Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech will win but don’t even think about that double-digit spread.
