FIU vs. Louisiana Tech Predictions, Picks & Odds Week 0: Whose Ceiling is Higher?

Conference USA features anew look this season with four new teams, but two of the five returning teamsfrom 2022 face each other when the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs host the FIU Panthers. Read on for our FIU vs. Louisiana Tech picks based onthe best college football odds.

FIUwas 4-4 through eight games last year but disappointingly ended on a four-gamelosing streak, with three of those four losses coming by 34-plus points. ThePanthers begin Year 2 of the Mike MacIntyre era and look for their firstwinning record since going 9-4 under Butch Davis in 2018.  

LouisianaTech finished with an identical 2-6 conference record as FIU and one fewer winoverall (3-9 overall record). The Bulldogs were CUSA’s only winless team on theroad last year (0-7) and, like FIU, are in the second year of a new headcoaching regime under Sonny Cumbie.                     

Hereis our best FIU vs. Louisiana Tech prediction and college football picks (odds via our bestcollege footballbetting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

FIU vs.Louisiana Tech prediction: Week 0

Louisiana Tech -11(-113 via BetRivers) ⭐⭐⭐

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A double-digit spread is a lot to lay in a matchup between twoteams that finished in the basement of the conference last year. But while FIUretains its starting quarterback, we are more excited about the ceiling of theLouisiana Tech offense after bringing in a high-profile transfer to be itssignal caller.

Former Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier is a veteran whoplayed in 29 games in four seasons and heads Cumbie’s air raid attack thatproduced five games of 34-plus points in the head coach’s first year.

The Bulldogs' offense has ranked in the top 60 of SP+ in three consecutive seasons, andBachmeier has an excellent wide receiver duo in Smoke Harris and Cyrus Allen tohelp get him acclimated quickly. Harris, in particular, ranks third among allactive NCAA players in receptions (224), sixth in receptions per game (4.57),and sixth in receiving touchdowns (19).

Up to a $500 Second Chance Bet

While the Bulldogs had the second-worst scoring defense in theconference last year (455 points allowed), their weaknesses will not beexploited by an FIU offense that averaged 18.7 points per game, finished 115thor worse in EPA/pass and passing explosiveness, and returns just one of itsthree wide receivers who caught at least 25 passes last year.

FIU is still a team that lost 17 consecutive games to FBS teams.While MacIntyre eventually turned around the San Jose State and Coloradoprograms in his tenure, those turnarounds did not result in winning recordsuntil years three and four at those respective schools.   

FIU vs.Louisiana Tech best odds

Withall five of our best sports betting apps in unison with a -11.5 point spread, BetRivers isour easy choice for our go-to shop to back the favorites, especially since itdoes not break the bank with a price of -113.

For those looking to wager on theunderdogs, any of the following five sportsbooks offer the best value, but besure to monitor the odds closer to kickoff in case there is any line movementin the next 24 hours.

FIU vs.Louisiana Tech odds

Mostsportsbooks are in unison with an O/U of 58.5, while Caesars is the only shop at59 (Caesars was as high as 59.5 at one point). Fifty-six percent of the earlywagers have landed on the Over, which suggests the total should not move muchbefore kickoff if the betting split remains relatively equal.   

• When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 9 p.m. ET
• Where: Jon Aillet Stadium, Ruston, LA
• How to watch: CBSSN
• Weather: 103 degrees, 7% chance of precipitation, wind 6 mph NW

FIU-Louisiana Tech picks made 8/25/2023 at 7:10 a.m.

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