UTSA Roadrunners vs. FIU Panthers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 10/14/2022

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, FL

Where to watch: CBS Sports Network

DraftKings: UTSA -34

FanDuel: Check back later

BetMGM: UTSA -33.5

Caesars: UTSA -34

UTSA: 4-2 (2-0 Conference USA)

FIU: 2-3 (0-1 Conference USA)

UTSA: won 31-28 vs. Western Kentucky

FIU: lost 33-12 vs. UConn

Conference-USA football is in full swing and off to a rather fun start with a great slate of games last week. All of that good momentum comes to a minor halt on Friday when the defending conference champion UTSA Roadrunners hit the road to take on the Florida International Panthers, who are not having the best time to begin the season.

But we’ll start with the bright side because that’s what we do here. That would be UTSA, a group that seemed to flutter off to a 1-2 start after losing by three touchdowns to Texas, but UTSA has responded in kind with three straight wins since then led by the brilliance of quarterback Frank Harris. The Roadrunners are coming off a 31-28 win at home against Western Kentucky in which they held off the Hilltoppers’ attempt at a fourth quarter rally.

Harris threw for 275 yards and a touchdown, while adding 61 on the ground and running for a score, as well, to pace another electrifying display for the UTSA offense that had 486 yards of total offense. This is coming off the fact they put up 52 and 45 points in consecutive weeks. Running back Brenden Brady ran for 82 yards and a touchdown to pace the UTSA ground game that carried it 45 times for 213 yards and three scores.

When UTSA’s offense is humming along like this, it’s hard to put a pin on them. The Roadrunners are so dynamic when Harris is as efficient as he is, and when he adds his legs it provides an entirely new dimension for the offense that makes it seem unstoppable – at least in the C-USA realm. Hence why a team like Western Kentucky not able to outscore them seems to be as important as it is.

And for an opponent this weekend in FIU, this is UTSA’s opportunity to be licking its chops. Because FIU’s defense is, in a word, horrendous. Its offense isn’t any better either, but it’s bad when you’re giving up 38.2 points per game and your top wins are against Bryant and New Mexico State. FIU is coming off a 33-12 loss to suddenly powerhouse UConn at home, which tells you all you need to know about how this season is going.

It got so bad that UConn jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and they couldn’t recover after. FIU quarterback Grayson James threw for 256 yards but also had two interceptions, and Lexington Joseph crossed 100 yards on just seven carries and a touchdown. Even though they outgained UConn 409-402, the Panthers had three turnovers against UConn. Again, we can’t stress this enough: It was against UConn. Yes, I’m aware they beat Fresno State with a banged-up offense, but how bad does FIU have to look right now with this?

This game is going to be over by the third quarter. UTSA hasn’t had the chance to fully throw its weight around against weaker opponents this year, but this might be the first time that it happens. UTSA in a rout, don’t overthink it. UTSA by 30

UTSA is 4-2 ATS in its last six as a road favorite.

UTSA is 7-7 ATS off a conference win the last three seasons.

UTSA is 12-8 ATS after a game where they had one turnover or less.

FIU is 1-11 ATS against conference opponents the last three seasons.

FIU is 13-28 ATS in its last 41 following two straight unders.

Passing: Frank Harris -- 1,997 yards, 13 TD, 5 INT

Rushing: Brenden Brady -- 386 yards, 5 TD

Receiving: De'Corian Clark -- 618 yards, 7 TD

Passing: Grayson James -- 919 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT

Rushing: Lexington Joseph -- 235 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Tyrese Chambers -- 262 yards, 3 TD