The final game of the Friday bowl slate takes place in the Lone Star State, as the FIU Panthers battle the UTSA Roadrunners in the First Responder Bowl.
The Panthers (7-5) won their final four games to reach their first bowl since 2019, twice scoring 56 points along the way.
The Roadrunners (6-6) make the short trip from San Antonio to Dallas after losing their finale to Army, 27-24 as 9-point favorites.
UTSA heads to its sixth consecutive bowl game, winning the Frisco Bowl in 2023 and the Myrtle Beach Bowl last season.
Let’s look at the FIU vs. UTSA prediction and picks for Friday’s First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, kicking off at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
FIU vs. UTSA Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
The Panthers posted a solid 8-4 record against the spread for a second straight season. UTSA has not finished with a losing ATS mark since 2018.
FIU vs. UTSA Over/Under, Spread
The Roadrunners enter this matchup as 6.5-point favorites, returning a 1.4x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Panthers are underdogs with a 2.7x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: UTSA -6.5
- Over/Under: 59.5
- Game Winner Payout: FIU 2.7x | UTSA 1.4x
(Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change)
FIU vs. UTSA Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to know to get you set for FIU vs. UTSA tonight, including insights on our FIU vs. UTSA prediction.
- The Panthers stumbled to a 3-5 start, including a 22-point loss to Delaware and a 51-10 rout at the hands of UConn.
- FIU closed on a strong note, taking care of three teams that finished with less than four wins (Middle Tennessee State, Liberty, and Sam Houston State).
- The most impressive victory against a Conference USA opponent occurred in a 27-21 home triumph over Jacksonville State on November 22. The Panthers scored the final 10 points against a Gamecocks’ squad that eventually reached the conference title game.
- During the 1-4 stretch preceding the four-game winning streak, FIU never scored more than 26 points. The Panthers posted 27 or more points during each victory in this hot streak.
- Following a 2-2 non-conference start, UTSA alternated wins and losses in its first six league games.
- The Roadrunners dominated in all four C-USA wins with every victory coming by at least 21 points.
- UTSA suffered a pair of ugly defeats to USF and North Texas, allowing 55 points each time as an underdog.
- The Roadrunners lost three times as a favorite, falling to Texas State (43-36), Temple (27-21), and Army (27-24).
- FIU ranks 76th in the country in EPA/Rush, averaging 190.2 yards per game. RB Kejon Owens broke the school season rushing record with 1,298 yards.
Make CFB Picks on CFB on PrizePicks
FIU is seeking its first bowl victory since 2018, facing a UTSA squad looking to avoid consecutive defeats for the first time since September.
There’s never been a better time to add to the excitement of every CFB moment than with PrizePicks.
There is a wide variety of player stat projections on the CFB board, so you can build your Lineup however you’d like — with no salary or positional restrictions. Just pick at least two player stat projections to build your Lineup on PrizePicks.
Check out the Playbook throughout the season for more CFB picks, predictions, and news every day.
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