The Florida International Panthers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders meet Saturday in college football action from Floyd Stadium. FIU is sitting at 4-5 overall this year. The Panthers are coming off an open week, last appearing in a blowout loss to Jacksonville State. As for Middle Tennessee, they’re fresh off a weekend matchup against New Mexico State. In that one the Blue Raiders dropped to 2-7 with a tough six-point loss. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.

FIU Panthers 

Florida International has had their ups and downs this year—mostly downs lately as they’ve lost four of the last five games. The Panthers are averaging 21.0 points per game, with seven touchdowns coming via pass (alongside eight interceptions). FIU averages just 3.0 yards per carry on the ground but has scored 16 rush TDs. 

In their last game versus Jacksonville State way back on October 25, the Panthers coughed up 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and things didn’t get any better from there in a 41-16 loss. QB Grayson James managed 200 yards with a TD, and Chris Mitchell led the receivers with 109 yards and a score from his five catches. 

Florida International Panthers Team Facts

• Florida International has lost each of its last 11 games in November.
• Florida International has failed to cover the spread in 11 of its last 12 November games as a road underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Florida International has lost the first half in four of its last five games against conference opponents at Johnny Floyd Stadium.
• Each of Florida International’s last six games as an underdog against Middle Tennessee have gone OVER the total points line.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 

Over on the Middle Tennessee side, they won just two of their first eight games this year (35-14 versus Murray State and 31-23 over LA Tech). The team wasn’t great offensively during that time, averaging 23.8 points per game with 25 total touchdowns. 15 scores and eight interceptions came on passes, and the Raiders averaged 3.7 yards per rush attempt. 

Matched up against New Mexico State on Saturday, the Blue Raiders were down 10-7 heading into the second half and didn’t score again in a 13-7 loss. Nicholas Vattiato finished with 178 pass yards, one TD and one interception, while also leading the rush with 96 yards. Elijah Metcalf added five catches for 69 yards as well. 

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Team Facts

• Middle Tennessee has won each of its last 12 matches as a home favorite when playing with a rest disadvantage.
• Middle Tennessee has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four November games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Middle Tennessee has won the first quarter in four of its last five home games against conference opponents.
• Middle Tennessee has won the first half in each of its last three home games against conference opponents.
• Each of Middle Tennessee’s last six games as a favorite against Florida International have gone OVER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Middle Tennessee has suffered the equal-most road losses by a margin of 10 points or less of any FBS team this season (3).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll probably stay with Middle Tennessee at home. Probably also not touching this one. Middle Tennessee did a good job at staying close with a good New Mexico State team in their last outing but couldn’t do much of anything after halftime. The result was 346 total yards (178 passing), 17 first downs and seven penalties. It was the first time in four games that Middle Tennessee has failed to hit 30 points. 

As for FIU, the good news is that they’ve had plenty of time to prepare for this matchup. The bad news is that the Panthers have scored 17 or fewer points in four of the last five games. Florida International is going to have to step up the scoring for this game, and I don’t think they’ll quite get there cover-wise.