WKU Hilltoppers (2-4) vs. FIU Panthers (1-5)
October 23, 2021 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: FIU Panthers +17 ; Over/Under: 75.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The FIU Panthers meet the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Saturday in Week 8 Conference USA college football action from FIU Stadium. Western Kentucky is coming off a matchup versus Old Dominion. In that one the Hilltoppers won by 23 points. As for FIU, they had a bye last week. The Panthers last played in a loss to Charlotte. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Western Kentucky began their year with a nice 59-21 win over TN-Martin but then hit the skids from there. The Hilltoppers lost to Army 38-35, Indiana 33-31, Michigan State 48-31 and UTSA 52-46 in succession to slip to 1-4 on the year.
Last weekend versus Old Dominion, Western Kentucky jumped out to a 30-3 halftime lead and cruised from there in a 43-20 win. QB Bailey Zappe had 397 yards and five touchdowns on 37-of-54 passing. Jerreth Sterns had a monster day on 13 catches, 221 yards and a score as well.
Over on the FIU side, they drilled LIU in their opener 48-10 but haven’t been able to get anything going since. The Panthers have lost their last five to Texas State 23-17 (OT), Texas Tech 54-21, Central Michigan 31-27, Florida Atlantic 58-21 and Charlotte 45-33.
In the loss to Charlotte, FIU scored 20 points in the fourth quarter but still couldn’t bridge the gap. QB Max Bortenschlager finished on 466 yards with four TDs and a pick, and D’Vonte Prince led the rush with 89 yards from 18 carries.
The Hilltoppers are 4-0 ATS versus a team with a losing record and 4-1 ATS in their last five on turf. Western Kentucky is also 5-2 ATS in their last seven road games.
Meanwhile, FIU is 2-8 ATS in their last 10 overall and 1-5 ATS in their last six at home. The Panthers are 1-6 ATS versus a team with a losing record as well.
PICK: I’m going to stick with Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers put up a nice offensive effort against Old Dominion last weekend, posting 518 total yards, 6.4 yards per play and 29 first downs in the win. The Monarchs couldn’t get out of their own way with 13 penalties and three turnovers.
As for FIU, their offense hasn’t been doing too badly over the last four games, with 21 or more points scored in each. The problem is on the other side, where the Panthers have coughed up 31 or more points in each of those games as well. This one should be a higher-scoring matchup but I think WKU has the inside track on a cover if they play well.
